| Any player who is trying to become a better player | | | | harder and result in solid gains. A great way to do this |
| needs to be doing hockey skating drills to try and | | | | is by attaching an exercise parachute. Elastic bands |
| improve their speed and power. Powerful, fast, skaters | | | | can also be used to add resistance, or you could |
| dominate on the ice. A big player with speed is an | | | | simply have a coach hang on while you skate. When |
| unstoppable force, and for smaller players, speed is | | | | the resistance is removed, you'll feel much lighter, and |
| the absolute key to success. Here are some great tips | | | | your power and speed will improve over time. |
| on improving your speed and power on the ice. | | | | Finally, time everything. If you don't time yourself, you'll |
| First of all, do interval and ladder drills in your on-ice | | | | never know for sure that you're improving, or at what |
| workouts. Intervals are simply series of high intensity | | | | rate. Time yourself doing different drills and always |
| bursts followed by low intensity rest. For example, | | | | work to beat your best time. This simple tip can have |
| skate at maximum speed as hard as you can for 45 | | | | some drastic results compared with players who don't |
| seconds, and then skate lightly for a minute or two, | | | | time themselves. |
| and then repeat. Intervals do great things for | | | | These tips will help you improve your speed and |
| developing speed, because at periods you're working | | | | power on the ice, but these are only a few of the |
| at maximum intensity, something you can't sustain for | | | | many different exercises and drills you can do to get |
| long periods. | | | | faster and more powerful. Consider investing in a good |
| Another great option is to add extra resistance to your | | | | hockey fitness and training manual, or consult a |
| skating drills. As long as you can keep your form | | | | sport-specific trainer. |
| correct, adding resistance will force you to work | | | | |