| With training camp and the start of the season just a | | | | combine short sprints and strength exercises to vastly |
| few short weeks away, players still have time to | | | | improve their hockey-specific fitness in a relatively |
| develop the "first line fitness" they need to boost their | | | | short period of time. These high-intensity circuits |
| on-ice hockey performance. | | | | simulate a shift out on the ice by incorporating both the |
| If you are going to be a great hockey player, you have | | | | change of direction and change of body position that is |
| to possess extraordinary skills and amazing | | | | inherent in the game of hockey. |
| game-sense. But you must also develop the fitness to | | | | Here is an example of a conditioning circuit that can be |
| be able to consistently showcase those skills in every | | | | used with players during training camp or early in the |
| practice and in every game all season long. | | | | season: |
| You could have the best one-on-one moves in the | | | | - Start with 10 push-ups. |
| world, but if you are struggling to get down the ice at | | | | - Sprint 20 meters as fast as possible. |
| the end of your shifts, your effectiveness will be limited. | | | | - Perform 10 squat jumps. |
| If you have "fourth-line fitness", your "first-line skills" will | | | | - Sprint 20 meters back to the start. |
| only get you so far. | | | | - Perform another 10 push-ups. |
| Ideally, players would be involved in an off-ice training | | | | - Sprint 20 meters. |
| program all summer long to build overtime-dominating | | | | - Perform 20 meters of walking lunges back to the |
| fitness, battle-winning strength and game-breaking | | | | start. |
| speed. But life and leisure get in the way, and all of a | | | | - Sprint 20 meters. |
| sudden, you find yourself a few weeks away from | | | | Perform one round of the circuit and then rest for 3 |
| the start of the season and you are not in hockey | | | | minutes. Repeat this sequence 3 or 4 more times and |
| shape. | | | | you will be well on your way to getting in shape for the |
| It is physiologically impossible for young players to get | | | | in-season. |
| stronger, faster or more powerful in only 4 weeks. | | | | By developing "first-line fitness" through the off-season, |
| The muscular and nervous systems simply cannot | | | | you are putting yourself in a position to excel in training |
| make significant changes in that amount of time. | | | | camp and beyond. And when you are a few steps |
| However, the cardiovascular system can adapt much | | | | ahead of your competition in September, you can |
| more quickly, which means that it is still possible for | | | | open up an even bigger gap in fitness and |
| players to develop "first line fitness" in only a month. | | | | performance as the season continues. |
| Players of all ages can use conditioning circuits that | | | | |