| Hockey is a very complex game. There are many | | | | is especially useful with sprints and other explosive |
| aspects of athleticism that must work in harmony for | | | | exercises. |
| a player to be effective on the ice. Interestingly, off-ice | | | | 3. Supplement your strength and endurance training |
| training is often overlooked and neglected--even | | | | with off ice skill development. Just about every player |
| among top-caliber hockey teams. Players who | | | | has a place somewhere at their house where they |
| perform a well-designed sequence of off ice hockey | | | | can stickhandle a ball around. Now days there are |
| drills can gain a definitive "edge" over their opponents. | | | | many cool stickhandling balls available, some are |
| Here are a few pieces of advice when designing your | | | | weighted to develop wrist strength, some are extra |
| training program: | | | | light to work on quick hands, and some are built to act |
| | | | and feel like a real puck. Invent a stickhandling routine |
| 1. Select off ice hockey drills that mimic skills you'll need | | | | and do it regularly. Also, try and find a way to shoot at |
| in games. Some of these skills would include quick feet, | | | | least 50 pucks a day. You might have to get more |
| agility, leg strength, explosiveness, core strength, | | | | creative with this one, but if you can make this happen, |
| balance, and stamina, just to name a few. | | | | you'll see big benefits from it! |
| 2. Use timed training to simulate the work-to-rest ratio | | | | Utilize these three tips when selecting your off ice |
| you'll have in a game. Most youth teams use 3 lines, so | | | | hockey drills, and you'll already be off to a good start. |
| a work-to-rest ratio in that case would be 1:2, in other | | | | Remember, most of the people you'll be playing with |
| words you'll rest twice as long as you worked for | | | | are doing nothing. So, even if your exercise routine is a |
| between sets. Older teams often use 4 lines, so the | | | | work in progress, stick with it and make tweaks along |
| proper work-to-rest ratio would increase to 1:3. This tip | | | | the way, and you'll undoubtedly see the advantages! |