| If you watched the post-game routine of most elite | | | | to injury. |
| men's or women's hockey teams, you would see | | | | A player's summer conditioning program should focus |
| players riding the bike. Most elite male and female | | | | on activities, such as running, that will counterbalance |
| hockey players do their conditioning on the bike both in | | | | the tightness in their "skating" muscles. |
| and out of season. But when it comes to summer | | | | By running this summer, players will strengthen the |
| training, should young players "train like the pros" by | | | | muscles in their hips, legs and shoulders that will pull |
| riding the bike or should they be out running sprints? | | | | them out of their hunched-over hockey posture. The |
| Same In-Season, Opposite Off-Season | | | | glutes and hamstrings are rarely used to their full |
| The theory is that cycling allows players to use their | | | | extent in the skating stride, but are critical to bringing |
| well-conditioned "skating" muscles and prevent | | | | the leg back behind the body in the running stride. |
| excessive strain on the muscles that are not used as | | | | Strengthening these muscles will result in increased |
| much during the season. While there is some truth to | | | | muscular balance and greater overall conditioning. |
| the theory of focusing on the same muscles in-season, | | | | Ease Into The Sprints |
| players must focus on training the opposite muscles | | | | Because most players don't (and shouldn't) run at high |
| during the off-season if they want to increase their | | | | intensities in-season, they must be careful not to go |
| fitness, improve their flexibility and take their | | | | too hard too soon in their off-season training. Players |
| performance to the next level. | | | | should begin their off-season training doing |
| If players continue to train on the bike during the | | | | lower-intensity intervals and eventually progress to |
| off-season, the "skating" muscles that are already tight | | | | high-intensity sprinting. This progression will allow their |
| from a long season, namely the quadriceps and hip | | | | "skating" muscles loosen up as they re-condition their |
| flexors, will continue to be over-used in the off-season. | | | | running muscles. |
| This may result in muscular imbalance which can lead | | | | Get off the bike this summer and start running. |