| Athletes will often ask about hockey training aids that | | | | you can incorporate it with some of your strength |
| will improve their performance on the ice. Choosing the | | | | training exercises with nice results. Caution: make sure |
| right hockey training aid is much like a carpenter | | | | you purchase a burst resistant high quality stability ball |
| choosing the right tool for a job. A carpenter must first | | | | and forget about standing on the ball. That is a circus |
| have a very clear idea of what he is trying to | | | | trick, not hockey training. |
| accomplish, then he should consider what tool will help | | | | 3. Medicine Ball - wonderful for developing upper body |
| him complete that task in the safest and most efficient | | | | power and lower body power, but it can also be use |
| manner and finally, the carpenter must know how to | | | | to help build stability such as performing push ups with |
| use the tool properly or the results could be disastrous. | | | | hands on the medicine ball. Caution: hockey players |
| So before you put any money into gimmicks, toys or | | | | often want to train with the heaviest medicine ball that |
| other hockey training aids, make sure you: | | | | they can get their hands on. Remember that you are |
| - Know what you are trying to train | | | | typically trying to develop power when using this tool, |
| - Educate yourself about the safe and effective | | | | so stay in the medium (6-12lbs) range to begin with and |
| options | | | | focus on rapidly accelerating the training tool. |
| - Make sure you know how to use your new toy | | | | 4. Resistance Bands - these can be used for strength, |
| properly. | | | | balance or power training, they allow the hockey |
| Finally, there is no training aid that will make you a | | | | player to rapidly accelerate against resistance with out |
| better hockey player if you are not consistent with | | | | the requirement to decelerate the resistance as is the |
| your training, getting proper recovery and proper | | | | case in lifting free weights. Caution: purchase high |
| nutrition. If you are not looking after these basics, then | | | | quality resistance bands that are encased with a nylon |
| your investment in hockey training aids is a waste of | | | | sheath so there is no chance of the band snapping |
| your money. | | | | back at the athlete when it eventually breaks. |
| Here are the items that I think belong in the hockey | | | | 5. Agility Ladder - you can use this tool to work on |
| players' or hockey coaches' tool box: | | | | your movement patterns. You do not even need to |
| | | | buy one; you can just tape one out on the basement |
| 1. Dumbbells - if I could pick between a set of | | | | floor or draw one in the garage with sidewalk chalk. |
| dumbbells and a barbell, I would probably pick 'both', but | | | | Caution: make sure you are staying in a low athletic |
| if I could only have one, then I could pretty easily pick | | | | position as you practice ladder drills, do not waste your |
| the dumbbells. Using dumbbells requires more | | | | time reinforcing poor habits like standing up as soon as |
| stabilization, allows the athlete to perform unilateral or | | | | you get fatigued. |
| bilateral exercises to change the demand on the core | | | | The top three items in the list above will give you a |
| stabilizers and can be used to build muscular strength, | | | | nice versatile home training system, adding the final |
| power or endurance. Caution: make sure you select a | | | | two items will give you even more helpful options. |
| weight that allows you to maintain perfect technique | | | | Before you spend a single penny on hockey training |
| throughout the entire set. | | | | aids, make sure you are committed to your training |
| 2. Stability Ball - great tool for dynamic stabilization and | | | | program, because that makes all the difference. |