Training is one of the most important things for any type of sport. If you don’t have the skills or abilities to be a force to be reckoned with during games, it’s likely that all you need to do is train and you can improve. If you need to get better at hockey quickly, you’re probably going to need the best hockey training practices available. Training can be grueling and exhausting, but it’s still worth it if you need to get better at your sport. We’re going to take a look at some of the best training tips passed down from professional hockey players.
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Get on the Rink
Playing hockey is a great way to get better at hockey, especially under the watchful eye of a coach or trainer. You’ll never make a goal if you never swing your stick, so any kind of game you can play will help you out little by little. Whether it’s a friendly scrimmage or a real match, there are some things that you simply can’t learn in any way other than experiencing them firsthand.
This is true both on the ice and off the ice. Sometimes experience really is the best teacher, and the more games you play, the more you’ll be able to say that you’ve been. Getting time on the ice can also make you feel more confident on your feet, and confidence is key in everything, including hockey.
Sometimes it may not be feasible to have a game on true ice, but you do have some alternatives depending on your budget. The first, and probably best, alternative is to get a synthetic ice rink for your home. You can get synthetic ice rinks in all shapes and sizes to fit your needs. Whether you only have space for a strip of skating rink or you can get a whole, full-sized rink in your space, it will benefit you greatly.
Synthetic ice does have its drawbacks, but those same drawbacks are what make it so great for training. It’s harder to move around on synthetic ice than it is on true ice, which means that anything you do on synthetic ice will add some resistance. That resistance can translate to being able to move more easily on true ice. It’s kind of like running with weights on your ankles. It’ll be harder at first, but once you adjust to it you’ll have a much easier time when you take them off.
If a rink simply isn’t feasible for you there are other options. The biggest and most viable options are street hockey and field hockey. Getting your team together so you can experience some strategies firsthand can benefit you significantly, no matter the terrain that you play on. While neither of these games will be able to perfectly replicate the sensation of gliding on ice, you’ll still get a chance to work on your teamwork and learn to identify different strategies more easily.
Hit the Gym
Hockey games can get intense and violent at times, which just makes your strength and speed more important. You don’t want to get run down by the likes of Gordie Howe and not be able to escape, and you also want to be able to hit the puck with enough power that it can actually get to where it needs to be. There are a lot of exercises you can do to make sure that you’re in your top physical shape for the game, and here are just a few examples.
Firstly, make sure you always warm up. It doesn’t matter how strong or tough you are, make sure you stretch. Flexibility is incredibly important for all hockey players. It ensures that you can use your full range of motion while keeping your joints limber and lessening the risk of a muscular injury. Stretching can be boring and feel like a waste of time, but no one should ever skip stretching. A good stretch before any workout or game can make a whole world of difference when it comes to performance.
The next thing we’ll be looking at is cardio. Hockey is a very cardio intensive game, so ensuring that your lungs and heart and keep up is important. If you aren’t in the proper shape for the sport, you run the risk of cramping up during the game. Nobody wants that, so you’ll want to be extra sure you’re hitting the treadmill at the very least. When you’re doing cardio training, make sure you focus on anaerobic exercises. Anaerobic exercises are short, high-intensity exercises that don’t make your body use oxygen.
There are a lot of anaerobic exercises to choose from, but it is important that you get them in. Whether you’re sprinting or doing pacers or even doing some hardcore jump roping, just make sure you get it in. If you have a coach or trainer you can even ask them which exercise they think would best help you perform better and they’d probably be able to point you in the right direction.
The last thing we’ll be looking at is strength training. Flexibility and endurance are important, but you still want to make sure that you’re strong enough to make it through the game, no matter your position. There are a lot of different ways to go about strength training. Make sure you listen to your body when you’re working out so you can be sure that you’re picking the right routine for you.
In hockey, the most important muscles are in your arms and legs. Hitting the puck to where it needs to go and being able to keep yourself upright and moving are the only real way to be useful during the game. Most professionals would recommend a gym and a personal trainer to make sure that you’re getting the most gains for your effort, but if that’s out of your budget you can still easily do bodyweight exercises to build up the strength that you need.
Watch What you Eat
It’s been said for decades now, you are what you eat. This phrase is more true than most people care to give it credence. If you eat junk food all the time, there’s a good chance that you’ll feel sluggish and not get as much out of your training. If you eat healthier foods, you can generally expect to feel more energetic and ready for training or playing.
This isn’t to say that you can’t enjoy what you eat and that you can never have any junk food, and it doesn’t mean that you need to transition your entire diet to nothing but chicken breasts and rice. Finding the balance is important, and not overdoing it is even more important.
Watching what you eat is especially important if you’re trying to develop a lot of muscle mass. Yes, you do need at least an extra 500 calories a day if you plan on bulking up, but that doesn’t mean that you should stuff your face with KitKat bars to get those extra calories. Keep in mind that you want to keep your protein high and get as many nutrients as possible out of your diet.
Many personal trainers can help with a diet, so if that’s something that you can afford it will definitely help you a lot. If that’s out of your price range don’t worry too much. There are a lot of resources online that can help you get your diet planned out perfectly so you can gain all of the muscle you need to play your best during games. We don’t have the time nor the space to get into the super specifics about what your diet should look like here so don’t treat this passage as gospel and make sure you do your own research to find the best diet for you.
If you want to be extra on top of your diet needs you can try meal prepping. All you need to do is cook for yourself for the week all on one night, so prepare your meals on Sunday and eat them throughout the week. That helps eliminate the temptation of going out to eat because you already have food ready while ensuring that your diet is calculated perfectly for your body goals. Meal prepping is something that all sorts of athletes do, and it can get some pretty impressive results if done correctly.
Make the Most of Your Training
The most important thing about training is that you’re getting the most out of it. Improper training can leave you with bad habits that will ultimately hurt you in the long run, and pushing yourself too far beyond your limits can result in injury. Just make sure you’re listening to your body, your coach, and your trainer if you have one and you should be on the right path to reaching your full potential as a hockey player. Whether you’re trying to help your child be better at hockey or you’re playing for your college team, training can make the difference between winning and losing.