Completing off ice hockey training is one of the most important steps to becoming a great hockey player. If the player is not willing to put in the effort to develop their physical abilities, then they will never be able to outperform their opponents on the ice. But just showing up to off ice hockey training programs is not enough. They also need to know what to do and what not to do. Luckily, this list is here to break down the do’s and don’ts of off ice hockey training for youth.
What Not to Do
One of the most important things that players should be making sure that they never do at off ice hockey training is ploymetric training (aka Jumping and landing drills) too early. While ploys are a valuable workout and a necessary skill to have on the ice, it can end up doing more harm than good if it is done too early in a player’s training program.
Many young players do not possess the natural ability to land from a jump in a way that will not harm their body. If they do not know how to land properly, then doing jumps is only going to damage their bodies. That is why they should wait until their body is able to handle the potentially harsh impact of a jump.
A good way to prepare someone’s body for ploymetric exercises is to first teach them how to land properly. Once they have figured out how to safely land without inflicting too much damage on their knees and ankles, then jumping will become much easier and improve them rather than harm them.
What to Do
A highly-recommended strategy to get the most out of off ice hockey training is to focus on alignment, mobility, and mechanics before focusing on strength and power. While improving strength is important, and a great end goal to work towards, it is not where they should be starting.
If a player does not develop their mechanics and mobility first, they won’t get the results they are stroving for. Once they have worked on their mechanics, their form/technique will improve and their strength training results will improve.
By improving their alignment and mobility, players can also give themselves a bigger window of opportunity to develop their strength and power. They can raise the ceiling on their abilities, which will help them rise above the competition.
If you are interested in improving your hockey performance with one of our trainers, contact us here at NTC or give a session a try for free.