Skills Development and Conditioning

Ice hockey is one of the most complex sports in the world. Hockey players go through conditioning and skill development to improve their game performance.

We understand that hockey players must be conditioned specifically for hockey together with skill development at certain age and certain time.

Our skill - conditioning programs help players skate, shoot, pass, check, stop and start, pivot, cross over, take one-on-ones and play the game of hockey at higher intensity, go harder for longer into a shift and recover faster between shifts on the bench.

We also use conditioning - skill programs from other sports to prepare a player for a hockey game especially at younger age, because each sport has its own unique characteristics, biomechanical requirements and specific physiological demands.

Our Conditioning Basics

Quality over quantity

A short, intense, specific workout produces greater results than long, general workout with random exercises.

Safety Considerations

Warming up before each and every workout and practice, always assess technique, establishing an adequate base of strength and aerobic fitness before intensive explosive and complex movement, drinking plenty of water before, during and after workout, especially in hot weather. Safety first!

Progressive Overload

Our drills, exercises and conditioning programs are designed to be stressful enough to stimulate energy systems and physical changes in the body so the muscles will adapt to become stronger and fit. Number of repetitions, intensity, frequency and duration is designed according the players age and abilities.

Rest and Recovery

Actual physical improvement and adaptation occurs after the training sessions. The muscle need time to adapt and to grow. During the period of rest the muscle responds to the training stimulus and physical development occurs. The rest and recovery period is as important to conditioning as the actual workout itself. If an adequate rest period is not taken, over-training can cause an injury.

Understanding that improvement relies on physical recovery, mental and emotional rest will benefit players, coaches, teams as well as parents.

Periodization

Hockey season is divided into off-season, preseason, in-season and post season phase. Our conditioning programs are based on principles that suggest the best time for workout with adequate rest and recovery. Our drills and exercises are suitable to each player or team during any time of the hockey season.

Nutrition

Eating the right things at the right time helps to produce superior physical and physiological results, faster and complete recovery after workouts, so players will have a full energy supply for the next practice or hockey game.

Proper nutrition supplies energy for conditioning, allows more intense training and delays fatigue. Players will recover faster and prevent injury or sickness.