WHEN TO HIT THE ICE?
Let a month or more pass before you even think
about strapping on the blades. Pros will play a
weekly scrimmage to get their timing back or work
with a powerskating coach to improve their stride.
For developing players, it’s okay to do a weekly skate
or 3on3 hockey but let there be a gap from the end of
the winter season to the summer skates.
As summer nears its’ end, you’re going to transition
from gym hours to rink hours. The focus from off-ice
training will shift to on-ice conditioning. This usually
takes place a month or so out from the fall training
camps. You’ll still want to keep an off-ice workout
going but here’s where you start to zero-in on the
hockey again.
RESULTS
Just in time for training camps, you’ll be leaner, stronger and quicker than
you’ve ever been and you’ll have the physical and mental energy to attack
another season of winter hockey. You will reap the rewards of a proper
summer program of off-ice and on-ice development and you’ll be happy
to have had the time spent with friends and family; which is the ultimate
reward.
Adam Bennett is the Coach & Mentor for student/athletes at
International Hockey Academy Florida in Clearwater, FL.
Visit www.ihaflorida.com for more information.
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