Off-Ice Training
10 tips to Improve Your Stickhandling
Find out how to make the time you spend noodling around with a
stick and puck more productive. Download this great article
on improving your stick handling with these 10 tips.
http://growillinoishockey.com/featured/10-tips-to-improve-your-stickhandling/
Off-Ice Stick Handling Drills
Below are instructions and video links to introduce a new
off-ice training tool for the 2010-11 Jets season. The Swedish
stick-handling ball has been used by European and Russian players
alike for quite some time, and is now being implemented in most
Canadian hockey programs. It is used for "over-speed"
stick-handling exercises that are aimed at improving the hand-eye
coordination of players and developing what we commonly refer to as
a "soft touch". The idea being that if you can stick handle at an
accelerated speed off-ice you will be much more comfortable and
composed stick-handling on the ice where everything moves at game
speed.
Below you will find a set of instructions and the exercise
videos for the various drills. You may notice the player featured
in these videos produced by USA Hockey - a young Patrick Kane!
We've all seen what he can do on the ice. It starts by taking
ownership of making yourself better, putting in the time and effort
stick-handling off-ice.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) BE RESPONSIBLE:
Find a safe and acceptable area for your training session (e.g.
basement, garage, etc.) with no distractions (e.g., tv, phone,
siblings).
You are using a hard wooden ball and your stick which can cause
damage to many things.
2) SET ASIDE TIME FOR REGULAR TRAINING SESSIONS:
Spend between 3-5 minutes on each exercise.
Don't cut the time short; push yourself to finish each exercise
in full.
3) BE HONEST:
Don't cut corners. Do the exercises correctly (i.e., the way
they are demonstrated on the video). It's okay to make mistakes.
Just push through and stay at it.
This is a challenging workout that stimulates both your mind and
body. Be prepared to put in the work!
Increase difficulty when you are REALLY ready (i.e., have
mastered one set of exercises correctly).
4) CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES:
Once a week have a parent watch you do the drills to point out
proper technique. Part of getting better is knowing where you need
improvement. Ask for guidance.
Parents, this is an exercise in self-discipline for the player,
so we would suggest active encouragement and guidance but not
necessarily "mandatory" training sessions. We want players to take
ownership of making themselves better.
5) HAVE FUN:
This is a fun and fast exercise that allows you to be creative
and will make you a better hockey player. See where your creativity
takes you!
6) NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU BETTER EXCEPT YOURSELF:
Sidney Crosby used to shoot pucks in his basement all day long!
Use these exercises to improve your work ethic and discipline. Take
pride in working hard and doing things correctly and faster!
Remember, no one can make us better if we don't want to get
better. Put differently, it is your responsibility to make yourself
better. This is true of everything in life and not only hockey!
Work hard and we'll see you on the ice!
VIDEO LINKS:
(Please note that all players should begin with the 'Beginner'
exercises and not move onto 'Intermediate' until Beginner exercises
have been mastered)
Beginner
Drills
Intermediate
Drills
Advanced
Drills
Need to know where to find these Swedish Stick Handling Balls???
You can click here to
purchase on-line and they are also avaiable at Total Hockey stores
which are located throughout the Chicagoland area.
Off-Ice Training Videos Now Available
Below are videos your hockey player can add to his/her daily and
weekly fitness routines:
These videos are ideal for the whole family not just the young
athlete in training. And when mom or dad or older siblings include
these video lessons in their fitness routines, your hockey player
is a lot more likely to do the same. Win-win!
The Athlete's Guide to Better Eating
What's to eat? You probably hear that ten times a
day.
Choosing the best foods for a growing hockey player is not
easy.
That's why, at the recent Jets Fall Combine, each player was
quizzed on proper nutrition. This quiz (with answers) can be found
here.
It's also why the team at at Develop the Athlete created The Athlete's Guide to Better
Eating. Each food's superpowers, secret weapons, sidekicks
and imposters are spelled out, to make it easier for your athlete
to make smart choices. Check it out here.