Working out for Hockey

[megaman20]

Does anyone know a good routine to focus on to help train for playing ice hockey? any comments or links would be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

[RunningMan27]

Core work is critical for sports like hockey. I don't know an exact routine specifically for hockey, but I do have a routine I put the players (soccer) I coach through.

After each series we do not let our feet touch the ground. Break between each set for about 10-20 seconds. The entire routine lasts about 10-15 minutes.

1. Start off with 50 crunches.
2. 50 heel touches (similiar to crunches - lay flat on your back with legs bent and touch your heels with the tips of your fingers.
3. 50 row boats (balance yourself - kick legs outward and pull with your arms towards you)
4. Immediately following the last row boat hold your legs 3 inches above the ground while only balancing on your backside for 30 seconds.
5. 50 cross-overs (balancing yourself similiar to the rowboat - cross one leg over the other and switch. Do very quickly.)
6. 50 twisters (balancing like the rowboat with your legs straight and about 3-6 inches from the ground twist your body from right to left)
7. 50 Leg drops (performed with another person - person stands behind you with their feet near both of your shoulders. Your legs are in the air. They push your legs downward and you keep them from touching the ground)

I can say that this workout does a very good job maintaining and developing the core. I always do this workout with my players and I can tell the difference when I run, ski, etc...

[A1food4U]

Hardest thing in hockey is developing balanced legs. Too many players do only road work or squats. You should incorporate excersises that work all the stabalizers in the leg. Weighted walking lunges at a challenging pace makes the abductors work hard to keep your balance. If you have access to one, then a slide board can't be beat. . . .