Off season training...

[Just4Fun]

I‘m wanting to get some ideas about off-season training. What have players done in the past? Good experiences or bad experiences. On ice/off ice. Cheap or expensive. There is a group of 8th graders in our town that are looking to improve. Most played JV, a couple played varsity.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[hockeygod]

the best thing i have seen work for a group of girls is meeting once a week to play hockey at a arena and making sure someone is there to work with them if they need it......if it's fun for the girls they seem to show up on a pretty good turnout, if it's just a bunch of running drills they don't seem to show up. If the group does this all summer long and they go do there summer camps individualy, the team will become better because they will all come home from there camps and share with each other what they have learned, the biggest thing to remember is that they are not like the boys and are not driven to get better like boys are, you have to keep it fun

[Roman Legion]

I think that some girls are like boys and they like to be pushed hard to get better. Girls will respond to what the expectations that are put forth by the coaching staff. I have heard of some pretty intense HS summer programs out there. Also look at ODP. They push those girls really hard. It doesn't look like they lack numbers either.

You also have to think about the bottom line. Some of these camps are pretty expensive and you might not get the most bang for your buck compared to something local or something on your own or with a small group.

Keep in mind that one program isn't a cure all for everyone. You have to look at your needs as a player, your goals, and what resources you have to achieve your goals.

[SportsMa]

I agree that there are a number of girls that like to be pushed hard to get better and those are likely the very competitive minded girls. As has been said I really think it depends on your own player's strengths, weaknesses and personality to what is going to be most effective for her and this will vary each off season. Our daughter is very competitive and gets frustrated with the "keeping it fun" only type of training. The staff she has continued to work with are the ones that push but do fun things to acknowledge the hard work. She lifts weights regularly, completes an off ice speed and agility program, informal shooting and stick handling program and participates in various summer on ice opportunities depending on what she is working the most to improve on that off season and what is being offered in our area. We are outstate so our choices are more limited likely.

[SportsMa]

I should add a number of our daughter's teammates get together and blade or bike and then stickhandle/shoot about once a week in the summer and often end up at our place for supper and a swim in the lake. They do have fun with that and it seems to have helped with team chemistry.

[keepitreal]

I agree with what many are saying here. Largely depends on the kids and their attitudes. Supervised dryland will make a big difference-- weight training with light weights and large numbers of reps is excellent, as is plyometrics and flexibility training mixed with cardio. Again, supervision from a trainer is the key to this. Once (proper) training becomes part of a routine, we tend to crave a degree of activity and are more careful about the type of foods we ingest and getting rest--very important to teens. This creates a platform for other hockey activities such as rollerblading and shooting pucks. If there's a group of girls who wish to do these activities together, so much the better. If they enjoy things like tennis, soccer, lacrosse, etc., let them play and shelve the skates for a couple of months.

At some point in the summer, either once-a-week ongoing or in a week-long camp format, I would supplement these activities with individual skill training depending on what needs the most attention. Most everyone will benefit from powerskating instruction with overspeed training, stride analysis and edge work. Stickhandling is another individual skill that can be improved in camps or programs. Make sure they have a place to shoot dryland pucks (and targets to shoot at).

Kids are smart. Once they have a basis of understanding for what they need to do, and most importantly, how to do it, they will work more efficiently toward improvement. Good instruction for individual skills is vital.

Lastly, make sure the kids enjoy what they are doing. Don't push, let them decide on the amount and level of intensity. If they experience personal success, chance are they will want more soon enough.

[ghshockeyfan]

PPress has an interesting article about this sort of thing today:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincitie ... 515431.htm

[titleist]

you couldn't be more right by saying, "shelve the skates" for a while. There is nothing worse for a coach that gets a player who's burned out for their regular season. As long as a kid stays busy doing something active, it will cross train them and help them do Hockey things. I hate having parents tell me that if Johnny or Jenny doesn't play summer hockey with her teammates, she'll fall behind. Are you kidding me? That rumor was started by the guy running the hockey camp. Check the stats on the majority of Divison I athletes, most were multiple sport athletes who happened to excel in one of them.

[hockeygod]

If a kid does any off season training they should keep fun, once it becomes work it leads to burnout. as long as it's fun and there enjoying it I say let the kids have at it. My daughter does hocky things all summer long but she does it cause she loves it. When she gets bored of it she goes off and plays some tennis or off with her friends. Let kids be Kid and enjoy there lives before they become traped like the rest of us

[SportsMa]

We also have a daughter who LOVES playing hockey and does a variety of hockey things over the summer but she also plays tennis, softball and participates in lake activities over the summer months. Friends are big part of this mix. She would be very sad if she was not playing hockey of some kind in the summer.

I think it really depends on the kid. Our one daughter LOVES to be that active while we have another daughter who needs her down time and an adult son who is similar to our very active daughter. Parents need to know their kids and have conversations with them to best judge what is too much or not enough. Parents need to talk with their children so communication lines are open not just about off season training but life.

[hockeygod]

it sounds like we have the same daughter sportsma, the key id if the kids having fun, if there enjoying working out then it's not work

[SportsMa]

I agree. As long as they are having fun and enjoying it is the key otherwise they will burn out!

Glad to know that there are others out there that are similar to our active daughter.

[ghshockeyfan]

Here's a good opportunity:

http://www.bgoski.com/MHPD_07.pdf