Training for any sport is a necessity. Even if your naturally good at any

sport in particular, working on those acquired skills will make you even

better. The sport of Hockey is no different. If you look at the best players

in the world, you would be out of luck trying to find any of the "greats"

that didn't incorporate some form of training into their routine. To put it

simply, training is important. It's a must. It helps you improve, and the

benefits can be tremendous.

The Importance of Flexibility

Flexibility may be one of the most overlooked aspects of physical preparation.

For some, flexibility consists of nothing more than some half hearted

stretches following their endurance, speed or strength session(s), giving

little importance to this crucial aspect. This is something that shouldn't be

overlooked. Don't leave this part out.

Working On Speed

If you want the power to move quickly and the stamina for sustained hard

skating, you must condition the muscles and cardiovascular system to build

strength, power, and endurance. While flexibility is an important aspect to

your training routine, strength and power are equally important as the key

for speed development. The Step-Up in particular is an excellent exercise as

it targets the quad, glut-hamstring muscle groups that are key for speed

development. Stick handling can also greatly improve your speed, in addition

to timing, eye and stick coordination, precision, puck control, touch, feel

and consistency when handling a puck or stick handling ball.

Working on Strength

Strength conditioning has increasingly become a central factor to one's

hockey training routine. For most athletes, it is an essential component in

their training program(s), and therefore should not be neglected.

Incorporating exercises in your routine that help improve both core strength

and postural stability are critical. Strengthening the abs in particular,

which can be done using a medicine ball in addition to other methods, can

greatly improve strength and explosiveness. When using weights in a strength

conditioning program, it is recommended to start off with light weights,

build some initial strength, and then work your way up. Increasing the

strength of one's upper body will allow players to shoot with more power and

pass over a greater range of distances. Most importantly though, sports

demand that you work your whole body, and thus you should incorporate a whole-

body workout, especially for improving core strength.

In all, the "practice routines" mentioned above are only a few ideas that can

be applied to help improve your game of hockey. There are many articles you

can find on the Internet that go in-depth about each aspect and more for your

sport of choice, including hockey.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, training for your sport of choice is a

necessity. Whether that's baseball, basketball, or even hockey. It doesn't

matter what the sport is, training will help improve not only your skills,

but of course, your overall game performance. One thing I must stress is that

training shouldn't be looked at as something negative. Something that "has"

to be done, but you don't really feel like doing. In reverse, it should be

looked at as something that's positive, knowing that the effort you put in

will be well worth it and most definitely pay off.

Make the "training routine" that you create for yourself a fun one. That's so

important. In whatever you do, and it's not just limited to sports, you

should look for the "fun in it." Get friends to join you and have them

actually partake in the actual exercises or have them act as your coach,

lending you some motivation. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and

train. Good luck!