I love this time of year.  Currently, we are transitioning from off-season/summer mode into our pre-season mode.  Most of our players are coming back into town and we are getting some great team based work in.  I think it is a great time to help build the team with good workouts and skates.

Over at HockeySC.com, we’ve had some really good contributions over the last 2 weeks:

Articles

Using Microsoft Excel for Analyzing Training Data by Mike Potenza

The Red Zone: Stress Management 101 by Anthony Donskov

Videos

Reverse Hyper Iso Hold by Mike Potenza

Programs

Off-Season Phase 4 Strength Training by me

Phase 1 Fall Workout by Darryl Nelson

Be sure to also check out the forum.  There have been some interesting discussions including one on breathing masks and one on in-season training for midgets.

Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help make your experience on the site as positive as possible.

Thanks!

I can’t believe it is already August.  Training camp and the beginning of hockey season will be here in no time.   Off-season training programs are going in full swing in the USA and Canada with lots of players returning to the ice for on-ice conditioning sessions.

My son Will just completed the spring/summer In-House league at Anaheim Ice.  During this season, he was actually “traded” or added from one team to another.  In fact, they actually played each other in the finals with Will’s new team, the Blazers winning the championship.  Now, he is getting ready for Mite-B travel hockey (while also playing soccer), which will start real soon.  As a parent, it was so neat to watch him continue in his development as a hockey player.

It’s been a few weeks since my last update on the site.  During that time, HockeySC has added lots of content.

Here is what we have added:

Articles

Y-Balance and Ice Hockey by Jeff Cubos

Presentation from the 25^th Roge Neilson Hockey Clinic in Windsor,Ontario: Considerations for a Developmental Hockey Program by Mike Potenza

Friesen Physio Fitness Summitt by Pete Friesen

Looking Deeper Into the Visual System by Kevin Neeld

Videos

Med Ball Off-Season Throws by Mike Potenza

1-Arm Cleans by Darryl Nelson

Programs

4 Day Off-Season by Darryl Nelson

Off-Season Phase 3 Strength Training by Me

That’s it for now.  Please remember to check out the forum the next time that you log on.  We have some good discussions going on such as aerobic training, Y-Balance test, and psoas specific work.

Thanks!

Sean

I can’t believe that it is almost July.  For any Strength and Conditioning Coach who works with hockey players in the off season, the summer months are a busy time and the best time to make an impact with our players.  I love this time of the year because this is when it is just the Strength and Conditioning Coach/staff and the players.  No games or practices; just strength and conditioning sessions.

Before I get into what was recently posted on HockeySC.com, I want to post some of the comments that were made by Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf in regards to playing different sports at a young age. This was originally posted on Ducks.NHl.com.  He is a guy that I have been honored to work with over the last 9 years.  He also happens to be a really good hockey player who has won championships at every level he has played at.

On Ryan Getzlaf playing baseball as a kid:

“Growing up, I always believed in playing different sports, and so did my family. We didn’t want to focus on one thing. I played baseball, volleyball, football and all that stuff. As you get older, you kind of have to pick a route and that’s when I leaned toward hockey. “

“I was very involved and I loved baseball. I loved being outside. I was a catcher, so I got to be in control a little bit, which is a good thing for me. I loved football, but I think I was better at baseball.”

Recently at HockeySc, we have had some great contributions:

New Article:

Defensemen Specific Speed by me.

Videos:

Phase 1 Sprinting Variations by Kevin Neeld

Hip Extension Holds by Mike Potenza

Programs:

Off-Season 2012 Phase 2 Strength Training by me

3-Day Off-Season Program by Darryl Nelson

On the forum, we have some interesting discussions going on about FMS and Y-Balance tests, Crossfit workouts for elite players, and a post on programming questions.  Please check out the forum the next time that you log on.

That’s it for now.

Thanks!

Sean

I just checked out the recent copy of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.  While I do admit to “skimming” through these journals, whenever I come across a study that interests me, I will read it.

In this issue (Volume 26, Number 5, May 2012); I came across 2 studies that I was interested in.  I would say that I am probably not the best at writing research reviews as I am aware that there might be some specific protocols that need to be done.  I swear that I did pay attention during my research methods class while I was in graduate school.  However, I am now at the point where I basically take what I learn from a study and hopefully apply what I learn.  This is why I am posting my thoughts here.

The first one was Effects of Weightlifting vs. Kettlebell Training on Vertical Jump, Strength, and Body Composition by William H. Otto, III, Jared W. Coburn, Lee E. Brown, and Barry SA. Spiering.  Page 1199. In this study the researchers looked at 2 different groups.  One group performed kettlebell exercises 2 times per week for 6 weeks, while the other group performed barbell only weightlifting exercises.  Prior to the training, each student was assessed for height, body mass, body composition, back squat 1-rm, vertical jump, and power clean 1-rm.  At the end of the 6 weeks, each student was re-assessed.  What the authors concluded was that both groups increased strength and power.  However, the weightlifting group showed greater gains in strength than the kettlebell group.

I think this study is good in that it does show that kettlebell training can help improve strength and power.  For me, I like kettlebells as a tool in addition to the barbell and other methods.  So that it does show that I am not wasting anyone’s time by incorporating kettlebells.  However, it’s important to talk about the methods of training in the study.  The kettlebell group used a 16-k kettlebell for their exercises which included swings, accelerated swings, and the goblet squat.  The weightlifting group performed high pulls, power cleans, and back squats at a load of 80% of 1-rm.  What I think may be misleading (again, I am a Strength and Conditioning Coach, not a researcher or scientist) is that the students who are healthy men, performed the back squat for 6 weeks while the kettlebell group did not back squat.  The back squat post assessment is what the authors used to conclude that weightlifting was superior for gaining strength.  Also, a 16-k kettlebell can be pretty light for some people.  While I also don’t disagree with the fact that it could be heavy for some, I wish there was a way that they could have made the kettlebell load more comparable to the loads in terms of percentage of 1-rm in the weightlifting group.  All in all, I am very happy the kettlebells are being investigated in the training process.

The second study was Relationship of Off-Ice and On-Ice Performance Measures in High School Male Hockey Players by David A. Krause, Aynsley M. Smith, Laura C. Holmes, Corrine R. Klebe, Jennifer B. Lee, Kimberly M. Lundquist, Jospeph J. Eischen, and John H. Hollmen. Page 1423.  Obviously by being a Strength and Conditioning Coach in hockey, anytime there is a study on relationships between off-ice and on-ice performance, I am all ears.  This study consisted of 40 high school age players who were from the junior varsity and varsity levels.  What the authors did was measure horizontal hops (both single and double leg), vertical jumps (both single and double leg), lateral hops, dynamic balance through the Y-Balance test, and a 40-yard sprint.  Then they measured some on-ice tests including a course for short radius turns, crossover turns, and a sprint test (goal line through opposite blue line).  5 of the off-ice variables correlated with all on-ice measurements including  the 40-yard sprint, lateral bound right to left limb, broad jump, balance on right in posterolateral direction  and composite balance performance on the right.  However, the 40-yard sprint was most predictive of on-ice skating speed.  What was really interesting is that the authors said that “Based on our regression equation, for every 1-second difference in the 40-yard sprint time, there will be approximately a .6-second difference in the on-ice sprint.”

Although the authors did say “We cannot say that improving sprint time will result in a faster skater”, at the end of the study, I have to believe that improving sprint performance off-ice should be a priority anyone who trains hockey players.  The faster players have greater chances to be better players on the ice.

It is ok to train hockey players like a sprinter. Although I would probably never use the 40-yard dash in my athletes’ speed training, I do believe in trying to improve acceleration.