Looking for a more explosive hockey stride for quick takeoffs?

There is more to being quick in hockey than just having good legs or knowing the right techniques. You must be physically fit, train regularly, practice as often as you can and be very disciplined.

To excel in any sport - training, practicing, working out must be a way of life.

Here's more info on quick acceleration for becoming an explosive hockey player.

http://hubpages.com/t/b8ccd

Cheers,

Martial

Injury prevention tip

Here is a question I received from a "Men's Hockey League" player... but can apply to all ages and all sports too!

Subject: Hockey Training/Injury Prevention

Question: Hi Martial,I've been playing in the adult league for about two years and really enjoy it. I was wondering if you have any tips on preventing those little aches and pains that develop over the season such as hip flexors and hyper-extensions.

Answer: The best thing to do is take the time to do a (full) and proper warm up and stretch... (There is much written on this - "google it" i.e. http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:http://www.netfit.co.uk/fitness/stretching/warm-up-stretches.htm!)

Make especially sure that you stretch all your large muscle groups - legs (hamstring, groin, etc.), back, shoulders, forearms and neck...

Get your blood flowing good before jumping into "harder" play. Skate around -- don't just take shots in warm up! Do some stops and starts -- get the cardio pumping good oxygen.

Staying in good shape off the ice is also very important for minimizing injuries. Ride bike. Do some plyometric exercises. Even lifting some small weights will help!

And finally a good diet (veggies, fruits, fibre) - with proper hydration will help with the muscle aches and pains... It's about getting and staying HEALTHY and vibrant -- and stay away from the COUCH or sitting in front of the PC for too long! HA HA!

Hope this helps!

Good luck with the puck...

Martial

Motivating our child to play THE GAME OF HOCKEY!

Here is another great question I received... It will provide some extra depth to the previous post...

Subject: Motivating 8 year old boy in hockey

Question: Hi, My 8 yr old son is a good hockey player yet often lacks motivation. This past season he made the top novice team in his first year. It was a bit hard on him to make the jump from Tyke. Even though he is a fast skater for his age, he often showed a lack of motivation during the year. This improved towards the end of the season and our head coach said it may have taken him some time to gain his confidence. It is now the end of the season and I was thinking of putting him into a summer league with players all his same age, where, based on him having just played with kids a year older than him, I would expect him to excel.

However, I brought him to a practice and he showed the same lack of motivation traits he showed during the novice season. The general expectation in his hockey association is that he should be the "go to" kid next year in his second year of novice, however, I am concerned. I have made the choice to pull him out of summer hockey and let him just enjoy the summer. Is this the right choice?

Answer: Great question! THANK YOU! Have you asked your son - exactly what HE really really wants? Obviously he needs to feel free to speak his heart's desire for you to really know. Now some kids just don't know - and so as a parent we have to do our best to be patient and understanding till he "feels" the thing he really wants - for himself...

He can follow mom or dad's steps and give all he's got and be quite good - but he will never have that inner peace one needs to really really really excel and be in FULL JOY of being... this is a tricky aspect of parenting. So unless he can tell you exactly what he wants - you have to judge by his heart - effort in the activities he participates in. If hockey is NOT his thing - then by all means - yes try something else... Especially at this age - unless a child really knows and can express himself clearly and openly - then the best we can do as parents is provide him with options and then unconditionally support him. If it doesn't work out - it doesn't work... let it go - and try something else - but keep having conversations with him... at some point it will come from his heart of hearts and you will both know.

Note: some kids do have it in their heart to please mom or dad... this is difficult too - as this may have come from the very early years and not his TRUE nature... but ride it out with him - keep talking to him and maybe letting him know that what pleases you is what pleases him!! It's all process... My wife and I have 3 children (17, 21 and 23) and not one was the same.... LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT - and everything will be just fine!

This may be a bit more than you expected - but raising your son with love and harmony is worth every word... hockey is a great game to play yes - he will see that THROUGH you and his friends... if the FUN is seen - he will jump in ... if not... it's no big deal -- REALLY... life is abundant.

Good luck... feel free to ask any follow up questions. I will share my experiences and ultimately you can make your choices the best you know how.

Enjoy the process,

Martial

Motivating Son/Daughter to Play again?

I received a question some time ago from a parent, that I know many may come or have come to have to deal with... here is some food for thought that we shared. Please note you are free to add comments and open this to a discussion that we can all share and benefit from!

As times change, and we are so busy with so much - many of us are having to rely on a returning to raising children using "older times village" concepts... where we all can partner in helping and collaborating in our evolutions.

Subject: How can we motivate our son to get back into hockey?

Question: Our son has now been playing rep hockey for several years. He is an amazing player when he puts his heart into it. We aren't those parents that yell at him after a game. It just seems that he doesn't put his all into it anymore and we have asked him why? He said he still loves it and wants to play it but we still don't understand why his motivaton has gone! Please help us to try and motivate him we have tried everything!!! From a concerned parent...

Answer: Dear Concerned Parent... I can certainly empathize with what you are experiencing. Without knowing "MORE" about your son's total experience it may be difficult to pinpoint what could be the issue here. However I can offer a couple question/ideas from my experience as coach/instructor and hockey dad/parent... and you can maybe explore these with your family...

I assume that you have determined that it is not something physical -- i.e. some particular health issue that could be draining him!?

Given that, sometimes a boy may lose "energy" because of a particular conflict with a teammate or coach... a certain fear from some sort of intimidation. Of course - I don't know if your son speaks openly about these things - but some kids don't necessarily ... so you may need a slow heart to heart talk to find out this sort of stuff... An alternative may be to speak with some of his friends, or parents of his friends if he "travels" with others. They may have overheard something.

It is GREAT that you are concerned by this as there could be underlying problems that he may need guidance on... Here are some other ideas?

Is it possible that he has a new girlfriend in his eye? Could it be that he may no longer want to play in the position that he is in (defense or forward or even goalie??) Maybe he wants to have a chance at scoring goals? Or getting more physical.

Is there a bully on the team? Is it possible that he is being teased - and he does not like it?

Maybe he witnessed or experienced something that is troubling him and makes it hard for him to "feel" fully energized or at ease?

It is not uncommon that there may be a part of him that really wants to please his parents too... so you may have to somehow make it clear (if you can) that you will be happy and proud and love him no matter what he chooses to do (without conditions)... providing he gives it his "best" even if it does not include what YOU think is "his all"?

Maybe he likes hockey - but it is not his "passion"? Maybe he has found another passion and does not know how to tell you about it? Maybe he is still searching for a passion that really turns him on??

All this to basically say - that there may be something more that is not fully known or apparent... these are times, as parents, where we must be real patient, understanding, open, offering him compassion and allow for him/her to open up somehow -- as this is generally the "best" way to find out in most cases... Know too that this CAN take a while - so go slow and go with the flow - show genuine interest in him and "his" life - keep talking ... never give up on him ... and if you pray, do so that he opens up and shares. Otherwise hang in there ... most often it is a passing fad and it may just fade away... But unless you are involved in his life and show you care - you never know what "other" road he could take.

Know this -- he is very lucky to have you -- you would be surprised at how many parents care less and don't even bother...

Feel free to provide comments and share experiences!

GOOD LUCK WITH THE PUCK!

Martial

IDEAS FOR TRYOUT PREPARATION

Here are some tips about tryouts in general which includes some notions even if one does not make it "yet"!!! These are also very good and basic notions for getting primed for "any sort of test". (Like final exams even!?)

#1. Prepare as best you can: (The more you do the more confident you will be and the more confident you are - the more FUN you will have, you will be relaxed and you WILL perform better!)

a) Mentally: Make sure you "know" what you need to know. About game - about team philosophy - about system - about coaches, etc. Do some research. Do your homework. Explore! With the Internet - there is very you little you can't find out!

b) Physically: Be FIT. Be Rested. Be Hydrated. Be fed. Be "ready". Take care of your body - it's your engine that will be running your performance. Make sure it's tuned and fully fueled with the best "petrol" you can put in it!

c) Emotionally: Be positive. Be confident. Be poised. Be strong. Commit to doing your very best and then "let go". You can relax by "knowing" that you can and will GIVE your best - having prepared as BEST you can. Then relax. One way to help do that is "detach" yourself of the outcome. While you REALLY want to make the team and it may make a BIG difference if you don't -- you will still be "alive" and able to pursue other things. i.e. it won't be the end of the world. SO JUST RELAX - this will allow you to perform "better"... if you make it you make it -- if you don't - there will be other things you can DO... (This is not giving up - this is about not WEIGHING you down with worry!!)

d) Spiritually: Along similar lines to emotion - you must be "psyched UP". You must be pumped, enthusiastic, positive. You must be FULL OF SPIRIT. Regardless of your skill(s) and how you fit in - if you SHOW high spirits (having fun, smiling, relaxed) during the tryouts - YOU WILL BE NOTICED. Many coaches LOVE ENERGY. SPIRIT is best shown THROUGH energy. They can ALWAYS work on skills and teaching... but if a player has no drive (regardless of talent) it's real hard for a coach to work with that. SO HAVE FUN - show it off. Talk it up out there. Be loose. Encourage others. SHOW SPIRIT!

#2. Another thing you can do to boost your stock is to go to the tryout with a "plan" or "vision" in your mind. Take time before going out on ice to VISUALIZE how you will perform - skating, shooting, passing, stick handling, hitting. SEE THIS IN YOUR MIND'S EYE before hand. It will help you "think less" and DO MORE while on the ice. Think of the best games you played, the best moves you made, the best hits you've thrown, etc. Relive these over and over. It will build your confidence and that will build your spirit. Also when you visualize (all good athletes do this before EVERY performance) - don't dwell on the "how's" too much ... see yourself doing the great plays - but leave the "hows" to your training and practice times over the years. TRUST THAT! Also, always finish your sessions with SEEING yourself after having SUCCESS -- i.e. making the team - wearing game day shirt and tie, or jersey, or team jacket. Taking the bus to games... skating in rinks "on the road" ... you must see yourself as HAVING MADE THE TEAM - or having REACHED your goal... NO ROOM FOR DOUBT - this builds the confidence... and helps remove 'fear - worry'....

3. Finally - FEAR NOT! The worse thing that can happen (typically) is you DON'T make the team - but that will not end your life. SO relax AND HAVE FUN with it. Once you are on the ice -- just "show off" the BEST VERSION of yourself as a hockey player and let the coaches decide. Don't be afraid to chatter it up, to help your mates BE BETTER, to be tough and even "intimidate" - but with a smile... Hockey is often times considered 75-90% about confidence. EXUDE CONFIDENCE! PREPARE WELL ... be healthy and HAVE FUN! BELIEVE YOU WILL MAKE IT... (but move on if you don't!)

Make Sense?

Good luck with the puck!

Martial

An optimized Hockey Stride

Ever wondered how is a really good hockey stride "technically" put together?

For optimum power and optimum speed?






Here's my take on a near perfect hockey skating stride:

1. Knees AND ankles must be bent - (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - and LACKING in many present day skaters).

2. In forward skating only, feet must cut ice off inside edge at 45 degree angle and as close to center line of body position as possible. When gliding or doing cross overs or cross unders - use of outside edge becomes extremely important.

3. Must encourage a FULL LENGTH stride with toe snap at extension AND, after leg is freed from ice, then add foot 'back kick' towards butt with a quick recovery to next stride... (Watch for shortening of strides - must keep them 'longer' --- Also, even though stride is 'FULL' - the feet must still MOVE IN QUICK AND CHANGING RHYTHM OR TEMPOS.... 1,2,3, - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3 - 1,2 - 1,2 - 1,2,3 'FAST CHANGING FOOT SPEED' is a general deficiency in youth hockey)

4. Arms are to swing in 'front to back motion' with elbows bent creating an 'almost’ across the body finish... i.e. keeping hands with stick in 'ON ICE' ready position. Adding hands-snapping-at-wrist will also increase thrust. (Here again fast hands in rhythm with feet will create a faster skater --- i.e. fast hands - fast feet.) (Being natural with the above foot speed technique will keep upper and lower body separate and cause the player to RELAX his hands which in turn will lighten the grip on the stick and thus make the hands 'faster'... hence 'fast feet - fast hands'... though it is not the connection that causes the speed - it is the DISCONNECTION!!!)

5. Adding a shoulders' rising motion with the forward stride will increase thrust and speed even more.

6. As one advances in natural stride perfection adding a slight head turning motion will add even more 'weight' to the forward thrust.

7. Finally, though not necessarily completely, the upper body should have a comfortable forward lean. - This will vary with the size and 'nature' of the body... but a trend towards a lower and forward leaning body position will help the overall acceleration, speed and power of the stride.

REMEMBER: FOCUS ON ACCURACY AND INTENTIONALITY OF ALL OF THE ABOVE FIRST... MAKE PERFECT REPS.... THEN ADD SPEED/POWER AS THE REPS ARE PERFECTED.

*** Repeat perfectly 1500 times and you won't ever have to think about how to do it ever again!! ***

"Practice does NOT make perfect" - only PERFECT PRACTICE makes PERFECT!!

Good Luck with the Puck,

Martial