I think jump training is an effective way to improve lower body power development, and the ability to decelerate. Jump training gets a lot of emphasis because of the importance of maximizing force output while transitioning from a deceleration- to acceleration-based movement, or eccentric (muscle lengthening) to concentric (muscle shortening) contraction. This happens anytime you [...]

The needs of an ice hockey goalie are very specific. They need to: · Be exceptionally powerful through the hips, especially in lateral and diagonal movements · Be quick through the upper body, notably in independent arm actions · Maintain a large amount of joint range of motion · Be able to maintain a squat-like [...]

I recently started training a very talented goalie, with high aspirations. Her goal is to prepare herself physically to tryout for the Olympics. With this in mind, I think I should point out that I, as an athletic development coach, do not have any illusions of off-ice training making anyone Olympic-worthy. On-ice talent is by [...]

The main areas this program was meant to address are: 1) Improving soft-tissue quality of the muscles in the hip and thigh 2) Improving ankle range of motion 3) Strengthening the hip external rotators and abductors 4) Using isometrics (and one dynamic exercise-the reverse lunge) to strengthen the lower body Foam Roll Circuit: Anterolateral Hip, [...]

Those of you that know me personally know that I hold physical therapists in a very high regard. I’m fascinated by the education they receive. They truly are the only profession that is taught how we move, and expected to be able to apply their knowledge in a way to manipulate human movement in the [...]