Tag: continuing education

Simple Hockey Training Trick with a Large On-Ice Impact

I remember hearing Michael Boyle talk about how he had Cam Neely step on a scale with his equipment on and how surprised he was about how much weight the equipment added.

With over 15 years of experience playing hockey, you’d think I would have picked up on this on my own. From time to time something like this comes along to remind me how smart I’m not. Coach Boyle noted that hockey equipment can add around 20 pounds.

Is it any wonder why so many hockey players train so hard off the ice, then still feel drained the first time they’re on the ice?

Of course, part of that is because of the unique pattern of ice skating. In my opinion, the majority of this horrible feeling of fatigue is due to the extra weight.

The simple solution? Progress to adding a weight vest on your athletes while they condition. An example of a progression could be as basic as: 4 weeks of body weight conditioning; 4 weeks of training with a 10 lb weight vest on; 4 weeks of training with a 20 lb (or two 10 lb) weight vest. If you’re feeling really innovative, condition them with their helmets on too, as the helmet will affect the way heat escapes the body.

Simple, yet effective. That’s the name of the game.

– Kevin Neeld

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

I Stole This!

The longer I study athletic development, the more I realize that I have a lot to learn. One of the best ways to learn a lot quickly is to talk to other professionals to get a different perspective. As soon as I moved down to Baltimore I emailed Nick Tumminello and asked if I could pick his brain a bit.
Nick is a brilliant guy that does a lot of work with figure competitors and MMA fighters. While that’s not exactly the population I work with, a lot of training concepts will be similar among athletes.

Nick showed me this exercise to work on core strength in a rotational deceleration pattern. This is strength that you’ll use every time you give a pass or take a shot. It’s extremely functional, extremely hard to do well, and extremely funny looking. The perfect formula for an awesome exercise.

[quicktime] http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/Stick%20Hit%20Rotation%20(Jamie%20Carroll).mov [/quicktime]

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

The Secret Way to Drastically Improve your Hockey Training

This goes for non-hockey players too. The best way to get the most bang for your training buck is to find a highly motivated partner and push each other.

You’ll be surprised how quickly you start to make progress when you’re paired up with a supportive AND competitive training partner.
Nothing creates on-ice success and friendship like a 150-Yard Shuttle Run.

[quicktime] http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/150-Yard%20Shuttle%20(Carroll%20&%20Tangradi).mov[/quicktime]

– Kevin Neeld

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

True Hockey Strength

This is what happens when you combine work ethic, raw strength, and a well-designed training program. The 1-Arm Dumbbell Hang Snatch is a great exercise to develop lower body explosiveness and force transfer through the core.
Endeavor will soon need to buy a new set of heavier dumbbells to accommodate Jamie’s dominance.

[quicktime] http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/1-Arm%20DB%20Hang%20Snatch%20(Jamie%20Carroll%2090%20x%202).mov [/quicktime]

For the sport-specific fanatics out there that can’t see how this transfers on the ice, think of it this way. Any time you give or accept a check, you begin to produce force by pushing your skates into the ground, transfer the force through your core, and continue to transfer that force through your shoulder to an ill-prepared opponent. Any time you shoot you start to generate power through your hips, transfer it through your core, and follow through with your wrists.

Training isn’t about taking a pattern from the game (e.g. shooting with a weighted stick) and overloading it to death. In fact, that can lead to muscle imbalances that increase injury risk. Training is about teaching, reinforcing, and strengthening movement strategies, power generation/transfer and creating strength balance.

Train harder. Train smarter.

– Kevin Neeld

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

Flyer’s Propect Van Riemsdyk trains at Endeavor

James Van Riemsdyk, the 2nd overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyer’s in the 2007 draft, is one of the many notable hockey players that has walked through our doors at Endeavor Fitness.

In this interview with ABC, James talks about how he’s preparing for his NHL debut.

*If the video does not appear below, click here to watch it directly from the ABC site.

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!