Tag: off ice training programs

Inside Speed Training for Hockey…

Since publishing Ultimate Hockey Training in 2011, I received three specific pieces of feedback repeatedly.

The first was a request for programs.

    This is pretty straight forward. For many hockey coaches, players, and parents, they just wanted to know exactly what to do, not necessarily all the “whys”.

    And for performance coaches, seeing programs helps provide visual examples of how all the pieces fit together.

The second was a question that came up over and over – “What do I need to do to get quicker/faster?”

    As the game continues to get faster, speed becomes a huge factor in whether players are able to successfully compete at a certain level.

    A general strength and conditioning program will likely be helpful for most people, there are definitely specific considerations if a player’s primary goal is to improve speed.

Lastly, many of the hockey coaches, players, and parents wanted simpler language.

    Here’s the thing – I really wrote Ultimate Hockey Training for “performance” professionals. There was a lot of foundational science and industry “lingo” that was tough to follow without a background in kinesiology/exercise science.

I said in my last email that I really appreciated your feedback, and I meant it.

In fact, your feedback led directly to the creation of Speed Training for Hockey.

Save 39% on your copy here: Speed Training for Hockey

My goal in writing Speed Training for Hockey was simple…

Put together a comprehensive resource on all topics related to speed development for hockey written in language that can be easily understood by hockey coaches, players, and parents.

In Speed Training for Hockey, you’ll learn:

  • Age-specific training strategies to help optimize speed across different stages of development
  • Technique tips for improving speed both off and on the ice
  • Simple tests to identify range of motion limitations that will prevent you from getting into your ideal skating position
  • The specific physical qualities that you need to develop to maximize your speed potential
  • The most effective foundational nutrition and recovery methods to help you compete at high speeds consistently
  • Powerful strategies to help maximize your game-speed and give you a competitive advantage over your competition

Get your copy here: Speed Training for Hockey

    And to take the guesswork completely out of this process, you’ll also get access to three 12-week off-season training programs designed for players in the U-14 (PeeWees), 14-18 (Bantams & Midgets), and 18+ (Juniors and College) age groups.

    These programs integrate all of the information in the book to provide you with everything you need to maximize your speed development AND your ability to repeat that high-speed efforts consistently over the course of a game.

    This includes warm-up, speed/acceleration, power, strength, conditioning, and flexibility work, all specifically designed to make players faster.

    The programs are accompanied by a video database, so you can see exactly how to correctly perform all of the exercises, and tips on how to make adjustments if you’re missing certain pieces of equipment.

    Simply, short of including a power skating coach, Speed Training for Hockey includes everything you need to maximize your speed development.

And for the next two weeks, you can save over 39% on your copy by clicking the link below!

Get your copy here: Speed Training for Hockey

As always, feel free to post any questions you may have below.

To your success,

Kevin Neeld
HockeyTransformation.com
OptimizingMovement.com
UltimateHockeyTraining.com

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Top Hockey Training Videos of 2012

Today, we’ll dive into the top Hockey Training and Exercise Videos of 2012. If you’ve missed the previous articles in this series, you can check them out at the links below:

  1. Top Hockey Training and Development Posts of 2012
  2. Top Performance Training and Injury Prevention Posts of 2012
  3. Top Hockey Nutrition Posts of 2012

1) Ultimate Hockey Training: Transitional Speed Training for Hockey

2) Ultimate Hockey Training: Hockey Conditioning

3) Ultimate Hockey Training: Comprehensive Off-Ice Training Programs

4) CAM Impingement: Training Implications

5) Hockey Strength and Conditioning: Thoracic Mobility Progression

6) Hockey Training: Mobility/Recovery Circuit

7) Hockey Training: 3-Way Split Squat IsoHold

8) Hockey Training: Sidestanding Med Ball Shotput w/ Cross-Under Step

9) Hockey Training: Split Squat IsoHold to Lateral Bound

10) Hockey Training: Squat Hold to Vertical Jump

Honorable Mention: Hockey Training: Hang Clean w/ Helmet

The “Best of 2012” series wraps up tomorrow with the Top Resources of 2012!

To your success,

Kevin Neeld
UltimateHockeyTraining.com

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Sample Youth Off-Ice Training Programs

A couple days ago, I posted the step-by-step process I go through at the beginning of every season to design the off-ice training programs for an entire youth organization. If you missed that post, I’d encourage you to check it out here: Developing A Youth In-Season Hockey Training Model

Today I just wanted to follow up with a few sample training sessions for each of the three groups. The purpose here isn’t to necessarily give you a program that you can print and follow on your own (although I do post all of our youth programs for every group every month for Ultimate Hockey Training Insider’s!), but to provide a real-world illustration of the process and concepts discussed in the preceding post.

Group A: 8-11 years old

*AMRAP = As Many Reps As Possible

Group B: 12-14 years old

Group C: 15-18 years old

At this point I think it’s important to emphasize that these can be thought of as training templates more so than training programs. All of our coaches (I’m extremely fortunate to work with an AWESOME staff) know how to regress or alter exercises based on an individual’s specific situation. As a few examples:

  1. Group A: Lighter med balls can be used for players that may not possess the strength to accelerate heavier ones
  2. Group A: A Vertical Jump w/ Stick could be regressed to a Drop Squat w/ Stick or simply a Body Weight Squat to help reinforce proper landing mechanics
  3. Group B: Slideboard Hamstring Curl can be regressed to a Glute Bridge On Foam Roller
  4. Group B: Feet Elevated Front Plank could be regressed to a regular Front Plank or even a Front Plank w/ Forearms Elevated
  5. Group B: Suspended Rows can be regressed by having the individual walk their feet away from the attachment of the handles so their body is more vertical/upright
  6. Group C: DB Reverse Lunge can be regressed to a DB Split Squat
  7. Group C: Landmine Rotations can be regressed to unweighted or bent-elbow variations
  8. Group C: Front Squat can be regressed to Goblet Squat

Those are just a few examples for each group, but just about every exercise can be regressed to accommodate individual variation. This is a key component of “individualizing” team-based programs. Another key piece is learning the personalities of the kids to gain a better understanding of what type of coaching strategies they respond best to. All of this, in my mind, is part of the ART of coaching and can really make or break even the most well thought-out off-ice training program. If you’re looking for more information on age-appropriate training guidelines for hockey players, don’t forget to check out USA Hockey’s ADM. There’s a lot of terrific information there that may be more directly applicable to your situation. As always, please feel free to post your comments/questions below!

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. If want to ensure you’re choosing the right exercise strategies for your team, check out Ultimate Hockey Training, which outlines the exact exercise progressions and regressions to use for every major movement pattern, including multi-directional core training!


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2011 Hockey Strength and Conditioning

As I mentioned on Wednesday (2011 Hockey Development Predictions), the hockey community can expect some pretty significant changes over the next 12 months. I also mentioned in that post that one of the most “simple” ways to improve on-ice performance is to follow a well-designed training program. In this regard, I don’t think you’ll find a better resource than HockeyStrengthandConditioning.com.

Since the site’s opening last year, I’ve personally made relatively substantial changes to my programs and coaching methods based on information I attained from the site. There aren’t any other hockey-specific resources out there that I can attest to with the same enthusiasm. With that said, there are always ways to make the site better. Yesterday, Anthony Renna (the technical brains behind the site), Mike Potenza (San Jose Sharks), Sean Skahan (Anaheim Ducks), our newest addition Darryl Nelson (U.S. National Development Program), and I spent an hour on the phone discussing how we could make the site better for you.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can look forward to in the near future:

  • A MASSIVE exercise video library. This was a feature that people really liked about my Hockey Training Expert site before I merged it with Hockey Strength and Conditioning, and we’re bringing it back! With this, you’ll get access to a ton (200+) exercise videos divided by training category (e.g. warm-up, speed, etc.). This is a huge pain in the ass to do so it will take time, but we will get it done!

Anthony, after adding 300 separate video pages and linking to all them on one page with specific categories.

  • A recommended equipment page so those of you in charge of making equipment decisions can easily find the products that we use in videos or reference in articles.
  • Lastly, we’re planning on adding youth off-ice training programs. The rationale behind this was simple. People with advanced academic backgrounds can pull a lot of information from the training programs and progressions that we post currently. But these aren’t always “season-relevant” and many of the people responsible for youth off-ice programs either don’t have the academic background and/or the equipment to implement similar strategies in their environment. The goal of these new programs is to provide minimal equipment programs that coaches can print off the web and put to use immediately. All the exercises will have videos too so there’s no confusion there. I’m more excited about this than any other aspect of the site because I think it will be a HUGE help to the thousands of coaches and players out there that want to train, but don’t have the necessary means to do so in an optimal fashion.

2011 is going to be an exciting year for hockey AND Hockey Strength and Conditioning. Head on over to the site and sign up for a year membership. With the content on the site already, the brain power on the forums, and the changes we’re making moving forward, we’re truly revolutionizing hockey training. You owe it to yourself to be a part of it!

Click the image below for more information about Hockey Strength and Conditioning!

To your continued success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. Did you remember to sign up for this? 2011 Sports Rehab to Sports Performance Teleseminar

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Top 3 Reasons to Join Hockey Training Expert

The snow by Endeavor, the facility in Sewell, NJ that I work at, is out of control! Luckily we were able to sneak in yesterday morning to get a quick lift in before NJ officially went into a “state of emergency” and it was illegal to be on the roads.

With the launch of my new hockey training membership site this week, a lot of people are curious about what the site has to offer them. Check out the “Top 3 Reasons You Should Join Hockey Training Expert.”

1) Customized Hockey Training Programs
I think of training programs as a roadmap to success. If you aren’t following something structured you aren’t making the progress you could be. In other words, you’re wasting time and energy getting worse results. Hockey Training Expert has custom-written training programs for hockey players of all ages: Pee Wees, Bantams, Midgets, Junior/College, and Pros. You can’t find that anywhere!

The only problem with writing programs for people all over the world is that some players have access to different equipment than others. Not an issue! That’s one of the reasons I made sure the site had a forum, so you can personally contact me with any questions you have about the programs and I could give you the best answer possible based on your situation.

2) The World’s Largest Collection of Effective, Innovative Exercise Videos
Over the last 10 years, I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on CDs, DVDs and books, and countless hours volunteering under brilliant strength coaches and gaining a ton of personal experience with hockey players at all levels. Throughout that time I’ve come across and developed exercises that I rarely see other coaches using that just flat out work. I could easily compile a DVD series of all these exercises and sell it for $199, but I don’t want to do that. It’s hard enough to get access to quality information. For $9.95/month, you get continuous access to videos of the most current, effective exercises out there. You can’t beat that!

3) Constantly Growing Database of Incredible Hockey-Specific Information
I’m lucky to have such a diverse list of “experts” as contributors to the site. Hockey Training Expert hosts some of the most brilliant strength and conditioning coaches in the world, experts that specialize in both men’s and women’s hockey, experts on different training practices for players of different positions, and experts on proper nutrition and supplementation for hockey players.

In the next week, I’ll be adding three new experts: One is a great physical therapist who will provide great information on how to prevent and accommodate hockey-related injuries; one is a master of individual skill work and team systems; one has helped place countless athletes in Prep, Junior, NCAA, and Pro programs where they can flourish.

I promise to make this the ultimate site for hockey players, to make sure EVERYTHING you need to succeed is available to you through the site.  You can’t find that anywhere else!

Click here to sign up now!


To your continued success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. Don’t forget about the bonuses! If you sign-up today, you’ll get THREE incredible bonuses. I’m only offering these bonuses to the fast action takers; they won’t last long!

Bonus # 1: Breakaway Hockey Speed

Breakaway Hockey Speed

Discover the secrets to the number one question most players ask: How do I get faster? This 25-page manual from Hockey Training Expert founder Kevin Neeld outlines how to change your body position to maximize the power of your stride and reveals the truth about short choppy strides vs long powerful strides (this will surprise you!). Breakaway Hockey Speed includes 6 Linear Speed Drills, 15 Transitional Speed Drills, and the information you need to integrate a comprehensive speed training program into your current training program.  This manual is exactly what you need to become faster and more explosive on the ice!

Bonus # 2: Hockey Nutrition 101

Hockey Nutrition 101-2


Proper nutrition is the most commonly recognized, but least practiced aspect of high level athletic performance. Kim McCullough’s Hockey Nutrition 101 is an INCREDIBLE resource for hockey players and coaches. Kim brilliantly discusses how proper eating and hydration can have a huge impact on your performance, recovery, and overall development. Kim gives you all the tools you need to figure out what you should be eating/drinking, how to make simple changes in your current diet, and how to track your intake so you can monitor your new high-performance diet!

Bonus # 3: Mental Performance Package

Mental Performance Package-2

What percentage of your performance is mental? If you’re like most players, you’ll say anywhere from 50-90%. But how much of your training time is dedicated toward improving your mental performance? If you’re like most players, you’ll say anywhere from 0-0%. Kim McCullough’s Mental Performance Package gives you step-by-step instructions on how to develop the focus and confidence of a champion!

Click here to sign up now!

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