Improving on ice speed has many factors, but improving technique is one of the easiest fixes that can yield huge and immediate results. The more hockey I watch the more obvious it is that many players stand up too tall when they skate. Adopting a deeper skating stance will allow the skater to create a … Continue reading The Importance of Depth for an Efficient Skating Stride
Mobility
Our General Warm Up Template
It isn’t too often that I hear much when it comes to warming up. There is plenty of talk when it comes to Olympic lifting, strength training and some talk as it pertains to conditioning. But not so much when it comes to warming up. However, we put a lot of thought into our warm … Continue reading Our General Warm Up Template
Goals of the Ice Hockey Off-Season
It could be said, and rightly so, that hockey players are made in the off-season. The success that a player has during the season can in many cases be traced back to the work they put in as the season ended in the spring and the long summer months leading into the fall pre-season. Whether … Continue reading Goals of the Ice Hockey Off-Season
Step One When Fixing the Squat
Anyone who has worked with athletes knows that it is not uncommon to see the inability to simply bodyweight squat to parallel with proper form. We could argue over what the issue is. Lack of ankle mobility? Lack of hip mobility? Lack of core stability? Could be one, all, or a combination of the three. … Continue reading Step One When Fixing the Squat
The Importance of In-Season Training
Anyone that has spent a day as a strength and conditioning coach knows very well that in-season training is not high on the list of things to do for both athletes and sport coaches. In-season the strength coach becomes the dentist, someone that no one wants to go see. In-season athletes seem to always be … Continue reading The Importance of In-Season Training
Better Tissue Quality, Better You
Every time that I walk into a commercial gym I am amazed at what I don’t see. I rarely, if ever, see any type of dynamic warm up which I thought was an aspect of strength and conditioning had worked its way into programs of weekend warriors. I hate to break it to you, but … Continue reading Better Tissue Quality, Better You
Overhead Athletes and Pressing
Okay, I'm going to open a big can of worms with this one, and you may think I am crazy, but I don't know if an overhead athlete (baseball/softball/swimmers ect.) should be allowed to press with a barbell, whether it be overhead pressing or bench pressing. The more and more I think about it, I'm … Continue reading Overhead Athletes and Pressing
Reconstructing the Desk Jockey
These days it seems like people are spending more and more time sitting, whether it be behind a desk, watching television, driving in the car, or in other ways. With that said, we see the same mobility issues showing up over and over again. What are these issues? Terrible t-spine rotation and locked up hips. … Continue reading Reconstructing the Desk Jockey
Simple Recovery Strategies
Anyone that trains hard and often will preach to you about how important recovery is from session to session. As fun as it is to beat yourself up each day in the weight room or on the field, you need to do something to turn the ship around for the next days workout, practice, or … Continue reading Simple Recovery Strategies
Training Qualities to Enhance Sport Specific Movements
Just wanted to share with everyone a great presentation by Chris Chase of the University of Southern California. I agreed with a ton of what Coach Chase was talking about in his presentation and have very similar thoughts and a very similar philosophy as Coach Chase when it comes to training athletes. Enjoy!