CONDITIONING
Mobility for Hockey
A . J . ZEGLEN
T
The number one tool you have in hockey , or any sport for that matter , is your own body . If you can move more efficiently and effectively than your opponent , then you will consistently put yourself in a better position to be successful . You do this multiple times over the course of a game or competition and chances are you will have a favourable result at the end . In order to move our body well we want to be strong , have good body composition and have great mobility . We use the term mobility over flexibility as the latter usually solely involves stretching . Mobility is a much more global approach which includes soft tissue work , stretching , and activation exercises to ensure joints move properly . Having good mobility means that you can move through a full range of motion , restriction free . Having proper mobility allows for increased performance . Basic fundamental hockey skills like shooting and skating are dependent on you having the proper mobility I order to perform them . If your skating stride is short due to tight hips and you can ’ t access full extension in your drive phase , you will not generate as much force as you potentially can . In other words , without proper mobility you are leaving stuff on the table . Mobility is also important for proper transition between on-ice and off-ice training . As an example : Players experiencing a decrease in ankle mobility during the season as they are always in fixed ankle position ( hockey skate ). When this player enters the gym , whether it be for in-season or off-season training and attempts to perform power or speed exercises ( sprints and jumps ), which place a large amount of stress on the ankle they are no longer in a safe position as they lack the proper amount of mobility or movement at
the joint . At this point injuries are at a higher risk of occurring , and as an athlete staying healthy is always the No . 1 priority . On the topic of injury , proper mobility also helps decrease the chance of injury during competition , especially with a contact sport like hockey where your body can be forced into compromised positions . The four main parts of the body -- in which we always want to make sure we have adequate mobility -- are the ankles , hips , thoracic spine and shoulders . Even though , as mentioned before , the hockey skate limits ankle flexion and extension there still is some in our skating stride . Having proper mobility at this joint help you get lower in your skating stride . Hip extension is what propels the skating stride . Having proper hip mobility will ensure that we have a complete full skating stride that puts you in the best position to generate power . The thoracic spine is the name for the area of the spine which runs from the mid to upper back . Making sure we have great mobility in both our extension and rotation will benefit you in keeping your chest up while you skate and with developing a harder shot . The shoulders are one of the most injured joints in contact sports . Making sure we have a strong , stable , mobile shoulder will help reduce injury through contact and also help with skills like stick handling and shooting . There are many moving parts that are included in a successful hockey training program . Make sure that mobility is one of them and you will reap the benefits of increasing performance and reducing injury both on and off the ice .
Until next time : Strength , Courage , Hustle , Commitment
44 GAME ON 2016 - 17 ROSTER DEADLINE EDITION