Jack Blatherwick
Study the NHL before prioritizing your offseason training
- Details
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:57
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Strength-conditioning gurus must not have seen a Chicago Blackhawks game in person or noticed the dramatic difference in the Minnesota Wild from last year to this. It is not simply a matter of muscle mass. The reasons the Wild are a legitimate playoff contender now and the Blackhawks are the best team in the NHL are obvious: speed, agility, skill and puck protection.
Read more: Study the NHL before prioritizing your offseason training
Why elephants can’t skate
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 March 2013 19:48
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
If elephants could speak, they’d explain why they can’t skate like humans – but more importantly, why most summer training programs are inadequate for hockey. They’d demonstrate some anatomical differences between elephant hip joints and those of humans. One of the differences (explained in the next paragraph) allows humans to skate fast. That same anatomical difference helps an elephant support tons of weight. Consequently, elephants can’t skate, and humans need hip replacements after carrying extra pounds for a few years.
Quickness and agility: High priorities for the offseason
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 17:14
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Strength training for skating is most effective if it is combined with drills for explosive acceleration of your own body weight. ACCELERATION TRAINING takes the form of: (a) rapid increase (or decrease) in speed, (b) explosive jumps (weight vests, sand bags or body weight) and (c) quick changes of direction (agility).
Read more: Quickness and agility: High priorities for the offseason
Eliminate fear of failure in the offseason: Scrimmage
- Details
- Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 16:35
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
John Wooden, who coached UCLA basketball teams to 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, spoke often about developing offensive skills: “If you are afraid to fail, you’ll never accomplish the things you’re capable of doing.”
Offseason hockey should be the most creative experiences of the year, full of scrimmages without scoreboards, championships and adults who care too much about winning. In the winter, the structured environment places too much emphasis on avoiding mistakes, so offensive playmaking is marginalized.
Read more: Eliminate fear of failure in the offseason: Scrimmage
Leave the isolated core exercises to middle-aged weekend athletes
- Details
- Last Updated on Thursday, 28 February 2013 17:47
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
At every gym in the country, the fitness crowd is grinding away at “core exercises” that isolate the abs or back muscles or glutes. Some of these exercises actually cause the back problems they’re trying to prevent, according to Canadian spine biomechanist Dr. Stuart McGill. He has written several books that should be required reading for fitness gurus, before they do too much damage to their clients.
Read more: Leave the isolated core exercises to middle-aged weekend athletes
