The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States. The sport is all about speed and quick movements.
Thought leaders and pioneer J. B. Jackson once said, “Hockey is a combination of ballet and football, and it requires great physical strength and dexterity. Like football, you are either a fast skater or a good one. The only difference is that in hockey, speed comes in spurts, instead of in a continuous flow like in football.”
While it’s true that the hockey season is seven months long, the speed at which hockey players skate changes drastically throughout the year. During the regular season, players usually have four or five months to build up their speed before the pace of the game changes and they need to slow down to avoid injury. However, during the playoffs, players are expected to move at full speed from the beginning to the end of each series.
So how exactly do hockey players build up their speed? What is the secret to becoming a fast skater?
Table of Contents
Find Your Inner Skating Machine
Hockey players are born with a certain amount of speed, which they can only improve on through training and repetition. Just like any other muscle in your body, your fast-skating muscles need to be exercised and developed through proper training and stretching. As a hockey player, you will need to find the right pair of skates for your size and build, but aside from that, you will need to work on your legs and arms in order to become faster. Since hockey is a sport that relies heavily on quick movements and changes of direction, your legs will be your cornerstone. Make sure you have strong and powerful legs that can endure a good amount of work during practice and games. This will help you balance and move quickly despite your size.
Your arms are also an integral part of your speed, as they help you turn and balance while skating. A powerful upper body is also vital in order to push your legs and create faster movements. If you want to become a fast skater, make sure your arms are strong enough to generate quick and powerful strokes. Your shoulders, back, and neck should all be in good alignment, which will allow you to produce more force while pedaling. You should also make sure to stretch your arms and wrists regularly, as well as your calves and back for optimal performance. Stretching not only helps with flexibility but also increases the blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles, making them stronger. Don’t worry about weights too much, as they will only impede your progress instead of helping it.
Take Care Of Your Body Heat
Since hockey is a very physical sport, you need to make sure that your body is in good condition in order to perform at your best. This means consuming the right food and drinking enough fluids everyday, especially during the season. Eating plenty of carbohydrates and avoiding foods with high fat and sugar content will help you maintain a healthy and quick weight, as well as reduce the risk of injury. Make sure to consume some protein each day, as it will help you build more muscle and recover faster from hard practice or games. Also, drinking at least eight glasses of water per day will greatly help prevent dehydration, which can lead to more injury.
Just like any other sport, dehydration also happens regularly in hockey due to the nature of the game and its frequent stoppages for water breaks. Dehydration is very dangerous, particularly during the playoffs when players are pushing themselves harder than ever to reach the finals. Even a small amount of dehydration can have serious short-term and long-term consequences, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids during games and practices. You should also avoid alcohol, as it will only dehydrate you even further and potentially harm your kidneys as well.
Practice On A Regular Basis
The best way to improve your speed is through continuous and regular practice. This is where you want to be working at all times, not just during the season or when you feel like you need to. There are several drills and tips that can increase your speed significantly and allow you to practice at any time of the year. In season, you can practice on a frozen pond or lake, and off season you can work on your speed with an indoor skate trainer or video game. Indoor practice helps prevent injuries and bad weather conditions that may prevent you from practicing outdoors. If you can, try to practice with a partner, as this will help improve your technique and increase your speed together. Partner drills also let you work on different parts of your game, as you will have to change positions and switch skates to practice various skills.
Use This Time Wisely
While the idea of an offseason might seem appealing, it’s important to use this time efficiently and effectively. If you’re not careful, these few months of rest and relaxation can turn into a dangerous state of hibernation, leading to slower-than-expected recovery and increased risk of injury. Make sure that you take advantage of the offseason, as this is when you can work on improving your game through additional training and preparation for the upcoming season. You can make the most of your time by getting ready for the season with a practice schedule and sticking to it. This will help you avoid becoming overtrained and stale, leading to a significant decrease in your speed. You should also get extra work on your cardio, as more frequent and intense workouts can lead to faster recovery times and better performance during the season.
Watch The Skating Experts
The best way to learn how to skate is from the pros. While it’s always great to watch and learn from others, the best way to improve your game is by actually doing the tricks and moves that the pros do. There are several YouTube channels that mostly consist of expert NHL skaters showing off their amazing techniques and fast-paced games. Make sure to watch these videos and try to repeat as many of the tricks and maneuvers as you can. Even if you don’t have the talent or skill to recreate the moves exactly, you can still learn a lot from watching and trying to mimic what the pros do.
Aside from the YouTube channels, make sure to keep up with the latest news and rumors regarding the National Hockey League. Rumors will always have a way of surfacing during the off season, and knowing what’s going on behind the scenes will only benefit you as a hockey player. Also, don’t forget to follow the latest trends and technology regarding hockey, as this will help you improve both your game and your equipment. Last but not least, make sure to follow the NHL on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, as they will often promote news and interesting articles regarding the league and its players. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to being a fast and efficient hockey player.