Last Minute Training Tips

Although training camps and prospect camps will begin this week for various junior levels for some of our students, most of our students will be beginning their respective minor hockey camps within the next 3 weeks or so.

For many minor hockey goaltenders, the next 3 weeks is a time to ensure that the training that you’ve done all spring and summer begins to pay dividends; impressing scouts and coaches during the evaluation and selection process.  Unfortunately, there’s no magical training formula which allows goalies to train themselves in ways to make up for having spent too much time on the couch throughout the summer months.  However we can supply you with some last minute training tips as you get closer to your pre-season evaluations.

Eat Well + Train Well + Rest Well = Play Well

For the Slow and Steady Tortoise

Goalies who have followed their training programs consistently throughout the spring and summer and who have followed a proper training plan may not require too many pre-season training tips at this point however, they will need to ensure that they continue to follow their training plan.  A key component of ensuring that you’re fully prepared for your camp is rest, however.

In order for your body to recover properly and to be able to provide coaches and evaluators with your best showing at training camp, ensure that you continue to eat right, sleep well, and don’t make the mistake of working out right up to the date of the camp.  Instead, make sure to give yourself 2-3 days of rest prior to the first day of your camp in order for your body to recover from all of your extensive training throughout the off-season.

In many cases, younger goaltenders may not have a training plan.  If this is the case but you have managed to stay healthy and active throughout the summer months by playing sports and eating right, then don’t change a thing; keep doing what you’re doing.  Place additional emphasis on flexibility training to ensure that you’re not pulling muscles during your first day, and add eye-hand coordination exercises into the mix to ensure that your reaction time is up to speed.  Like an elite level athlete, it’s recommended that you take a couple of days to rest prior to beginning your hockey evaluations and training camp.  Doing so will allow your body to recover to its fullest capacity in order to provide evaluators with your best showing.

For the Quick, and Eager Hare

Do not – I repeat:  DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that you’ll be able to cram 4 months of training into the next 3 weeks.  If you were the couch potato all summer which put off training with honest intentions to start training a day, or a week later, you’ve wasted your off-season.  Let me repeat that:  You’ve wasted your off-season.  There’s no nice way of saying it, but don’t attempt to make up for lost time.

Now, just because you’ve lost the last 4 months to endless hours of playing on your Xbox, does not mean that you can’t start training today to ensure that you’re as prepared as possible for your evaluations.  However, just ensure that you’re not mistaking extreme training, for pre-season conditioning/training.

At this point, those who have trained all spring and summer are at a stage in their training which is allowing them to maintain their progress and to enter their respective training camps well rested.  If you’ve done nothing all summer, you will not be able to meet your competition’s training levels.  However, you can still make strides to ensure that you enter your training camp as prepared as possible for your minor hockey camp and while minimizing risks to injury.

 

For more last minute training tips check out our article “3 Rules of Last Minute Training“, or check out some articles within our blog in order to receive additional tips and tricks training options.