Decision-making under fatigue is a skill that doesn’t come from reading playbooks or sitting in the locker room; it’s built on the ice through well-designed drills that challenge both the body and mind. The ability to think clearly after a hard shift or at the end of a game can make the difference between winning and losing, and that’s why learning to train under fatigue is so important for serious players who want to elevate their game…
In the world of hockey, players often develop at very different speeds. Some seem to dominate early, skating faster, shooting harder, and standing taller than everyone else. Others, though, might take a little longer to grow into their game. These are the late bloomers, the players who might not catch everyone’s attention at age twelve…
Do you struggle doing lunges due to knee or hip pain? Using a horizontal hip attached band setup allows you to do lunges that reduce ground contact forces on your knees and hips. Scale starting band resistance to make lunges work for you. This is also a great way to work on stride mobility…
When people think of hockey, they usually picture the players skating at high speeds, firing pucks, and celebrating big goals. What often goes unnoticed is the team behind the team, especially the equipment managers…
Dave Schmitz, known as The Band Man, gives us an exercise that every hockey player — who has plenty of collisions — should be doing this 5-Minute Shoulder Mobility Flow to Try Out…
The following advice was requested via our Ask The Coach option…
Hockey is one of the fastest, most demanding sports in the world, but keeping your skills sharp doesn’t always require expensive equipment or ice time.
Dave Schmitz, known as The Band Man, suggests that your body was brilliantly designed to move in three planes of motion. Every joint, every muscle is meant to turn and rotate with power and grace. Yet
Overtraining is one of those things that can sneak up on a young hockey player (or his or her family) and take a toll before anyone even notices what’s happening. It usually starts with good intentions — kids want to improve, parents want to give them every opportunity, and coaches want to get the most out of their players…
There are benefits and drawbacks to going all-in too soon. On the positive side, players who specialize early may develop their hockey-specific skills more quickly and feel more confident in their abilities. However…