Our hockey season has been cut short by the Covid-19 virus. Everyone has been in self isolation now for two weeks and parents are trying to find ways to keep the kids active at home. With the unknown of how long this will last and the boredom that is setting in, most kids if left to decide themselves will just retreat to there video games and we will lose more kids from sports to these mindless games. I have some suggestions that may help now and may help them through the summer to be ready for fall tryouts.
Most hockey players have there own nets at home. Throughout the hockey season coaches tell the players to practice there shots at home. Now is a great time to start the 5000 puck challenge. Through repetition and engaging activity, the goal is to improve player skill and creativity. The 5000 puck challenge can be completed almost anywhere! Players will need a net, stick, their gloves and pucks. They can use space in a basement, in the garage or in the driveway. There is a tracking sheet provided online that can be printed off and lets players monitor their progress by filling it in. Each day's work should take about 20 minutes. There is also online You Tube videos to show how to take each shot. Goggle 5000 puck challenge and check it out!!!
Most kids have access to a computer or smart tv. One of my favorite hockey sites is howtohockey.com Coach Jeremy has a number of great articles to read and hockey swag and gear but his most popular site is his You Tube videos. With 343K subscribers Coach Jeremy puts out a new video every week. This weeks special is "Quarantine Camp" Jeremy is working out of his garage offering tips and help with everything from proper equipment, technique, common mistakes we make and how to correct them. Great videos to watch as a family and I highly recommend checking out his video with his son Mason. Its priceless and a must watch!!!
As your young player gets older exercise and nutrition becomes more important. The best exercise routine can be done at home. Dust off those exercise machines and get them on it! Aerobic, strength training and flexibility/stretching are the three best exercise components of any routine. Flexibility and stretching every player knows the importance of this before practice and games and should be done as a warm up and cool down exercise to prevent sprains and strains of any exercise routine. Aerobics includes cardio machines like running, step or spinning machines that can be done at low to high intensity. Aerobic exercises quicken your heart rate and breathing and are good for the heart. Strength training your muscles allow you to be able to increase your endurance while increasing the muscle mass. Simple pull ups, push ups, squats, crunches and any type of weight lifting. Setting up a routine each day is the key to the success of every work out.
When we get back to our normal, whenever that may be?? We can still stick to these suggestions and routines. They can still be incorporated with our daily lives and will help improve and strengthen your players chances at tryouts. In the mean time give it a try, check out the videos. Maybe make some videos and share with your friends online and have some fun with it and be creative. If they have to play video games insist on NHL20 and not Fortnite!!!
Stay Safe Everyone !!!!