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How To Be A Better Hockey Player...

By Paul Evans, 06/10/18, 12:30PM EDT

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... and still have fun this summer!

Ok, the title may be a bit misleading.  Quite frankly, playing hockey all summer would still be fun.  But hockey players are a lot like bears... after the long, cold winter, we must emerge from our cave to feed and frolic under the glorious summer sun before the ice beckons once more.

Absence makes the heart...

Summer is a bittersweet time for hockey players.  Seeing the Stanley Cup hoisted at center ice is the signal that our three-month hockey diet has begun.  For the most obsessed among us, quitting smoking would be far easier.

Yet the offseason also provides us with some important opportunities.  It's a time to reconnect with our spouses, families, and friends who may have taken a backseat to a 3" rubber disc for the past nine months.  Pool parties and backyard barbeques offer us a pleasant distraction from the fact that next hockey season is months away.

Author's note:  if made properly, burgers look very similar to pucks and taste significantly better!  And there's still beer...

Taking a break from the game - as difficult as it may be - can also renew our passion.  We're pretty sure the old saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" was invented long ago by a hockey player one summer.  Might have been Gordie Howe, but we can't verify that.

Honestly though, hockey doesn't mind if you spend a few lazy weekends at the lake or take in a handful of baseball games over the next several weeks.  Hockey knows you'll be back.

Variety is the spice...


Goalies in the offseason...

Yet indulging in other activities doesn't mean that you shouldn't take advantage of the offseason to grow as a hockey player.  In fact, summertime offers an ideal window for improving both skill and fitness levels.  Even if you're one of those guys who sits on their butt all summer and opts to play their way into shape (read: leave my teammates hanging and short-shift myself until Christmas) can still find some ways to get better.

Particularly with young athletes, there is a significant body of evidence touting the benefits of multi-sport participation.  Even adults can improve in their sport of choice (read: hockey) by engaging in other activities.  We've read the research and know the science supports it.  And yes, we also know there are those kids (and grown-ups) who have absolutely zero interest in playing any other sport.  We're not going to get into that discussion here - that's an article for another time - but we do believe that even those who eat, sleep, and breathe hockey should at least add a little variety to their plate.

I'm no doctor.  I don't even play one on TV.  Nor will I delve into any of the scientific literature to support or refute any of the following suggestions.  (Not that I couldn't.  After spending nearly 20 years as an ATC, I've been around long enough to know what I'm talking about.)  So please take it for what it is... a light-hearted approach to the offseason from one hockey nut to another, sprinkled with just a dash of scientific truth.


Floorball is a great way to stay connected to the game while getting off the ice

Get Off The Ice

Now before I start receiving a mountain of hate mail from every hockey coach and rink manager in Indiana, let me clarify:  we strongly support participating in a hockey camp or two during the offseason.  Nothing helps you improve as a player quite like playing.  But everybody should engage in some kind of off-ice activity during the summer.  It'll do wonders for body, mind, and spirit.  And if you avoid jumping from one expensive club sport to another, it'll give your wallet a breather as well!

But experience shows that most people - kids especially - will play much harder than they train.  So get your hockey buddies together, go the park, and play a game of touch football... or soccer... or volleyball... or whiffle ball... or basketball...

or FLOORBALL!! (yes we know it's shameless self-promotion, but we absolutely love the game as both a stand alone sport and a form of off-ice hockey training!)

If you're an elite player or looking to become one, be sure to add some serious training to your fun (or some fun to your serious training, depending on how you look at it.)  Run sprints, lift weights, do yoga.  It is essential to engage in some form of focused training if your goal is to play at a high level.  That doesn't necessarily mean you have spend a fortune on a personal trainer, though.  While there is great value in investing in a well-qualified fitness coach, there is also a bevy of good information available for free online.  Just be sure to do your homework first.  Your training program should be both science-based and age-appropriate, and don't hesitate to consult with your doctor or a sports medicine specialist if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Play Video Games

Now this doesn't give you permission to spend the entire summer glued to the screen, playing Fortnite for hours on end (yes son, I'm talking to you!)  But indulging in some screen time does have it's benefits... if done properly and in moderation.

Shooter, sports, and other reaction-based games have been shown to improve reaction time and decision making.    A virtual world in which "life or death" depends on how quickly you can determine the correct action can result in cognitive growth that carries over into real-world situations.  It's the primary reason why virtual training has become an essential component for astronauts, fighter pilots, law enforcement officers, and many other professions.

Studies have shown that trivia, puzzles, and other types of 'brain-games' can improve such cognitive abilities as memory, reasoning, and processing speed.  While there is still some question as to how much you can improve, the literature does support the notion that these types of games can enhance mental function.  There is even some evidence that video games can help treat dyslexia and other cognitive disabilities.

If the screen is kept at an appropriate distance, gains in visual acuity are another benefit of video games.  The technological advances in picture resolution, color saturation, etc. helps the brain distinguish between evermore subtle differences in color and detail.  Even those who suffer from a 'lazy eye' can strengthen the muscles of the weaker eye by covering the stronger one while playing.  We recommend you talk to your ophthalmologist about this first before playing video games dressed like a pirate.

And for those parents who stress that their kids aren't outside playing with friends, you can relax just a bit.  Multi-player games have been shown to have positive social benefits as well.  They can be a great way for kids to stay connected to their hockey buddies who live too far away to see every day.

Please keep in mind that we agree with the recommendations of the medical community regarding video games!  Place the monitor at an appropriate distance, limit screen time - especially in children, take frequent breaks to relax the eyes and engage the rest of your body, don't neglect healthy eating and exercise habits, and monitor your kids' online activity.


Not the only training site, but certainly one of the best

Watch TV and Videos

Along with some of the benefits mentioned above, you can learn a lot by watching games on TV or videos online.  If you're watching with friends, be sure to engage in conversation and enjoy the health benefits of just spending time with others.  (But don't talk if you're at the movies.  That's just rude.)

Yet even better is to engage in active video study.  View clips or games from an 'educational' standpoint.  Explore (and then practice) various skills, techniques, or strategies.  Watch how teams set up a play or how certain positions operate without the puck or ball.  Listen to what the experts have to say about a team, player, or performance (there's a reason why they are considered experts - although the term is often used somewhat loosely.)

In other words, become a student of the game.  You can't expect to improve your hockey intellect (IQ) if you don't put in some effort to study.

Read.

I really shouldn't have to explain this one.  You don't have to be a genius to understand the benefits of reading (although geniuses tend to do it more than others... which is probably why they are geniuses.)

Read to learn.  Read for fun.  Read books, magazines, newspapers, or articles online.  It doesn't necessarily matter what you read, as just the act of reading is beneficial.  However, as we are talking about becoming better hockey players, there are some things that are more useful than others.

Hockey  history (or any kind of history)
I'm currently reading 99 Stories Of The Game.  Not exactly Pulitzer-quality writing, but it's extremely fascinating to see hockey through the eyes of the most prolific scorer ever.  Orr:  My Story and Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe) are also on my summer reading list.  I'm also a huge fan of John Wooden - arguably the greatest coach in sports - and can highly recommend several books both from him and about him.  Same with Phil Jackson.  Whether you love him or hate him, there hasn't been many coaches better at tapping into an athletes' maximum potential.

Outside of sports, there are volumes upon volumes of incredible historical reads.  One of my personal favorites is The Professor And The Madman - the origin story of the Oxford English Dictionary.  Sounds boring, but trust me on this one - it's far from it.  Both fascinating history and entertaining reading.

Motivation
This is by far the most challenging category.  There's a tons of highly useful material out there.  There's also a lot of crap.  Some of it is due to personal preference, but some of it is just plain idiotic babble.  (I make no judgements on your choices.  If it works for you, great!)  One of my favorite authors is Jon Gordon.  His books are well grounded easy to read.  He just makes sense.  And it's not just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, either.  He's worked with a large number of successful athletes and coaches... and he's lived it.

Tony Robbins is another story.  If you don't believe that something as simple as a book can get you so completely jacked that you think you can run through walls... well, you haven't read Tony's books.

My son and I are both reading Hockey Tough and Embrace The Grind.  If you're looking to play high level hockey, I recommend both.

Reading For Pleasure
No, I'm not talking about 50 Shades or those trashy romance novels your mom used to read.  It's more about the escape value.  Whatever your genre of choice, don't knock the stress relief you can get from just reading a good book.

Suggestions?
If you've got any personal favorites you'd like to recommend, use the Comments section at the bottom.  We're all open to new ideas!


If anyone has one of these, we need it for our next pool party...

Hang Out With Friends

We've touched on this a bit already, but the offseason is a great time to strengthen relationships with friends and teammates.  Some of the most important bonding moments happen off the ice and away from the rink.  Don't underestimate the importance of just letting kids be kids.  This goes for adults too.

A couple years ago, my son's team was bumped out of a tournament in the semifinal round.  Turns out it was the highlight of the season.  As we were all committed to another night's stay at the hotel, and no one was looking forward to the eight-hour drive home, we decided to make the most of it.  A bunch of us took in the sights at the Hockey Hall Of Fame - our "Mecca".  We ate together without having to rush back to the rink.  We let the kids play in the pool for hours, as we didn't have to worry if they'd be too tired to play hockey.  I'm completely convinced that was the moment they came together as a team.  The parents grew a little closer too.

Sports are meant to be social activities, but that doesn't mean all social activities must involve sports.  Summer is an ideal time to strike a healthy balance.  Eat healthy and indulge a little.  Talk about hockey and other interests.  Get to know one another as people, not just hockey players or parents.  It can even make next season more enjoyable.

Sleep

We all need a good night's rest.  For some of us, that only takes five or six hours.  For others, anything less than ten is considered just a nap.  Regardless of your preference, hockey season often means you rarely get the amount of sleep you want or need.  Be sure to make some time during the summer to catch up.  Don't try to squeeze in every activity you can think of so you don't feel like you wasted your summer.  Make a plan to not have a plan.  Sleep in.  Eat breakfast, even if it's 1 o'clock in the afternoon.  Stay in your pajamas for so long that you can consider it getting ready for bed.

Same goes for your kids.  Ever wonder why they seem to sprout up a foot overnight in the summer?  Usually it's because they're getting the rest their body needs to grow.  Between school, practice, games, tournaments, etc., kids often fall far short of their sleep requirements during the school year/hockey season.  They need the summer months to catch up.  So let them sleep sometimes... and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Whether it's a vacation or a stay-cation, make rest and relaxation a priority.  Don't hyper-schedule yourself, or you'll end up even more tired when it's over than you were when it started.  Besides, the 'sights' will still be there.  Gives you a good reason to go back again.

For What It's Worth...

Full disclosure - I'm guilty of ignoring my own advice at times.  Things happen that throw a wrench in our plans, and we end up stressing about stuff that we shouldn't.  There are days where my kids spend far too much time in front of the screen.  I often find myself trying to 'stay on top of things' at home so much that there's no difference between that and going to work.  Don't beat yourself up when that happens.

Ships never travel in a straight line, yet still manage to reach their destined port.  They are constantly pushed and pulled by the wind and the tides.  Life is about course corrections - small adjustments to get us back on track when find we've gone astray.

Becoming a better hockey player is very much the same.  You can't train all day, every day.  If you try, you'll fail.  Miserably.  And you'll end up hating the game you love so much.

Take some time to enjoy the OFF season.  You can thank me later.