A simple way for goalies to build strong, flexible hips.

Here is one of the simplest exercises I can think of to help goalies build strong and flexible hips. All you need is a resistance band tied in a small loop. Don’t have a resistance band – fine, then place one hand on the outside of each knee to create resistance as you push your knees outward.

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Hockey specific modifications to the basic battling rope exercises

Here are some hockey specific modifications you can add to your battling rope exercises. Just a few ways to add a little more overload to the hip and core stabilizers by taking you out of you neutral stance balance. I know you do not all have access to a battling rope, but I wanted to share a few new ideas with you and if you ever have a chance to get your hands on one, be sure to give it a try. If you are wanting to get one, I use the nylon one (does not shed) and I get mine from www.performbetter.com – I don’t get any money from them to say that, this is just where I got mine. Now check out the video and see the rope battle me!

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New off-ice training tool: Battling ropes

I wanted to share this new tool I just started using with the London, Ontario based athletes I train at the Revolution studio. I also had the chance to attend an awesome workshop at the Perform Better Summit in Chicago a few weeks ago. In this very short video you can see the basics and then later this week I will send out a few ways you can modify these exercises to help hockey players build stronger shoulders, hips and core.

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We have a winner!!

We have a winner!!!  The winner of a free online hockey training product of their choice (well you can only chose one of  my products) is E. Arvold!  Congratulations E.…

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3 Ways to Improve Hip Function (and reduce back pain) in Hockey Players

Check out this video showing you a 3-step approach to improving hip function in hockey goalies and skaters. Do you ever get an achy back when you play hockey? We often think automatically that our back must be weak, but it could be that your hip is not functioning properly and this is causing back to work harder than it should. I am pretty sure there are a couple of exercises in this video that you have never seen before – and at least one that you will not want to do at the gym!

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Help me help you! Win a free training program!

I need your help! I am just about to start working on my next online product to help hockey players with their off ice training. I have a concept and an outline all set, but I want to check with you to make sure that I am going to deliver the info you want. So, here is the deal, would you please either email me – maria@revolutionconditioning.com – or post a comment below telling me your approximate age, your position and the type of information that would be the most helpful to you.

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Off Ice Groin Exercise for Hockey Goalies.

This post is for those of you who are terrified to train your groin muscles in the gym – first of all you know you are going to have to ‘work in’ with some lady who looks like she is right out of “Real Housewives of Hoboken” while all the muscle head’s stare at you like a freak when you plunk your butt on that stupid ‘groin machine’. Here is the great news – when you are playing goal in hockey, your adductors (groins) do not really work this way – with your feet off the ground. Your adductors work in a closed chain when you are playing goal so you are in contact with the ground through either your feet or knees.

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Hip Impingement in Hockey Goalies: Try this simple self evaluation.

I have been interested in learning more and more about femoroacetabular hip impingement (FAIS) in hockey goalies and the more I talk about it the more I am amazed at how many goalies play with pain in the front of their hip and think it is normal. Check out the video to learn more about what causes hip impingement in hockey goalies and then take the self evaluation.

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Off ice drill to make hockey players faster off a change of direction.

Today I want to share with you an exercise that I use on the ice and off the ice to help hockey players explode off their change of direction. I think there are many players out there who waste the first step of their cross over start and this drill will hopefully teach you not to do that and as a result, instantly put you half a step ahead of the competition.

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Is goalie specific training a lie?

Okay, here we go again…I was on a forum the other day and one of the guys posted a very thorough post expressing his opinion that there is no such thing as sport specific training. I welcome his opinion and the time he took to create this post, but like most arguments I think it really brings all parties closer together when you define your terms. Let me go over the argument from the training forum before I share my perspective.

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