Close your eyes and picture a hockey player skating with speed.
I bet you pictured a player streaking up the ice moving forward – winning a race to a puck and busting in on a break-away or something like that.
If you are a goalie, you MIGHT have pictured a goalie moving with lateral speed and that is the topic today – LATERAL SPEED and how to develop it.
You don’t need me to tell you that to succeed on the ice you need speed in all directions North, South, East and West if you are going to be a stand-out player. That is a fact for all who play the game whether you are a goalie, forward or d-man.
Here are four simple off-ice drills that help hockey players develop lateral speed. The first two are for goalies and the second two are for skaters.
If you cannot see the video above, just click here…
Goalies
1) Step-Step-Stick
For this drill we purposely use quick small steps and then a quick deceleration with perfect balance. I want you to imagine that you are following a play as it develops and getting there with balance, confidence and patience, ready for the next move.
Do 3 sets of 4 each way
2) Hop-Hop-Stick
This one requires a little more balance and I want you to practice it off your trail leg and your lead leg – I will show you the difference in the video
Do 3 sets of 4 each way
Skaters
1) Step-X-Stick
Start off keeping it pretty tight, but then as you get better at sticking the landing (this is key), you can increase the power and the distance covered in your steps. If you are having trouble sticking the landing in a low power position, then you need to shorten the push a little bit until you achieve competence.
Do 3 sets of 4 each way
2) ½ Kneeling X-Under To X-Over Bound
With this one, I want you to link the movements moving as far and as fast as you can with each stride. This means you will need to keep your legs loaded as you land the first x-under. I show you what I mean in the video.
Do 3 sets of 4 each way.
Speed Can Be Taught
Speed is a skill and it can be taught. You may not be as fast as Carl Hagelin on the ice, but you can definitely be faster than you are right now with some practice – these off-ice speed drills will help.
Happy training – M
DON’T LOSE YOUR SPEED AND STAMINA BY THE TIME PLAY-OFFS ROLL AROUND. HERE’S HOW TO STAY SHARP ALL SEASON.