how can i improve...?

Question

hi. i was wondering how i could improve on some things concerning hockey. i play for high school jv and am in 8th grade. I need to get faster, alot faster. any suggestions. (i need em really bad) also, how can i improve on stick handeling and shooting? please give detailed and helpful answers. thank you!
p.s. - for those of you who play good hockey, (like open high school,AAA) how often do you workout practice and what do you eat to stay fit?)

Answer 1

Lots of good suggestions made so far. Skating with weights is a great one..it really helps you feel lighter and quicker. All leg excerises are good, speed starts with your burst and you need leg strength to have burst.
To improve stick handling the biggest trick is to get a shorter stick. Most players who struggle with stick handling often have too long a stick. If you cut your stick now with skates on to your nose try cutting it to your chin. If you use a shorter stick it may also help with some speed as it will get you a little lower in your skating position.
Last there is NO substitute for practice! Listen to the best players around you and the pro's and the common theme you will hear is how hard they work at their game. Dont go through the motions when practicing...keep your focus and practice like it is the end of the game and you need a goal. And practice specific skills during each practice, dont hop around doing a little of this-a little of that.
Good luck...and remember skate with your head up!

Answer 2

ok..to gain speed..im not sure if anyone has ever told you, but there is something where you cross your center of gravity with your legs..here ill show you... http://overspeed.info/article.php?story=20041214085701928

i noticed i wasnt doing this at first and when i tried it really helped. of course considering you play high school hockey im guessing you also know the basics of power skating (bent knees, long strides..etc) For stick handling i bought myself another hockey stick for ice, but i use it on the street outside with a street hockey ball. I practice just moving the puck back and forth and cupping it, and sometimes i set up chairs and targets to practice deking and aim...of course im guessing you also know the basics of shooting too tho (move your weight from back leg to front leg as u make the shot and follow through etc...) so theres not much more i can say. Im not sure about how much an AAA player works out, but i do atleast 4 times a week and sometimes when i get bored i get on the floor and do push ups and stuff everyday..i would still be doing it if i didnt break my collarbone at last sundays game lol..but GOOD LUCK WITH THIS!!!!!!!!! oh and that Andrew dude said try power skating with parachuted tied to your waist..that helps too i did it a couple times at hockey camp.

Answer 3

Find a building with lots of stairs, run them up and down, and backwards. Time it, and improve. Try skating as fast as you can without lifting your feet. Skate in circles this way, forward and backward.. It is leg muscles and center of gravity.. Stick handling can be improved by hand-eye co-ordination exercises like with a tennis ball in a small area throw the ball and catch with each hand, like @ 6 feet from an Irregual surface, i.e. a brick wall. Shooting is a finesse combo of strength and visuallization, should be able to hit targets blind-folded.. In essence practice, practise, and remember it is a TEAM game. If you can make you're team-mates better, you will be better. I always ate Pasta before games, and High Carbs before practise.. Play with PASSION and HONOUR..

Answer 4

To gain speed, do workouts that revolve around your calves. Your calves is where your acceleration comes from. So things like jumping jacks, the ladder, karokee, and horizontal jumps. Also workout your hammys and quads, that's where your power comes from. So things like squats and power lifts help out.
To improve stickhandling, you have to just keep practicing with it and maybe just stick handle around cones or pucks.
To increase shooting skills, you workout your forearms with exercises like wrist curls. Improve accuracy by just picking a target and shooting at it.
As for being on the ice, I was on the ice about five times a week and just eating healthy with a lot of protein and fruit.

Answer 5

Ok buddy, good answers so far. What use to work for me was putting 2- 5lb. weights on my ankles and 2-5lbs on my wrists when I use to practice. It felt like I was skating in quick sand(See Nik Antropov) when I practiced and when I took the weights off it was like I was skating on air. It felt effortless.
For your age 2.5 lbs weights on each ankle should do.
Oh and for stick handling try practicing with a tennis ball. Zig zag in your driveway or wherever with out lettiing the ball bounce.It has to stay on your stick. All the great ones did this.

Answer 6

So much regarding skating is in your take-off. Work on sprints, focusing on getting out of the blocks. Likewise, running with parachutes help increase your speed, since they act as a decellerant (sp?).

Answer 7

Well the answer is bust but I must improve my butt it's getting a little to big from sitting around answering questions !! HA!HA!HA!

Answer 8

Practice. Practice. Practice.

And ask your mother to put lots of bananas in your lunchbox.