Conditioning is more than “cardio”. Conditioning is about being able to meet the demands of your sport for extended periods of time. From a training perspective 5 key areas of focus are:
- Building strength in key muscle groups
- Increasing your aerobic fitness so you can play hard, even in overtime
- Improving your balance and stability
- Enhancing your ability to skate hard from a stand-still
- Conditioning your body to resist injury and heal from it
One of the most important and overlooked aspects of conditioning is recovery and rest. Without sufficient food and good quality sleep the body will not be able to recover optimally. Players will notice significant improvement in performance and stamina when they combine a thoughtful conditioning program with proper nutrition and great sleep!