The simplest off-ice interval training exercise is running, whether on a treadmill or outside. The key to off-ice interval training is precisely the same: exercises where you have short bouts of high energy and aggressive movement followed by a recovery period. There are all kinds of on-ice drills available online that involve aspects of interval training for increasing stamina. This can be repeated any number of times you’re comfortable with. For example, you could start at one end of the ice with a puck, sprint around a cone and shoot at the far net when you approach close enough.

You can also combine this sort of training with an aspect of stick handling or shooting to turn it into a drill. The sprint-lap mimics your shift during a hockey game, and the recovery laps mimic the time you would be sitting on the bench. You can skate either the length or perimeter of the rink as fast and as hard as you can, and then take a couple of slow recovery laps. Remember: For any form of training, including those mentioned below, always remember to warm up and stretch your muscles beforehand to prevent injury!Īn excellent example of on-ice interval training is doing laps of the rink. The cool thing about interval training for hockey players is that it can be done both on the ice and off the ice.

Interval training just means switching between two activities which require different rates of speed and degrees of effort. Therefore, a player can have upwards of 20 shifts per game! The key to preparing for this? Interval training. Typically, the average shift in a hockey game is 45 seconds, and a fair estimate for the total amount of ice time a player will get is 20 minutes. If you get your body used to short bouts of expending energy and aggressive movement, then you’ll be able to play an entire hour-long hockey game without wearing out, no problem. Training stamina in hockey is all about mimicking the conditions that your body will go through in an actual game. As a result, a common question arises: How do you increase your stamina for hockey? Despite only being on the ice for short periods of time, hockey players push their bodies to the limit as they race across the rink while remaining attentive to the puck, attacking and defending. Outstanding endurance is a characteristic required of any hockey player, no matter the age or skill level. Stamina is one of the most important physical characteristics in the sport of hockey.

Building up cardio endurance