There is currently a limited amount of information for the sport performance coach pertaining to stride mechanics and bio-motor mechanisms in competitive ice hockey. The goal of this article is to briefly outline several research articles that may be used by professionals to steer decision making and/or gain a deeper understanding of the kinematic and bio-motor applications involved in the sport. In other words, here is my brain dump! A mixture of brief research findings sprinkled with some pragmatic takeaways. Let’s start out by defining the hockey stride:
It’s that time of year again at DSC. Another long, grinding summer of action packed, electrically charged energy in the weight room. A time for PR’s, sweat equity, discipline, dedication and a one-day better mentality! It’s also time for a brand new group of interns to begin their quest in the strength and conditioning field in hopes of gaining valuable hands-on experience and one day becoming a practitioner. This will be the seventh year since the inception of our internship program at DSC. The truth is, all interns want to learn, but what they need the most has nothing to do with strength and conditioning methodologies, exercise science, or set/rep schemes, and everything to do with people skills and accountability.
The sport of hockey is extremely demanding. Players reaching speeds of up to 30mph is the equivalent of hundreds of small car crashes occurring throughout the course of a 7-8 month season. Physiological, psychological and mechanical stressors mount during this time. It is during this period that the strength and conditioning practitioner faces a major challenge; the law of competing demands; In other words, how to balance stress so that players performs optimally when it matters most on the ice. This job changes during the off-season when the major stressors of competition are removed. The off-season, although often limited in time, is paramount in terms of physical preparation and the application of additional stressors that may not be appropriate during the period of intense competition.
Some may choose to call it a box with old iron, rust, rubber, infused with the smell of sweat: a place where testosterone reigns free and emotions freer. An atmosphere clouded in chalk and saturated in sweat. I choose to call it a classroom: a classroom for both Coach and student.
I wish I knew fifteen years ago what I know today. Not just pertaining to my craft as a Strength Coach, but the valuable life lessons I learned along the way during my career as an athlete! The importance of realizing inner potential, the necessity of utilizing all resources to their utmost capacity and that “intangibles” are just as important as physical attributes in the journey to success. In fact, the more I look into the process, the more I envision one big assembly line producing specialty vehicles. The assembly workers (Coaches) ensure that all parts are strategically placed in order for the car (Athlete) to run effectively and efficiently with minimal pit stops. Each car is different so each worker (Coach) has an important job in the final construction. Care, concern, and attention to detail are just a few qualities of a good line worker (Coach). Nobody wants a car that constantly breaks down, is missing an engine or won’t start.
DSC is pleased to announce the release of our new Athletic Development/Sports Performance video. This video details our training philosophy, training environment, exercise protocol and coaching style. We take pride in providing unparalleled strength and conditioning services in a safe, team oriented atmosphere. We believe in work ethic, attention to detail, commitment, determination and accountability. Educated, caring Coaches fueled with passion for exercise protocol, make DSC an ideal environment for athletes of all ages. Welcome to DSC!
I’m a sucker for strength training information: from Eastern Block methodologies (Verkhoshansky, Issurin, Bondarchuck, Roman, Drabik and Medvedyev), to Westside Methods (Louie Simmons), and Tommy Kono’s Olympic lifting information. A plethora of excellent resources exist for the strength and conditioning professional. Amongst all the resources, data, personal bias, and program layout, a few questions need to be answered prior to commencing the training process:
I miss the competition! I miss the weight room filled with my teammates, adrenaline, sweat, chalk and enough testosterone to start a small revolution! I miss the only two concerns I ever had in life back in those days, school and hockey! My how things have changed. The game has taken its toll on me and I have the scars to prove it. Cuts, pulls, multiple shoulder surgeries and enough time spent in rehab to start my own PT clinic.
As a former athlete, I loved the weight room: the smell, the feeling, and the aura. It was, and still is, a place of solace for me. It’s a place of unbridled adrenaline and potential. The potential to become one day better! As time has passed I find myself on the other side of the weight room, from athlete to Coach. Our job as Coaches is to harness that adrenaline, grit and determination into a safe platform of adaptation for our athletes. Iron is our friend, but it needs to be treated with respect and care. A lack of respect can often lead to injury. Training is not an end to a means; it’s the means to accomplish great things one rep at a time. Below are three virtues in making iron your friend.
Poor educators take difficult material and further obscure the subject. Good teachers can take the same material and package it in a way that all can understand. There are few Coaches in the Strength and Conditioning industry that fit the mold of “teacher”. Dan John is one of those coaches. Michelangelo once said: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” The simplicity Coach John employs is an inspiration to all coaches caught in the world of quick gimmicks, fads, broken promises, Internet “gurus”, armchair trainers, Greek philosophers, unnamed forum posters, and overnight success stories. The quantity of information floating around (much with little substance and big price tags) can make you feel like your running in place sometimes. More often than not that’s exactly what happens in the fitness industry. I recently had the opportunity to hear Coach John lecture the staff of MBSC. His message is a “MUST” for all Coaches looking to fight the food fight.
