Monday, January 31, 2011
Daily Training Tip #328
Sometimes body weight exercises are all that are needed to start your improvements. Pull-Ups, Push-Ups, Dips and Squats are a few to get you going. It is never too late to get yourself going in the proper direction.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Josh Archibald-Starting to Turn Heads!
Minnesota Hockey Hub wrote a great article on Josh Archibald
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/76653?referrer_id=32760
Josh and his Father/Coach, Jim, have quickly become part of the MHC family. Jim has installed in his son all the right things. Josh is the player/person he is today, because he is not afraid to work hard. The ONLY thing you can control in your life is what you do with it. Josh has turned so many heads this season because he was off the radar last year and all of a sudden is one of the elite. He put himself on the radar by paying one heck of a price.
Josh has spent all of the last three summers working and training at MHC. He has a chip on his shoulder. He out works and out trains everyone and because of this, outplays everyone. He's got a long way to go, but nothing is going to stand in his way!
Josh and Jim are two of the hardest working people I've met. Because of this, both are two of the best people I've met.
I'm happy to admit, I'm the founding member of the Josh Archibald Fan Club. Keep his name on your list...as he is only getting better and better.
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/76653?referrer_id=32760
Josh and his Father/Coach, Jim, have quickly become part of the MHC family. Jim has installed in his son all the right things. Josh is the player/person he is today, because he is not afraid to work hard. The ONLY thing you can control in your life is what you do with it. Josh has turned so many heads this season because he was off the radar last year and all of a sudden is one of the elite. He put himself on the radar by paying one heck of a price.
Josh has spent all of the last three summers working and training at MHC. He has a chip on his shoulder. He out works and out trains everyone and because of this, outplays everyone. He's got a long way to go, but nothing is going to stand in his way!
Josh and Jim are two of the hardest working people I've met. Because of this, both are two of the best people I've met.
I'm happy to admit, I'm the founding member of the Josh Archibald Fan Club. Keep his name on your list...as he is only getting better and better.
Daily Training Tip #327
Incorporate a swiss ball or a bosu ball into your workout today. Those are two great tools to help add core and balance into any normal exercise routine.
Adding these tools also allows you to add in a second exercise at the same time and make any exercise more dynamic. The athlete above is doing so much work at this 30 second exercise. Building leg strength by doing squats. Building balance and core strength by doing squats on the ball. Adding in upper body strength by throwing a med ball.
Great way to get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
Adding these tools also allows you to add in a second exercise at the same time and make any exercise more dynamic. The athlete above is doing so much work at this 30 second exercise. Building leg strength by doing squats. Building balance and core strength by doing squats on the ball. Adding in upper body strength by throwing a med ball.
Great way to get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Daily Training Tip #326
Heavy Ropes are also a great tool to use to build shoulder strength and shoulder stability.
(Blake Theisen, the best intern in the league)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Daily Training Tip #325
"Heavy Ropes" are a great way to help build competition in the gym. Heavy Ropes can be used for so many different exercises. One to build competition and overall strength is playing tug-of-war. Get with your workout partner and pull him/her across the room!
(Cole Grabavac, Medicine Hat Tigers)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Daily Training Tip #324
Compete in the gym, Be the best!!! This has a direct correlation to your on-ice performance. For the most part, the best in the gym equals the best on the ice.
(TJ Oshie trying to beat Scott Hartnell on the Red Bags)
(Scott Hartnell trying to beat TJ Oshie on the Red Bags)
Both TJ and Scott compete in everything they do. Probably one reason why both are playing in the NHL.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Specialization
Specialization – Pros and Cons
Some maintain (as in the article we read in a Madison, WI newspaper) there is a change in the landscape of prep sports dating back to the early 70’s. In the past twenty-five (25) the era of the three sport athlete has given way to specialization in one sport. Some say it’s happening to pursue college scholarships and professional sports. They are placing the blame on the parents and coaches. “Kids are serving the sport instead of the sport serving the kids.” There are those who say specialization causes burn out, too many are quitting, and that couldn’t be further fm the truth.
We believe “Boring practices, poor mentors, unsolved intimidating tasks, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny cause burnout. Failure to recognize a person’s assets, develop relationships and reward effort and achievement causes burnout. ”
If all they do is play games on week-ends and/or have boring practices during the week, this is counter-productive, but no one will convince us that twelve (12) fun filled practices and challenging ice times in around dry land, strength training, classroom and shooting isn’t the way to go. It’s all about getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster while gaining a psychological advantage on your opponent in life. You simply learn to out-work people so the real world is a whole lot easier when your competition days are over. There is no ridicule and zero humiliation.
“We believe hard work can be fun; with courage and boldness instilled.”
We have had athletes over the years tell us how much the camp prepared them as much for life as being an athlete. Their work assignment in life became a “walk in the park” and promotions came because their employees observed their willingness to “live the brand” and log in hours unconditionally without complaining. They learned early on that “hard work is fun” and they learned it in our programs.
We receive letters most every week thanking us for our life preparation program.
Parents asked appropriate questions about our programs. We’ve included a few. If your concern is power skating, most power skating exercises can be done during a ten minute warm-up each day once you have acquired the technique.
We believe you improve the most when you skate the days you lift, sprint, and jump. This ties in all of your muscle groups which have a little different range of motion and lessens the chance of shortening any muscle group that would affect your stride. This also gives you a sense of pride in your commitment and a psychological advantage on your opponent.
If your concern is shooting, you do not need an ice sheet to shoot thousands of pucks.
If your concern is checking, we teach containment which is related to controlling the body and mind of the opponent. Control the mind of the opponent and you control the game.
Concern yourself with compete levels and the technique of containment will suffice.
Add the fun and mind challenging ice times and you have a well rounded program geared to improving any athlete for any sport. We seriously believe our Baseball, Football, Golf, Tennis and Track athletes improve greatly @ our camp. Add in some outside tennis, golf, along with the roller blade opportunities on the trail, dry land rink, and you have it all.
We coached prior to the 80’s and we are still coaching during the summer of 2011 and we always encourage our players to take part in the other sports if they can fit it in, especially if they want to do it. The biggest problem is the coaches in other sports don’t like the cross over idea and they try to intimidate. When is the Football Coach going to admit that our athletes rank amongst the highest in conditioning during Fall Football? They spend more time in the weight room and on the dry land than most Football players who “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they have a passion for what they do.
“If your son or daughter can go through our program, and have fun doing it, you have raised a heck-of-a child.”
There comes a time when athletes pick the sport they really like. Some sports are fillers and not as much fun for them. Every kid is different. W can remember letting our Baseball players go to Spring Football right fm the ball field; we encouraged it. Gary Sargent threw the shot put and discus after practice, and won both in High School Track while all-state in Baseball for four years. Sarge thought nothing of going fishing early, playing a little tennis, hitting the golf course, playing Baseball and going on the ice rink all in a summer day’s activity. No one made him do it.
Ralph Lovering practiced his starts with his base running, crossed over during Districts and Regional. He won 1st in the district, 2nd in regional and ran in a state track @ Macalester College the day after winning the Regional Baseball title in Thief River Falls. We know because we made the three hundred (300) mile drive with him right after the game was over. Forget the three sport athlete; they were four sport athletes and summer hockey with the right off-ice training prepared them for all of the sports. It still comes down to becoming bigger, quicker, stronger and faster; not about playing three games on a week-end.
Carl Sneep finished his USHL Lincoln Stars season in time to come home and throw a two (2) hitter and hit a three-hundred eighty (380) foot home run. He played Legion ball and trained ten (10) weeks out of every summer.
Sports, and camps, are as much about instilling intangibles and keeping active children busy as they are about getting a scholarship. This is the point so many are missing. I’ve always felt sorry for the person who went home after school hours and had no activity beyond school, yet schools continue to cut back on co-curricular activities. They must want to see the prisons overflow; which is what happens when active young people have nothing to do. I feel equally sorry for young people who are denied the camp opportunity. This is a totally different intangible building opportunity aside fm the educational process in schools; therefore a must.
“Great mentors and programs embolden people. Boldness and courage levels grow.”
“People need to know how much you care before knowing how much you know.”
We know one thing for sure. The Baseball, Golf, Football, Track and Tennis players that attend MHC show up for their respective camps in better shape than 90% of their peers. We focus on athletes getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster and we believe that serves any sport they want to play. We also provide enough technical and tactical situations to improve skills.
As said many times, burnout is not directly correlated to specialization. Burnout stems fm poor mentoring, boring practices, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny. Failure to do well causes burnout, especially when you don’t know how, or not taught, to learn fm failure. Burnout stems fm the inability to take on the challenge of solving intimidating tasks. Helicopter parents cause burnout unless they possess the skills to mentor an athlete properly. You don’t have to be educated to mentor but those who have it you can see it and feel it; it runs right though them.
Today’s athletes are bigger, quicker, stronger, faster, and smarter. They will thin slice and challenge you the second they meet you; they will assess your authenticity and passion for their career, life and game and then text or email results to their friends and parents. There is a good chance of your qualifications showing up on Facebook.” They are more likely to challenge those who lack substance and lack the skills of a true mentor. They read through perception and deception quickly.
Hockey is one of the sports that come under the specialization theory. Those critiquing fail to recognize how much fun the game is to both practice and play. Practice can be just as much fun as games. Whether drills, scrimmages, games or just skating, being on the ice is really fun. It’s the one game where you can have just as much fun on an outdoor rink as you do in a scheduled game. Have you ever been to a public skating session with people fm age two (2) to eighty-five (85)?
People critiquing specializing need only to watch between periods of the Winter Classic, January 1, 2010. Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, two premier athletes in their sport, two people we love as people, were shooting pucks in to an open net. While accuracy was present once adjusting, check their shooting fundamentals and determine if they could beat a goalie on a breakaway or fm the point in a game. Then picture them on skates. Now, if both had decided to play the game @ an early age, and specialized, our guess is they would be superstars in hockey, also. Just more evidence you need a specialized athlete with specialized skills to play the greatest sport in the world today. Do you want something volcanic and enticing in life? Try practicing and player the game of Hockey.
Those critiquing are failing to recognize the very small percentage of athletes that are born to be there, regardless of what sport they choose, versus the huge percentage that are in the “catch up and pass mode, and will be until they finally catch up and pass. Can you imagine the task @ hand?
Those critiquing fail to recognize the price hockey has paid to be what it is today. Hockey received very little help fm the school systems because school programs were run by football and basketball people who didn’t want anything to do with the sport, especially basketball people. The MSHSL ignored the sport in to the early 1970’s until they found out it was so dynamic they could land lucrative TV contracts. The State High School Tournament was run by the Jaycee programs in St Paul and Bloomington. The game sold itself to the MSHSL.
Arenas were built by hockey groups while gymnasiums were attached to every school. Schools with vision attached ice arenas to schools. They soon found out that hockey was one way to support the rest of the programs. Why? Hockey is dynamic, volcanic and enticing; thus the reason why young people want to spend every waking moment training and playing the game regardless of time of the year. We challenge you to count up the economic dollars brought in to communities by arenas versus community ball parks, football stadiums and gyms. We are quick to say, “We need all of them, but Hockey deserves its place.”
“Mentors capable of creating a great pond hockey setting within a structured practice are in the minority. It’s too challenging and requires skill to teach.”
The game is unique in so many ways that specialization is very important. Players control a puck fifty-three (53), inches or more with a stick in their hands so it’s not like catching and throwing a ball. Skating is much more difficult than walking, jogging or sprinting. Split second thinking is required and intangible levels get tested most every shift.
We’ve always believed that hockey players can play most any sport while athletes in other sports would find it extremely difficult and demanding to play hockey or even go public skating. We can remember challenging an athlete in “horse” our first year teaching in 1964. He was an all-state three sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball @ Bemidji High School and was very critical of this new sport called, Hockey. We gave him a good go @ horse and then he came out to the outdoor rink in and readily admitted he couldn’t begin to step on the ice with skates let alone play the game. I even let him try to handle a puck and shoot it. That ended all criticism, we had a new fan of the game and he and I had a better relationship in Baseball.
“This split second thinking game is forever challenging the human mind and your athletic ability; this, in itself, prevents burnout.”
Specialization; its place in Hockey
Joe Ciardelli, strength and conditioning coach @ MHC, teamed up with us on Sports Specific Training as an answer to specializing.
Specific or precise training is the final touches of the never ending training process. Sport specific training is learning how to throw a curve ball, perfecting how to draw a golf ball or practicing your slap shot. Sport specific training helps you become better at one specific sport, however, don’t mistake sport specific training with becoming a better athlete.
In order to throw a curve ball better or take a better slap shot, you need to practice that skill, but you also need to become a better athlete. Becoming a better athlete is really similar for all athletes, regardless of sport. The better your athletic skills are, the better you will become at your sport of choice. If your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will throw a better curve ball. Also, if your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will have a better slap shot! So why not work on becoming a better athlete?
What football coach wouldn’t want a lineman that has great explosive power? What basketball coach wouldn’t want a point guard that has great jumping skills? What track coach wouldn’t want a sprinter that is lightning fast? What hockey coach wouldn’t want a forward that can change direction on a dime or thoughts in a split second? What coach of any sport wouldn’t want an athlete that is able to do all of the above?
With proper training, all athletes regardless of sport should improve on all the skills of athletic ability; explosive power, first step quickness, lateral speed, strength, stamina, reaction time, balance, etc. These words are used in the gym all the time. They are used in the gym all the time with different sports and different athletes. Improving on these words, improves your athletic skills, regardless of sport.
Off-ice or off-field training is compatible to athletes off all sports. Becoming bigger, faster, quicker and stronger are the objectives of all athletes. These objectives can’t be accomplished without hard work in the gym or practice field. Workouts need to replicate athletic movements. It doesn’t matter if you are a linebacker taking your first step to the right to make a tackle or if you are a tennis player taking your first step to the right to hit a forehand winner.
Improvements happen by completing the right workouts off the field.
Competitions/Games are used to showcase your skills and see how you compare against others. Games aren’t for improvement; practices/workouts are for improvement. Brainerd Warriors High School Coach Jim Archibald says; “In terms of development, one (1) practice/workout is equal to eleven (11) games. If you want to improve on your abilities, then practice and workout more!
Jim grew up in Canada. He is no doubt recognizing the opportunities his son, Josh, has compared to when he was going through the process of becoming a professional athlete. Jim played for the University of North Dakota and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesota Hockey Camps has developed a unique training program that works for all athletes by improving athletic ability. This program is time tested and has the results to prove it. The athletes that train @ MHC leave our program better hockey players, but also better athletes and people. Many go on to star in fall sports before the hockey season starts.
Come train with us this summer!
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli and Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: joe@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Some maintain (as in the article we read in a Madison, WI newspaper) there is a change in the landscape of prep sports dating back to the early 70’s. In the past twenty-five (25) the era of the three sport athlete has given way to specialization in one sport. Some say it’s happening to pursue college scholarships and professional sports. They are placing the blame on the parents and coaches. “Kids are serving the sport instead of the sport serving the kids.” There are those who say specialization causes burn out, too many are quitting, and that couldn’t be further fm the truth.
We believe “Boring practices, poor mentors, unsolved intimidating tasks, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny cause burnout. Failure to recognize a person’s assets, develop relationships and reward effort and achievement causes burnout. ”
If all they do is play games on week-ends and/or have boring practices during the week, this is counter-productive, but no one will convince us that twelve (12) fun filled practices and challenging ice times in around dry land, strength training, classroom and shooting isn’t the way to go. It’s all about getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster while gaining a psychological advantage on your opponent in life. You simply learn to out-work people so the real world is a whole lot easier when your competition days are over. There is no ridicule and zero humiliation.
“We believe hard work can be fun; with courage and boldness instilled.”
We have had athletes over the years tell us how much the camp prepared them as much for life as being an athlete. Their work assignment in life became a “walk in the park” and promotions came because their employees observed their willingness to “live the brand” and log in hours unconditionally without complaining. They learned early on that “hard work is fun” and they learned it in our programs.
We receive letters most every week thanking us for our life preparation program.
Parents asked appropriate questions about our programs. We’ve included a few. If your concern is power skating, most power skating exercises can be done during a ten minute warm-up each day once you have acquired the technique.
We believe you improve the most when you skate the days you lift, sprint, and jump. This ties in all of your muscle groups which have a little different range of motion and lessens the chance of shortening any muscle group that would affect your stride. This also gives you a sense of pride in your commitment and a psychological advantage on your opponent.
If your concern is shooting, you do not need an ice sheet to shoot thousands of pucks.
If your concern is checking, we teach containment which is related to controlling the body and mind of the opponent. Control the mind of the opponent and you control the game.
Concern yourself with compete levels and the technique of containment will suffice.
Add the fun and mind challenging ice times and you have a well rounded program geared to improving any athlete for any sport. We seriously believe our Baseball, Football, Golf, Tennis and Track athletes improve greatly @ our camp. Add in some outside tennis, golf, along with the roller blade opportunities on the trail, dry land rink, and you have it all.
We coached prior to the 80’s and we are still coaching during the summer of 2011 and we always encourage our players to take part in the other sports if they can fit it in, especially if they want to do it. The biggest problem is the coaches in other sports don’t like the cross over idea and they try to intimidate. When is the Football Coach going to admit that our athletes rank amongst the highest in conditioning during Fall Football? They spend more time in the weight room and on the dry land than most Football players who “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they have a passion for what they do.
“If your son or daughter can go through our program, and have fun doing it, you have raised a heck-of-a child.”
There comes a time when athletes pick the sport they really like. Some sports are fillers and not as much fun for them. Every kid is different. W can remember letting our Baseball players go to Spring Football right fm the ball field; we encouraged it. Gary Sargent threw the shot put and discus after practice, and won both in High School Track while all-state in Baseball for four years. Sarge thought nothing of going fishing early, playing a little tennis, hitting the golf course, playing Baseball and going on the ice rink all in a summer day’s activity. No one made him do it.
Ralph Lovering practiced his starts with his base running, crossed over during Districts and Regional. He won 1st in the district, 2nd in regional and ran in a state track @ Macalester College the day after winning the Regional Baseball title in Thief River Falls. We know because we made the three hundred (300) mile drive with him right after the game was over. Forget the three sport athlete; they were four sport athletes and summer hockey with the right off-ice training prepared them for all of the sports. It still comes down to becoming bigger, quicker, stronger and faster; not about playing three games on a week-end.
Carl Sneep finished his USHL Lincoln Stars season in time to come home and throw a two (2) hitter and hit a three-hundred eighty (380) foot home run. He played Legion ball and trained ten (10) weeks out of every summer.
Sports, and camps, are as much about instilling intangibles and keeping active children busy as they are about getting a scholarship. This is the point so many are missing. I’ve always felt sorry for the person who went home after school hours and had no activity beyond school, yet schools continue to cut back on co-curricular activities. They must want to see the prisons overflow; which is what happens when active young people have nothing to do. I feel equally sorry for young people who are denied the camp opportunity. This is a totally different intangible building opportunity aside fm the educational process in schools; therefore a must.
“Great mentors and programs embolden people. Boldness and courage levels grow.”
“People need to know how much you care before knowing how much you know.”
We know one thing for sure. The Baseball, Golf, Football, Track and Tennis players that attend MHC show up for their respective camps in better shape than 90% of their peers. We focus on athletes getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster and we believe that serves any sport they want to play. We also provide enough technical and tactical situations to improve skills.
As said many times, burnout is not directly correlated to specialization. Burnout stems fm poor mentoring, boring practices, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny. Failure to do well causes burnout, especially when you don’t know how, or not taught, to learn fm failure. Burnout stems fm the inability to take on the challenge of solving intimidating tasks. Helicopter parents cause burnout unless they possess the skills to mentor an athlete properly. You don’t have to be educated to mentor but those who have it you can see it and feel it; it runs right though them.
Today’s athletes are bigger, quicker, stronger, faster, and smarter. They will thin slice and challenge you the second they meet you; they will assess your authenticity and passion for their career, life and game and then text or email results to their friends and parents. There is a good chance of your qualifications showing up on Facebook.” They are more likely to challenge those who lack substance and lack the skills of a true mentor. They read through perception and deception quickly.
Hockey is one of the sports that come under the specialization theory. Those critiquing fail to recognize how much fun the game is to both practice and play. Practice can be just as much fun as games. Whether drills, scrimmages, games or just skating, being on the ice is really fun. It’s the one game where you can have just as much fun on an outdoor rink as you do in a scheduled game. Have you ever been to a public skating session with people fm age two (2) to eighty-five (85)?
People critiquing specializing need only to watch between periods of the Winter Classic, January 1, 2010. Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, two premier athletes in their sport, two people we love as people, were shooting pucks in to an open net. While accuracy was present once adjusting, check their shooting fundamentals and determine if they could beat a goalie on a breakaway or fm the point in a game. Then picture them on skates. Now, if both had decided to play the game @ an early age, and specialized, our guess is they would be superstars in hockey, also. Just more evidence you need a specialized athlete with specialized skills to play the greatest sport in the world today. Do you want something volcanic and enticing in life? Try practicing and player the game of Hockey.
Those critiquing are failing to recognize the very small percentage of athletes that are born to be there, regardless of what sport they choose, versus the huge percentage that are in the “catch up and pass mode, and will be until they finally catch up and pass. Can you imagine the task @ hand?
Those critiquing fail to recognize the price hockey has paid to be what it is today. Hockey received very little help fm the school systems because school programs were run by football and basketball people who didn’t want anything to do with the sport, especially basketball people. The MSHSL ignored the sport in to the early 1970’s until they found out it was so dynamic they could land lucrative TV contracts. The State High School Tournament was run by the Jaycee programs in St Paul and Bloomington. The game sold itself to the MSHSL.
Arenas were built by hockey groups while gymnasiums were attached to every school. Schools with vision attached ice arenas to schools. They soon found out that hockey was one way to support the rest of the programs. Why? Hockey is dynamic, volcanic and enticing; thus the reason why young people want to spend every waking moment training and playing the game regardless of time of the year. We challenge you to count up the economic dollars brought in to communities by arenas versus community ball parks, football stadiums and gyms. We are quick to say, “We need all of them, but Hockey deserves its place.”
“Mentors capable of creating a great pond hockey setting within a structured practice are in the minority. It’s too challenging and requires skill to teach.”
The game is unique in so many ways that specialization is very important. Players control a puck fifty-three (53), inches or more with a stick in their hands so it’s not like catching and throwing a ball. Skating is much more difficult than walking, jogging or sprinting. Split second thinking is required and intangible levels get tested most every shift.
We’ve always believed that hockey players can play most any sport while athletes in other sports would find it extremely difficult and demanding to play hockey or even go public skating. We can remember challenging an athlete in “horse” our first year teaching in 1964. He was an all-state three sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball @ Bemidji High School and was very critical of this new sport called, Hockey. We gave him a good go @ horse and then he came out to the outdoor rink in and readily admitted he couldn’t begin to step on the ice with skates let alone play the game. I even let him try to handle a puck and shoot it. That ended all criticism, we had a new fan of the game and he and I had a better relationship in Baseball.
“This split second thinking game is forever challenging the human mind and your athletic ability; this, in itself, prevents burnout.”
Specialization; its place in Hockey
Joe Ciardelli, strength and conditioning coach @ MHC, teamed up with us on Sports Specific Training as an answer to specializing.
Specific or precise training is the final touches of the never ending training process. Sport specific training is learning how to throw a curve ball, perfecting how to draw a golf ball or practicing your slap shot. Sport specific training helps you become better at one specific sport, however, don’t mistake sport specific training with becoming a better athlete.
In order to throw a curve ball better or take a better slap shot, you need to practice that skill, but you also need to become a better athlete. Becoming a better athlete is really similar for all athletes, regardless of sport. The better your athletic skills are, the better you will become at your sport of choice. If your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will throw a better curve ball. Also, if your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will have a better slap shot! So why not work on becoming a better athlete?
What football coach wouldn’t want a lineman that has great explosive power? What basketball coach wouldn’t want a point guard that has great jumping skills? What track coach wouldn’t want a sprinter that is lightning fast? What hockey coach wouldn’t want a forward that can change direction on a dime or thoughts in a split second? What coach of any sport wouldn’t want an athlete that is able to do all of the above?
With proper training, all athletes regardless of sport should improve on all the skills of athletic ability; explosive power, first step quickness, lateral speed, strength, stamina, reaction time, balance, etc. These words are used in the gym all the time. They are used in the gym all the time with different sports and different athletes. Improving on these words, improves your athletic skills, regardless of sport.
Off-ice or off-field training is compatible to athletes off all sports. Becoming bigger, faster, quicker and stronger are the objectives of all athletes. These objectives can’t be accomplished without hard work in the gym or practice field. Workouts need to replicate athletic movements. It doesn’t matter if you are a linebacker taking your first step to the right to make a tackle or if you are a tennis player taking your first step to the right to hit a forehand winner.
Improvements happen by completing the right workouts off the field.
Competitions/Games are used to showcase your skills and see how you compare against others. Games aren’t for improvement; practices/workouts are for improvement. Brainerd Warriors High School Coach Jim Archibald says; “In terms of development, one (1) practice/workout is equal to eleven (11) games. If you want to improve on your abilities, then practice and workout more!
Jim grew up in Canada. He is no doubt recognizing the opportunities his son, Josh, has compared to when he was going through the process of becoming a professional athlete. Jim played for the University of North Dakota and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesota Hockey Camps has developed a unique training program that works for all athletes by improving athletic ability. This program is time tested and has the results to prove it. The athletes that train @ MHC leave our program better hockey players, but also better athletes and people. Many go on to star in fall sports before the hockey season starts.
Come train with us this summer!
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli and Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: joe@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Friday, January 21, 2011
Daily Training Tip #322
Maybe only for Minnesota kids...but workout inside today. 31 degrees below zero is COLD!!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Hockey Treadmill?
I have never been a big fan of the hockey treadmill for numerous reasons. A few years back, I managed a gym in Philadelphia, PA, were we had a total of 6 hockey treadmills and 6 running treadmills. So I have worked with them pretty extensively.
I was recently at a tournament in Duluth, MN and was talking with a couple of parents on how great they thought the treadmill was. They asked why MHC didn’t have a treadmill and what my thoughts on them were. We discussed them for awhile. Not sure if I convinced them or not, but we had a good talk.
When I returned back to the office the next morning, I received my monthly email from Sports Physiologist Dr. Mike Bracko. Dr. Bracko runs the Institute for Hockey Research in Calgary, Alberta, Canada ( http://www.hockeyinstitute.org/ ) He spends his time studying the game of hockey and how to improve players on and off of the ice. Dr. Bracko is cutting edge. This month’s newsletters was “Do Hockey Treadmills Work”
So I thought I would expand on my conversation that I had in Duluth, so all could be a part of it. Adding in Dr. Bracko’s research backs me up, as I am just a strength coach!
My First thought has always been; with so many indoor rinks open all year around, why try to reproduce ice itself? Skating on the treadmill only focuses on forward skating. There are at least 20 other characteristics of skating beside forward skating. Then add in stickhandling and shooting, (something you can practice on the ice, but not on the treadmill) and you are up to at least 22 other characteristics of the game of hockey you are ignoring. So why not spend time on the ice, or in Minnesota, on a frozen lake?
My second thought has always been; a solid off-ice conditioning program is really second to none. You become a better skater off of the ice. By running, jumping, lifting and skating together on a regular basis. There is a 96% direct correlation to off-ice performance and on-ice performance. If you improve on your vertical jump and 40 yard dash time in the gym, you improve on your skating speed on the ice. The stronger, more explosive, faster and quicker you become off of the ice, the better skater you become. Most gym memberships are very cheap. Some youth associations have access to their own personal strength coach for no cost to their players. So why spend extra money on a hockey treadmill that isn’t the best thing for a player?
My third thought has always been on skating form on the hockey treadmill. Not that perfect skaters are always the best skaters, but why try to ruin your stride? Dr. Bracko says skating on a treadmill with a two (2) degree (or more) incline does not simulate on-ice skating conditions-as every hockey rink in the world is flat and has no incline. Dr. Bracko found that skating uphill on a treadmill, a hockey player has to alter his or her stride to push-off with more hip extension and less hip abduction. In other words, a player has to push backward more than to the side. This actually contradicts one of the most important characteristics of fast skaters…a wide powerful stride!
In another study, Dr. Bracko found that players were “habituated” to skating on a flat treadmill that progressively went faster when they had the following characteristics: decreased stride rate, increased stride length and skated more upright toward the end of the study. It is commonly known that fast hockey players have a higher stride rate. In fact, this is one of the most important characteristics of fast skating. Therefore, if a player on a treadmill decreases his or her stride rate, it actually means he/she is skating SLOWER!! Stride length could mean stride width, but generally speaking, we want players to have a wide stride, not a long stride. And if players were more upright while skating fast on a treadmill, this means they had the incorrect biomechanics because if you watch elite players skate fast, they are leaning forward a lot and have a lot of trunk flexion.
My fourth thought has always been, could it be possible to use skating treadmills for a conditioning tool? I believe the answer to this is yes, but I don’t believe it to be the best conditioning tool.
Do your research before signing up for anything. There are a lot of tools out there that are good, however there are also a lot of gimmicks. In today’s world, funds are tight so spend them wisely.
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake Rd, P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: joe@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
I was recently at a tournament in Duluth, MN and was talking with a couple of parents on how great they thought the treadmill was. They asked why MHC didn’t have a treadmill and what my thoughts on them were. We discussed them for awhile. Not sure if I convinced them or not, but we had a good talk.
When I returned back to the office the next morning, I received my monthly email from Sports Physiologist Dr. Mike Bracko. Dr. Bracko runs the Institute for Hockey Research in Calgary, Alberta, Canada ( http://www.hockeyinstitute.org/ ) He spends his time studying the game of hockey and how to improve players on and off of the ice. Dr. Bracko is cutting edge. This month’s newsletters was “Do Hockey Treadmills Work”
So I thought I would expand on my conversation that I had in Duluth, so all could be a part of it. Adding in Dr. Bracko’s research backs me up, as I am just a strength coach!
My First thought has always been; with so many indoor rinks open all year around, why try to reproduce ice itself? Skating on the treadmill only focuses on forward skating. There are at least 20 other characteristics of skating beside forward skating. Then add in stickhandling and shooting, (something you can practice on the ice, but not on the treadmill) and you are up to at least 22 other characteristics of the game of hockey you are ignoring. So why not spend time on the ice, or in Minnesota, on a frozen lake?
My second thought has always been; a solid off-ice conditioning program is really second to none. You become a better skater off of the ice. By running, jumping, lifting and skating together on a regular basis. There is a 96% direct correlation to off-ice performance and on-ice performance. If you improve on your vertical jump and 40 yard dash time in the gym, you improve on your skating speed on the ice. The stronger, more explosive, faster and quicker you become off of the ice, the better skater you become. Most gym memberships are very cheap. Some youth associations have access to their own personal strength coach for no cost to their players. So why spend extra money on a hockey treadmill that isn’t the best thing for a player?
My third thought has always been on skating form on the hockey treadmill. Not that perfect skaters are always the best skaters, but why try to ruin your stride? Dr. Bracko says skating on a treadmill with a two (2) degree (or more) incline does not simulate on-ice skating conditions-as every hockey rink in the world is flat and has no incline. Dr. Bracko found that skating uphill on a treadmill, a hockey player has to alter his or her stride to push-off with more hip extension and less hip abduction. In other words, a player has to push backward more than to the side. This actually contradicts one of the most important characteristics of fast skaters…a wide powerful stride!
In another study, Dr. Bracko found that players were “habituated” to skating on a flat treadmill that progressively went faster when they had the following characteristics: decreased stride rate, increased stride length and skated more upright toward the end of the study. It is commonly known that fast hockey players have a higher stride rate. In fact, this is one of the most important characteristics of fast skating. Therefore, if a player on a treadmill decreases his or her stride rate, it actually means he/she is skating SLOWER!! Stride length could mean stride width, but generally speaking, we want players to have a wide stride, not a long stride. And if players were more upright while skating fast on a treadmill, this means they had the incorrect biomechanics because if you watch elite players skate fast, they are leaning forward a lot and have a lot of trunk flexion.
My fourth thought has always been, could it be possible to use skating treadmills for a conditioning tool? I believe the answer to this is yes, but I don’t believe it to be the best conditioning tool.
Do your research before signing up for anything. There are a lot of tools out there that are good, however there are also a lot of gimmicks. In today’s world, funds are tight so spend them wisely.
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake Rd, P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: joe@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Daily Training Tip #320
When skating uphill on a treadmill, a player has to alter their stride to skate uphill. This creates poor skating habits and actually hurts you more than it helps you, when you step back on the flat ice surface.
More to come on this later!
More to come on this later!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Drew Olson, Getting Some Ink
http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2011-01-17/hockey-%E2%80%98-joy-be-along-ride%E2%80%99
The Brainerd Dispatch wrote a nice article on MHC Camper Drew Olson. The only thing that was missed was how much time Drew has spent training at MHC. He has spent 10+ weeks every summer for the last 11+ years.
The Brainerd Dispatch wrote a nice article on MHC Camper Drew Olson. The only thing that was missed was how much time Drew has spent training at MHC. He has spent 10+ weeks every summer for the last 11+ years.
(Drew DANCING over the speed ladder)
I was in Duluth this past weekend and watched Drew play against the Badgers. He is an unbelievable athlete! He has gotten to where he is, because of his hard work. Keep it up Drew!
Daily Training Tip #319
Skating treadmills might not be giving you as much benefit as you believe. Becoming stronger off of the ice and becoming a faster sprinter off of the ice equals a faster skater. Pretty easy to do!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Daily Training Tip #318
Swimming is a great, low impract way of training or for rehab. However, don't swim on game day!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Daily Training Tip #316
Perfect form isn't always a must, sometimes "heart & soul" helps you over your obstacles.
Pictured above, might not be the best form...however, when your coach walks into the room and see you jumping over a 40" high log, his eyes light up. And so does your career!
One of my favorite quotes "J.G.I.D." (Just Get It Done) Most times, doing whatever it is you have too, helps you in many ways!
One of my favorite quotes "J.G.I.D." (Just Get It Done) Most times, doing whatever it is you have too, helps you in many ways!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Daily Training Tip #315
Nobody can do your work for you! Coaches/Mentors can lead and support you, however, only YOU can make yourself better!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Daily Training Tip #314
No such thing as an "off" day. Every day you need to be doing something active, if not, your results will be lessened!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
MHC Revered & Respected
Minnesota Hockey Camps
Revered and Respected
There are all kinds of reasons why camps maintain, sustain and build on what they have but there are also some constants that will always be a part of MHC. Memories cultivated @ MHC are memories that will live as long as each camper is able to talk about the experience. The experience takes on a tone of reverence and each experience brought in to the conversation comes fm the heart. In many ways the memories brought up are sacred because they play such an important role in the development of the person.
Whether the relationship between counselors and campers, mentors and campers or the synergy of each work out, each experience is remembered and talked about in a manner that tells you that this experience had a profound impact on each person’s life and career. This isn’t something new. People have known for years that there is no substitute for an element of growth away fm home. They are essential to the growth of any person; young and old.
Bottom line is each camper having an element of growth aware fm home and without the eyes and ears of their parents. They are out of their comfort zone facing challenges and accomplishing things that would not be the same if their parents were standing right beside them. It’s a playground setting that is remembered and revered for a lifetime. We bring the value of the playground back in to their young lives; the playground revered for the pecking order and altering the pecking order.
There is nothing that compares to counselors and mentors who show empathy, desire to share and passion for all they do in life. Young people are content to satisfy those in charge and they don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Self-esteem levels are built through hard work alone. Any accomplishment beyond simply enhances the experience.
Our camp has its own rules; not unlike a supervised playground where young people learn to survive in the pecking order rituals of daily life. The young campers are on their own, out of their comfort zone, and take pride in every accomplishment. This is true if the accomplishment is nothing more than showing up on time to put in an honest day’s work. It all starts by creating the habit of commitment to all we do.
Most young people we meet “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they love the game, “think” they have a passion for life and work. It’s our position that we are on this earth to create an awareness of what it takes to critique ourselves and then forge ahead with a purpose and a passion we only “thought” was existent in our daily routine. We do know that one needs a “strict routine” to ensure success and we provide that.
The camp is there to create a setting reserved for the campers and each one takes one or more experiences and channels them towards personal growth; something they are unable to do under the protection of adults and their programs back home.
The camp was founded by Herb Brooks and Chuck Grillo, and the legacy of MHC lives on. In the process we are developing success stories within and outside of the game. MHC is a special place, revered and respected for all it brings to any person’s life.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Revered and Respected
There are all kinds of reasons why camps maintain, sustain and build on what they have but there are also some constants that will always be a part of MHC. Memories cultivated @ MHC are memories that will live as long as each camper is able to talk about the experience. The experience takes on a tone of reverence and each experience brought in to the conversation comes fm the heart. In many ways the memories brought up are sacred because they play such an important role in the development of the person.
Whether the relationship between counselors and campers, mentors and campers or the synergy of each work out, each experience is remembered and talked about in a manner that tells you that this experience had a profound impact on each person’s life and career. This isn’t something new. People have known for years that there is no substitute for an element of growth away fm home. They are essential to the growth of any person; young and old.
Bottom line is each camper having an element of growth aware fm home and without the eyes and ears of their parents. They are out of their comfort zone facing challenges and accomplishing things that would not be the same if their parents were standing right beside them. It’s a playground setting that is remembered and revered for a lifetime. We bring the value of the playground back in to their young lives; the playground revered for the pecking order and altering the pecking order.
There is nothing that compares to counselors and mentors who show empathy, desire to share and passion for all they do in life. Young people are content to satisfy those in charge and they don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Self-esteem levels are built through hard work alone. Any accomplishment beyond simply enhances the experience.
Our camp has its own rules; not unlike a supervised playground where young people learn to survive in the pecking order rituals of daily life. The young campers are on their own, out of their comfort zone, and take pride in every accomplishment. This is true if the accomplishment is nothing more than showing up on time to put in an honest day’s work. It all starts by creating the habit of commitment to all we do.
Most young people we meet “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they love the game, “think” they have a passion for life and work. It’s our position that we are on this earth to create an awareness of what it takes to critique ourselves and then forge ahead with a purpose and a passion we only “thought” was existent in our daily routine. We do know that one needs a “strict routine” to ensure success and we provide that.
The camp is there to create a setting reserved for the campers and each one takes one or more experiences and channels them towards personal growth; something they are unable to do under the protection of adults and their programs back home.
The camp was founded by Herb Brooks and Chuck Grillo, and the legacy of MHC lives on. In the process we are developing success stories within and outside of the game. MHC is a special place, revered and respected for all it brings to any person’s life.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Daily Training Tip #313
SPEED KILLS...and on the athletic playing field, it kills the opponent! Being quicker and faster is better! So start building speed and quickness today!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Daily Training Tip #312
Lifting lighter weights more explosively, is a better way to train your lower body AND your upper body!
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