When you think about your hockey gear, no doubt the first things that come to your mind are your stick, your skates and your pads. After all, it’s tough to play the game without any of these. But there’s a category of hockey equipment that’s no less important to your performance on the ice even though you’ll never use them during a game. These are the training aids and products you should be using to hone your skills during practice and workouts. This gear is essential for helping you improve specific skills such as skating, shooting and puck handling. If you want to take your game to the next level, these training products can give you the edge you need.
But just as you want to make sure you have the sticks and skates that fit you and your style of play, it’s important to select the training gear that will provide you with the best results for your practice sessions. Any player interested in enhancing his or her skills will want to know how to select the proper equipment for their training regimen. Fortunately, it isn’t as difficult as it sounds.
Popular Hockey
Training Aids
There are a number of different products used by pros and amateurs for enhancing their game, each one focused on a specific skill. Not all of these are meant for hockey only, with some being used for training in other sports as well as general fitness. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most commonly used training products for hockey players:
Slide Boards — These are made of slick surfaces that are meant to approximate the feeling of being on the ice. Players wear special booties that enable them to glide back and forth along the length of the board so they can work on their lateral movement. This is an important skill for skating as well as being able to change directions as quickly as possible. Some slide boards also are configured in an “L” shape to help players work on their cornering.
Balance Boards — Commonly seen in other types of workouts, balance boards resemble a skateboard without wheels balanced on top of a cylinder. This means players have to work hard to maintain their balance to remain upright. Many players use these to work on their skating posture and equilibrium, which are essential for skating and moving around the ice as effectively as possible. They might not seem like it, but these are some of the best off-ice hockey training equipment you can use.
Artificial Ice Tiles — Made from synthetic materials, these tiles can be used to simulate ice for a variety of training exercises. For example, you can put one down on your driveway to use as a shooting point to practice slap shots in front of a net. Because many of these feature interlocking tabs, they can be laid down and connected to form a makeshift rink of practically any size. These give players the ability to practice their skating, shooting and more in any conditions, whether it’s indoors or outside during the summer when real ice would be impractical.
Resistance Bands — Working out with resistance bands is a great way for players to build muscle in key areas and do some at-home hockey training. Many players work out with resistance bands focusing on their legs and core, which are the most important areas for speed and power in hockey. Some players choose to connect one end to their sticks to help them improve their stick speed, as well, making them some of the best hockey stick handling tools a player can have.
Training Pucks — Specially designed pucks can be a valuable addition to any player’s training gear. These range from weighted pucks to help players put more force into their shots to off-ice pucks designed to glide along rough surfaces like driveways and floors. In many cases, players use these to work on their stickhandling skills. In a pinch, many also swear by using golf balls as DIY hockey training aids.
Choosing the Right
Training Aids
So which ones are the best hockey training products for you? The answer is that it depends on what type of skills you want to develop. The best hockey training tools are invariably going to be the ones that focus on building specific areas of your game that may be lacking right now. This means that before you rush off to the sporting goods store and fill your cart with gear, you should take a close look at your current skill level and where you’d like to see improvements.
For example, if you’re confident with your puck handling but want to gain more speed and mobility on the ice, you should consider investing in a slide board or artificial ice tiles. Improving your passing or puck control should begin with choosing the right training pucks. If you have shaky posture on the ice, a balance board could help you work out the kinks.
It’s important to note, however, that although all these training aids can help you improve your game, they can’t replace ice time. Getting out onto the rink and practicing in gametime conditions with your regular gear is always going to be the most effective means of elevating your level of play. Even the best hockey training equipment should be used primarily as supplements to your regular practices, not a substitute.
Incorporating Training Aids into Your Routine
Working these training products into your workout routine successfully is key to getting the most out of them. Ideally, your sessions should be structured so they focus on a specific area of improvement each time. For example, one day’s session should be built around stick handling and posture using a balance board. The next day, you can concentrate on skating by using slide boards or artificial ice.
Changing up your routine not only prevents you from getting bored, but it also yields better results. As mentioned above, make sure you’re incorporating as much ice time as you can into your training. It’s also a good idea to talk with your coaches and trainers on a regular basis to make sure you’re meeting all your progression goals and reevaluate any areas of your training that may be less than effective.
No matter how you choose to work these training tools into your workouts, ProStockHockey.com has a huge selection of hockey equipment bags to keep everything organized and easy to carry. Many of these come direct from the professional locker rooms, so you can be certain of their quality and ability to stand up to rough use. To learn more about what we have available or if you just want some advice about what gear to use, reach out and give our team a call. We’re more than happy to talk about everything we can do to help you elevate your play.
