Techniques to recover from hockey training have become of more interest to hockey coaches and hockey conditioning coaches for performance enhancement. Although there are many techniques that can used to recover from training, the most popular seem to be stretching, foam rolling, and post work-out snack or drink. Some athletes also used cold-water baths. However, the ultimate recovery tool is getting proper sleep.
Sleep – No myth, all truth
Sleep is the ultimate recovery technique because with proper quality and quantity of sleep, athletes recover properly from games, practices, and training, and will improve their performance.
One of the reasons sleep is so important for recovery from sports training is that there is a release of human growth hormone during stages 3 and 4 (there are 5 stages of sleep). As a result, the body does most of its repair work (from training) and regeneration during stages 3 and 4. Human growth hormone helps repair the damage that hard training does to the muscles and is key to improving sports performance.
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Mike Bracko
Mike Bracko is a skating coach, skating researcher, strength & conditioning coach, and fitness educator. He holds a Doctorate degree in Exercise Science and Biomechanics and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach through the NSCA. He played hockey in the AJHL, BCHL and NCAA (University of Illinois-Chicago). He does skating clinics with 300–400 hockey players every year specializing in 1-on-1, small group, and team skating with male and female players ranging in age from 8 years old to pro players. He is also the strength & conditioning coach for the USA Men’s Deaflympic hockey team. www.hockeyinstitute.org [email protected]
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