Interval training is characterized as exercise where an athlete trains at a very high intensity for a short period of time (10 – 60 seconds) then does an active rest or complete rest to recover, followed by more high intensity work bouts. This is one of the best ways for hockey players to train their cardiovascular system because this is how hockey is played, ie: play hard during the shift for 30 – 60 seconds, followed by a rest on the bench or between a whistle and puck drop.
Why interval training is important for hockey players
Hockey is an anaerobic sport. The true definition of anaerobic is the absence of oxygen. This definition is a little over the top as it relates to hockey performance because players are still able to breath oxygen. The point is that hockey is played in short (30 – 60 seconds) high intensity shifts leaving players breathing heavy and creating metabolic waste products, which can adversely affect performance. Hockey is unique in that there are upper body movements superimposed on continuous leg contractions. Because of this, a player will become fatigued after 30, 45, 60 seconds, which is a classic example of an anaerobic sport.
Even goalies who play the entire game (unless they are pulled for some reason) play in shifts – they work hard when the puck is in the offensive zone, then the rest and recover when the play goes to the other end.
As such, the best way to train the cardiovascular system for hockey is to train like a game. Interval training is important to not only train the body to be able to work hard, but to recover quickly from high intensity work. The rule of specificity of training is important for hockey players – train the way the game is played.
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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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