Xtreme Team Training 2013-2014
“Any idiot with a whistle can make kids tired.” I can’t remember who said it, but I like it and it’s true. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people equate something that is difficult to mean that it must be good for them. In reality, as humans, we crawl before we walk, walk before we run, and run before we jump. In athletics, a go harder, go faster, go longer approach often ends with overtraining symptoms and even injury. This is especially true in-season when players are pushed to perform at his/her best during on-ice practices and games and participate in poorly planned off-ice training. It is for these reasons that we apply a strategically planned off-ice training program that aims to help players continue to develop athletically, while minimizing the risk of injury and overtraining.
The off-season is truly the best time to make gains in strength, power, size, etc., but that is not to say that in-season training isn’t equally important. “If you don’t use it, you lose it” is a sad, but true reality in the strength and conditioning world. Our in-season goals are to help players maintain and improve gains made during the summer months, reverse the negative changes that occur in the soft-tissues (hips and thoracic spines tend to stiffen as the season prolongs), and to facilitate recovery and nutrition. A major change from our off-season program is limited speed and conditioning work as these should be emphasized on-ice. We direct our focus on strength, power, flexibility and mobility maintenance, and educating players about recovery techniques and proper nutrition. Training sessions vary in intensity, but volume is kept low in an effort to conserve energy for on-ice practices and games.
Here at Inside Edge, it is mandatory that you crawl before you walk. Players will learn proper technique in all foundational exercises (squats, lunges, presses, pulls, etc.). Players will not be allowed to progress to resisted sets until they can properly demonstrate consistent proficient form (adding weight to an exercise that is performed improperly only strengthens a dysfunctional movement pattern). Our goal is to fix the movement pattern and then strengthen it. This approach develops effective and efficient movement vital to competitive sports (not to mention lessens potential injury). Additionally, players will be educated about the importance of fueling athletic performance (the what and the when of pre-workout/competition nutrition) and will participate in recovery yoga sessions.
It is not our goal to make your son or daughter tired. We strive to help him or her stay healthy and to become a better athlete. I hope the above information provides you with some insight into our plans for this season. I appreciate your support of our program and our doors are always open for questions and concerns. Let’s have a great year. Best of luck!
Cheers,
Emily
Emily E. Morris, CSCS
Director of Fitness and Head Strength Coach