I have learned that the moment I tell someone "NOT" to do something, they immediately do it.  Far better to tell people what they SHOULD do so you don't speak something else into existence.

I write the "Don't Do" list with trepidation.  I rather think of it as a why you shouldn't do certain things and perhaps there would be a better understanding of it in the future.

After the first match, game or contest of the day, there is usually a prolonged waiting period before the next one that afternoon or evening.

When hockey teams from our area (I can only speak from my experience here) go somewhere, it's usually a pretty cool place to visit with a LOT of attractions.  Some of which is SNOW itself.

Unless you are from the Tahoe region or Big Bear regions of California, EVERY kid wants to go play in the snow!  As parents that want our kids to experience everything, we must resist this urge on game day.  Why?  Because what do you do when you get there?  Sled, Ski, snowball fight, hike, outdoor ice skate.  All energy expenditures and will tap into the energy systems needed for later in the day or that evening.

Sometimes we play in Anaheim.  What's there you may ask?  Why the "Happiest Place on Earth"  Disneyland.  Here you will spend countless hours standing in a line for an attraction, spend a bajillion dollars and what do you get for the effort?  Mouse ears and tired legs with a piss poor attitude to bring back into the locker room.

The other place we end up is usually the BEACH!  I LOVE the beach.  I could live out my days on one.  But the sun and surf will totally blister a hockey players body and wreak havoc on their little energy systems.

Remember WHY we are at these destinations in the first place...To WIN hockey tournaments.

If you have to fill in the time, go to the movies.  Check out a library.  Something that is quiet IF YOU MUST go touring.

Avoid at all cost SAUNAS, STEAM ROOMS  SWIMMING POOLS and HOT TUBS!

My buddy Lee Zimmerman who is a hockey coach with the Blazers in the Philadelphia area immediately called out to me to tell me, under no certain terms should Hunter get into a pool or hot tub.

Well, just telling him not to wouldn't be enough.  I needed concrete evidence as to WHY?

Buddy Morris who is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL told me in passing that as little as a 5% reduction in dehydration (there it is again) CAN result in as much as a 17% reduction in performance.  WHAT?  That's an incredible gamble when you are sapped of your water.

How does this involve pools?  MOST hotel pools are kept warmer than the competitive pool temperature that the swimmers that workout in my program told me.  Competitions are best held at a pool temperature of 70 degrees.  THAT is stink'n cold for my liking, but above that, the body begins to dehydrate much the way it does in a Steam bath or Sauna.  Furthermore, the swimmers told me that THEY TOO are forbidden in warm water on the day of competition.

Our little guys LOVE to jump in and ram rod each other.  They're boys.  They are boys that play hockey with an aquas crash pad so it's logical to take and Wrestlemania your buddies.  Concurrently the CHLORINE will quicken the dehydration process.  Seems that cleansing agent does more than kill bacteria.  It kills the energy system of our first two lines!

The other thing our kids LOVE to do is play Knee Hockey!  Hell, we have ruined more rooms and hallways at hotels that they now set up a special room especially set aside for the activity.

Think about it, here you are in a crouched position, exploding from it to chase a ball, only to return to it to defend against a counter attack.  Your little defensemen are doing 10,000 squats in between games.  On top of it, they are competitive bastards!  They want to win at everything they keep score to.  So there is a lot of cheering, hollering and excitement that goes with the knee hockey game.

As much fun as these activities are, we need to limit or eliminate them from our Multi day contests.  If the goal is to win the championship, keep them quiet between the contest.

Understand this...once the contest is over, or the day's games are done..ALL BETS ARE OFF!

Dash and Splash to their hearts content.  THAT way they CRASH at the end of the day and go to sleep for the much needed 8-10 hours of deep R.E.M. cycle sleep.  YES, 8-10 hours for these budding NHLers is not only recommended but essential!  I only wish we had a Hyperbolic Chamber to stick Hunter in!

Remember, these are only recommendations that I have my kid adhere to.  He is by no way a perfect specimen, (unless you get me talking strictly about him) but I know what he needs and I want him to have the BEST opportunity at success.

Since he is a TEAM Sportsman, the best opportunity for success is to also make those around him as successful as they can be as well.

I have stated in the past, To know and not to do, is not to know.

Since I know, we do!

There are more suggestions that I have, but these are the main ones that are easily addressed.

*Photo courtesy of Marilee Brown #77

 

Today's Training:

Concept II Rowing Ergometer: 17 minutes

Cat/Camel: 10

Bird Dogs: 10 each side

Hip Circle from Fire Hydrants: 10 each side

OHP: 6 RM

Reduce weight to 55% and do three sets of 10 reps

 

Snatch Grip Up Right Row: 3x10

V Bar Pulldown: 3x10

DB Curl: 3x10

Rope attachement Tricep Push Down: 3x10

Sprint: 10x10 yards @50%, 60%,70%

Sprint II: 5x100 yards @90%  (I'm back.  My quad hung in there)