Getting Back Into Shape

Question
I'm 16 years old and have just finished my most disappointing season ever. I went from 2nd line of a Bantam "AAA" team to Midget house league. I was told I was cut due to age. This devastated me from when I was cut all through the season until now. I have been procrastinating from it not thinking I'm good enough. But now I'm starting to regain my confidence and need an off ice program to get me back into top shape for this upcoming season. Anything you could recommend would be great. Thanks,
Jordan.

Answer
Hi Jordan...

I hear ya my friend.  As great a game it is - it can sure be disappointing at times.   But PERSISTENCE pays.   A quitter never wins!!  You are a WINNER JORDAN!!!

First step - START NOW!  DO NOT HESITATE - DO NOT PROCRASTINATE...

You definitely need to do some cardio work to get the lungs and stamina up to par.  Running and stationary bike will work good for this.

You should also start a strength building program if you haven't already!...  You don't really need to go with HEAVY weights yet... But it should be part of your lifestyle if you want to play hockey!  Do lower body one day and then upper body the next (to always give your muscles a day to repair!)  (You should be able to get good info from either a high school coach - or you can even contact a local Junior Hockey Strength and Conditioning Coach who are usually more than happy to share the programs they use for their players!! - Plus making contact can put your foot in the door for a future tryout!!)

And lastly I'd recommend doing PLYOMETRIC exercises...  this will build up your explosiveness and if you do the exercises right - will beef up your resistance to injury as well.  (You can google "plyometrics" and find all kinds of info on that.)

Do something every day for at least 6 days a week till camp and you should be fine!  Young bodies usually get fit quicker...  in future though - you may want to keep a fitness program going YEAR ROUND --- to excel in athletics it needs to be a lifestyle ...  not just something you do when you feel like it...  Make sense?

Hope this helps,

Martial

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