Core training in hockey workouts is of the utmost importance. The core is responsible for a lot of things when you're on the ice, including generating power in your shots and hits, and stabilizing you when you skate, shoot, hit, get hit, or do just about anything else. A strong core makes for dominant ice hockey players, whereas a weak one is begging for injuries. Here are 3 of the best exercises you can do to train your core for top performance on the ice.
Reverse Crunch with Swiss Ball
This is a great exercise and very simply to do. The exercise ball is added to make the movement a little more difficult. You can do it without though if you find it too difficult to do with the ball. To perform this exercise, lie on your back and grip a Swiss ball between your fight and calves. Never let the ball touch the ground, hold it just above. Using your core, bring the ball up until your legs are straight above you and your hips are off of the ground.
Swiss Ball Push-up
Again, the Swiss ball is used to add instability which is why this exercise activates the core so effectively. In fact, any time you can add instability into your workout, it will always effectively work your core. To perform the Swiss ball push-up, simply place your hands on an exercise ball and perform a normal push-up movement like you would on the ground. You can also reverse this and place your feet on the ball. Both are great exercises and will rip up your core.
Wood-Chooper
To do this exercise, grab a dumbbell (or alternately use a medicine ball) and holding it with both hands, start with it raised above your left shoulder. Bring it down and across your body until it is beside your right hip (simulating an axe-swing across your body). Repeat until the set is finished and then switch sides and perform the same movement in reverse. This is a great exercise for your core and has huge benefits for shooting.
These three exercises will take you a long way if you add them into your normal routine, but they're only a few of the many great core exercises you can do to increase your on-ice performance. For more great hockey exercises, and to see visual demonstrations of these and all other exercises, go to http://www.tophockeytraining.com and check out Hockey Speed and Power by Kevin Miehm. Written by an ex-NHLer, it provides a complete, hockey specific training regime that any player can use to maximize their on ice performance.
