For professionals, playing hockey is more than just a full-time job, it’s a lifestyle. They very much live and breathe the game of hockey. Because of this, NHL-level players have developed all kinds of at home hockey habits in their everyday lives that help them become better players not only on the ice, but off the ice too.
Practicing and playing hockey is one thing, but it’s not enough to be able to compete at the highest level. Hockey professionals need to make sure they live a healthy, focused lifestyle so they can stay at the top of their game. Listed below are some of the best at-home hockey habits for any aspiring player. If you work to incorporate these habits in your own life, you’ll be that much closer to achieving your hockey dreams.
Eating Well
It’s no secret that to be a successful athlete, you need to eat well. This includes things like: drinking plenty of water, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and staying away from junk food like chocolate, chips and candy. However, hockey players have a few special conditions for what they should, and shouldn’t eat which really help them thrive at their practices and games.
First, hockey players should be eating plenty of carbohydrates. These are fruits, vegetables, beans, and especially grain foods like rice and breads. Carbs provide the best fuel for hockey players who consistently exercise by practicing, playing games, and working out at home. Second, hockey players should be getting enough protein, but not too much. A good rule of thumb is to have one gram of protein per pound of body weight. If however, you lack a food scale or don’t know your weight, just keep in mind to eat nice, lean protein every day, but don’t overdo it.
Try your best to eat healthy as much as possible in your daily life. Once you make it a habit, you’ll notice a huge difference when you can play harder, faster, and stronger.
Exercising
Yes, you get exercise at practice and during games, a lot of exercise for that matter. However, that still leaves 3 – 5 days a week where you can exercise at home to become even stronger. Professional hockey players try to exercise most days of the week with one or two rest days, whether they’re on the ice or off the ice.
If you make it a habit to exercise often, your body will be used to being pushed to it’s limits, and you’ll be able to perform better in your games because you’ll have more stamina. Not only that, you’ll get in better shape and develop more muscle, which will also help you on the ice.
The exact form of exercise you get doesn’t matter too much, so long as you’re moving your body. Of course, as hockey players mature and get better they have a specific training plan. If you’re interested in a hockey-specific plan, you can find a ton of information online. But for now, you can do things like: Jog, play another sport like soccer, basketball, or cycling, or hit the gym.
Getting Proper Sleep
Making sure you’re well-rested the night before hockey practices and games is crucial to your performance and development as a hockey player. If you’ve slept enough, you can think and act faster on the ice, and you won’t tire out as quickly. However, to turn proper sleep into a habit, you should make sure to get enough sleep every night. Going to bed and waking up at relatively the same time every night should also be a goal.
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to be at their best, and teenagers need even more. If you’re used to getting the same amount of sleep at around the same time every night, then you won’t need to worry about getting enough rest for your practices or games. Your body will be used to a healthy sleep pattern, so not even pre-game jitters will keep you up. That way, you can give your best effort come game time.
Learning
Hockey practice is a useful, designated time for you and your teammates to learn and practice the fundamentals of the game with the guidance of your coach. However, you can always research more about hockey on your own; it will only give you more of an advantage over your opponents on the ice.
Learning about hockey is an incredibly helpful habit to develop as a minor hockey player. Whether the habit is in the form of watching hockey videos for extra tips and tools, or reading from a hockey training book before bed, it may go a long way to making you a better hockey player. In fact, even watching hockey games can improve your hockey sense!
When watching NHL games on television, try to look for things that teams do particularly well, or any mistakes that are made. Analyzing hockey games on television prepares your mind to think faster and make better decisions when you’re on the ice. So next time you’re siting down with your family to watch the big game, try to pay close attention!
If your goal is to develop into the best hockey player you can be and to rise in the rankings to eventually become a professional, these habits will guide you in the right direction. If you make it a point to always work hard, eat properly, get great sleep, exercise, and learn the sport of hockey both at practice and on your own, you’ll be one step closer to living out your dreams.
