How to Build Stamina in Hockey

The game of hockey is an intense sport. There is a lot of fast paced skating, stopping, checking and weaving going on. This is all happening while wearing 40-plus pounds of gear and trying to shoot a small, hard rubber object into a goal. For these reasons, it is important to have stamina throughout the whole game. The way to make this happen is by training sport specifically.

Things You'll Need

  • Ankle weights
  • Wrist weights
  • Weighted vest
  • Gravity belt
  • BOSU
  • Agility ladder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wear added weight. From the time you get up until the time you go to bed, wear extra weight on your body. This can be ankle weights, wrist weights, a weighted vest, a gravity belt or any combination of them all. This will always keep your body adapted to the extra weight that you wear while playing.

    • 2

      Do long cardio sessions. The game of hockey is divided into three, 20-minute periods. It is important to have stamina late in the game. So doing longer duration runs of 45 to 60 minutes will increase aerobic capacity.

    • 3

      Do interval training. Do a warm-up run for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then run at a high intensity for about 30 seconds. Then run at a comfortable pace for 60 seconds. Alternate back and forth. This translates well into an actual game environment.

    • 4

      Do hill sprints. Locate a nearby hill that is about a tenth of a mile long. Do a 10 to 15 minute warmup and come to the bottom. Now do a series of uphill sprints. Finish with a 10- to 15-minute cool down.

    • 5

      Do lateral training. A lot of action in hockey is done side to side. Do ladder drills and BOSU drills to increase your stamina. Some examples are lateral side steps, side hops, single foot side hops and side shuffles.