Strength Training is Safe (if done correctly) for Young Hockey Players

Across New Jersey, tryouts for Tier 1 Mite-Bantam hockey start on May 4, with Tier 2 starting the following Monday on May 11th. That’s only a few short weeks away! Here’s a tip for your hockey player. One of the best ways to increase strength, speed, and endurance is to strength train. Unfortunately too many well-meaning coaches and parents don’t allow kids to lift weights because we’ve all been told that it’s bad for growth plates. Here is some news for you – this is a big myth! It’s simply not true. Don’t believe me? Just check out what the Mayo Clinic has to say here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/strength-training/hq01010

If the Mayo Clinic says it’s OK for kids to strength train, that’s good enough for me. So now here’s the even better part. Strength training is relatively simple, inexpensive and delivers big results quickly. To learn more about the best way to strength train with kids check out Fred Hahn’s great advice on his web site http://www.seriousstrength.com/. (The bottom of his home page features a great video of his daughter Georgia doing his workout!) Fred has been known to work with some hockey players himself! And if you're here in Northern New Jersey you can check out the good work of Tim Lynch and his crew at Maxability Sports & Fitness in the Ice House in Hackensack. (http://www.icehousenj.com/healthclub_hockey.aspx)