Some knee-related problems could be osgood-slaughter (sp?). My son had it because his leg measures were so strong that when he went thru a growth spurtthere was alot of pain...muscles weren't flexible enough. So it's important for kids to always stretch and maintain felxibility so that as their bones grow their muscles can as well...

Absolutely, Fangers!

I have just registered for this site and had a brief look at it to try and find a programme suitable for my fitness. I also found a great off ice warm up which I intend to put into practise on Saturday for prior to an under 12's game.

Is there anything on there for off ice training (rather than fitness) for 12's and under that kids could do in the back garden?

A great site well done.

I will look into some more off-ice specific ideas for you. In the mean time, I'm not sure if any of you have a need for ankle prehab work, but we just put up a sheet today. Here is the link:
Ankle Prehab

quote:

Originally posted by ImpsBoss:

Is there anything on there for off ice training (rather than fitness) for 12's and under that kids could do in the back garden?

This may or may not be what you had in mind, but here are a couple of ideas:

Here is a Game Speed Conditioning program that involves lots of different types of movement, with short bursts of activity interspersed with rest intervals. It can be done on a field or in a gym.

Game Speed Conditioning For Hockey

Ladder,Line, and Cone Agility Drills:

Ladder and Line Drills For Hockey

Cone Agility Drills For Hockey

If you have a basketball court, we use this to condition our hockey players in the off-season. It is fun and helps to develop many of the same game skills and team work seen in hockey:

Russian Basketball

Here is another one like Russian Basketball that you can do on a field or in a gym.

Trash Ball

That is a start. I can come up with more stuff as well for you. Thanks!

Coach

Thats all great thanks. Do you have any kind of stick work drills that can be done off ice?

Also, is it correct that plyometrics should not be done by kids?

I do not believe we have any stick drills at this time, but that is something I will look into. As for plyos, I typically begin that type of training with high school-aged athletes, concurrently with strength training.

Impsboss,

I talked things over with another author of the site, and he mentioned that we will be putting up for sale copies of the Soviet Union Hockey Manual, which has a bunch of dryland training, drills, and all sorts of other information. I will let you know when it comes available. For now, that is all I have aside from what is on there currently. When I get a look at that, I'll be able to do more.

Thanks!
Coach D