Are you thinking about taking up a new sport? No matter the reasons, if you are looking for something new to try, it is important that you get the basics right. By setting a solid foundation, you can increase the amount of success and enjoyment you get out of the sport, plus you also potentially limit the seriousness of injuries.
There are many different sports you can try, but one of the most unique has got to be ice hockey. Ice hockey is a little different to other sports because you will need to get to an ice rink, and need special equipment, like skates, a puck and ice hockey stick. But if you are really interested in playing ice hockey, then it is certainly worth all the effort in the long run.
So, if you are getting started with playing ice hockey, before you go too far, you’ll need some tips on how to make yourself a better player. Have a read below at some of the best tips to make you are better ice hockey player:
Table of Contents
Balance
Balance is probably the most important thing you will need in ice hockey, and it is much more important then compared to other sports. You need to get comfortable with wearing skates, and understand how it is different from wearing sneakers or barefoot. The good news is that you can work on your balance without the need to constantly be at the ice rink and wearing skates. There are plenty of exercises you can do to improve your balance.
Research
You need to know what the rules are in ice hockey, and this is where research comes in. You can also go to local ice hockey games to see what it’s all about, or even watch the NHL, which is America’s top ice hockey league. The NHL includes players from all over the world and you will be able to easily see how it all works, what the teams / players are doing right and even what they are doing wrong. If you are really into the sport, you could even get your NHL picks and parlays going, to test your skills on the results of the games.
Borrow Equipment
As was touched on in the introduction, there is a whole heap of specialist equipment that is required to play ice hockey. Purchasing all this equipment brand new can be quite expensive, especially if you aren’t 100% this is the sport you want to commit to. Therefore it is a good idea to borrow equipment from family, friends, or even stores (if they allow this). That way it won’t cost you too much money, then if you decide this is your favorite sport, you can go ahead and buy your very own equipment.
Get To The Rink
Nothing will beat going to an ice rink and getting your skates on. It doesn’t matter if you are just practicing, or if you are playing an actual time, if you are serious about becoming a better ice hockey player, you will need to put a lot of effort into it, and get to the ice regularly.
Train In The Gym
While it can sometimes be difficult to get to the ice rink as often as you would like, the days where it isn’t possible for any reason, make sure you still do some sort of training. You can go to the gym, or even do a workout at home. It is important to keep your training up, to remain as fit as possible, ice hockey is a very demanding sport on your body, so if you aren’t fit enough, that will show on the ice.
