Tim Turk is an NHL shooting and scoring coach. Follow him on Twitter at @timturkhockey.
Photo Credit: Heather Pollock Photography
As the off-season is in full swing, there will be plenty of trips and activities that will keep players busy, but don’t forget the importance of ‘down time’! Here are seven important steps for players to follow so that they can be prepared for the next season ahead.
The game requires an intensity that can result in burn-out if maintained 24/7, 365 days a year. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Off-season provides the opportunity for players to rehabilitate and re-focus. Nagging injuries such as pulled tendons and bruises need time to heal. Taking a break from exercise in order to focus on thorough rehab treatments will help players’ bodies be 100 percent for the upcoming season. Focus on exercises that emphasize on stretching. If you don’t have one, consider investing in a foam-roller.
In the off-season, players can keep a personal agenda, planner or calendar for being accountable. This includes goal-setting. What do players hope to achieve in their off-season ? The regular season ? This will help players remember their goals and players can track their progress over extended periods of time. Players can hang their goals in a visible place such a fridge door or mirror.
Read books from successful players, teams and others who endured hardships in their life. Players can implement tips from books like this in their own life.
Tim Turk is an NHL shooting and scoring coach. Follow him on Twitter at @timturkhockey.
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