Possibly stupid pre-game question.....

[Fletch 219]

I know NHL'ers have a pre-game skate (practice) before most games if time allows, but most of us beer leaguers don't have access to ice before their big weekly game. I was going to start hitting the bike or treadmill on my lunches but am not sure if that's a good idea or not. Nothing too big, just a 20 minute burn to get the blood pumping. Problem is, it would take place about 5 hours before my game. Is that a good idea or not? Is there a system I should follow as to working out prior to games?

[fatwabbit 93]

I know a lot of pro teams, not only ice hockey, have a very easy morning session just to keep the muscles loose and limber. You would still need to do something prior to the game to ensure that you stretch yourself enough.

I have started doing more morning stretches when I wake up... nothing fancy, just stretching for about 10 min before I hit the showers and then to work. I find that on the days that I've done my stretching, I'm a little more alert, and my pre-game stretching (12hour later) seems easier and not a chore.

[Aussie Joe 0]

5 hrs before is semi useful. To really get the right effect you need to put in place a dynamic warm-up as close to your session as possible. Did you notice some of the clips of the Detroit boys playing soccer/kick to kick before thier playoff games? Thats a great example.

A light jog/decent power walk will also get the blood moving and heart rate up. This is low impact stuff to get your body and mind on the same page that some action/movement is about to take place. I always do a light jog then stretch before I get into my kit for games and some practices. I notice a big difference in my performance between the sessions with a warm up before, versus those I jump straight on the ice.

[Scoobersti 0]

I agree with the posts above, I'm not a doctor or anything so this is just how I feel and personal experience and not scientific proof. But, I don't think doing a short workout 5hrs before will be bad. But, I think that going to the rink 15-30min earlier and doing some light jogging in or around the rink or some other light exercise before will be better idea to get ready for the game.

[Tikkanen 1]

You could jump rope in the locker room, maybe do some push ups, some sit ups or something like that. A light jog around the parking lot should be OK. If you need me to lead your team through some karate drills before the game let me know, my gi is ready.

[fatwabbit 93]

dashing out in the rain to turn off the lights in your car, then dashing back into the rink...

[MN old but fast 0]

We play at 0720 -0920 Sunday mornings. Rink is open at 0630. I like to get on the ice and shoot around a good 3/4 hour prior to the game. At 47 (just about 48) it take a while to get the old legs working. Also, l love the ice early morning and all alone.

[biff44 0]

You could run around the outside of the rink. You could do DYNAMIC stretching warmups. You could bound up the stadium stairs. you could jump rope. All the same--warm up the muscles so that when the game starts nothing important goes "snap"

[MLSman 22]

Amen to skating before a game.

We have a jungle session at 1-2:30....and games start at 9 PM. Work on shooting and very light skating.

[Jarick 5]

Running in place (get the knees up high), jumping rope, jumping jacks, any of those will get the blood flowing and get you breathing. Shouldn't need more than 5 minutes to warm up. Some dynamic stretches (lunges, squats, flapping arms, rolling neck, etc) should get the muscles moving around.

[lampliter87 8]

If you're in decent shape, which I'm sure you are, then it certainly won't hurt. Given the opportunity for a pre-game skatearound, I would.

[vitaminZ 0]

getting your body temperature elevated before a game is even more important than stretching for injury prevention.

[fatwabbit 93]

There is a guy I play with who's in his 40's but looks like he's in his mid thirties... sure plays like it as well. He takes good care to be at the rink about 45 min before a game, then spends about 15 min doing warmups... stretching, then a few dynamic exercises like quick jogs to get the blood pumping.

I normally get to the rink about 45 min in advance as well, mainly due to the amount of extra stuff that I put on compared to my teammates (knee braces, extra leg pads etc). I would spend some time stretching, dynamic exercises, then pre game skate... while the rest would be shooting on goalie, I'd be on the side doing more stretches to the back, hamstrings and calf muscles (prone to cramps in my calves because of the knee braces).

[iceburg19 1]

stretching in a nice hot bath for one,then plyometrics to get the fast twitch muscles going in the legs..spring jump.lunges.ladder foot work.use some cones to move quick stepin forward,backwards side to side.you"ll feel a nice jump in your stride.nutrition is huge in your game also.alot of what the guys are saying is good stuff.