Youth Hockey Players Can Improve Their Skills at Mini Camp
Local youth hockey players already excited about upcoming spring tryouts can get on the ice a little early in preparation for the upcoming season.
University Sports Medicine, Rochester Hockey Academy and Stone Skating are hosting a “Pre-Tryout Mini Camp” in March for individuals at the Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee and Bantam levels who wish to sharpen their skills before tryouts in March and April. The program will consist of both on- and off-ice activities.
“The University of Rochester Medical Center is pleased to be collaborating with RHA and Stone Skating on this unique camp,” said Andrew Duncan, M.S., P.T., A.T.C., director of sports rehabilitation at University Sports Medicine. “This cooperative training allows us to help young athletes focus on proper technique and sound principles of training that often get overlooked at an early age, which may lead to poor training habits in the future.”
Proper cross-training can correct certain muscle imbalances that may arise from too much sport-specific, in-season training, Duncan said. Over-use injuries are common in kids who participate in only dedicated sport. Preparation for hockey should include a sound foundation of proper strength and conditioning, not just ice practices and games alone.
Both on- and off-ice training will be offered. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday and Thursday, March 1 and 3
Cost: $50 per athlete
Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 8 through March 31
$175 per athlete
On-ice training will be conducted from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the Genesee Valley Ice Arena, 131 Elmwood Ave., followed by off-ice training from 5:05 to 6 p.m. at Goergen Athletic Complex on the University of Rochester campus.
Tuesday on-ice instruction will be facilitated by former NHL player Rory Fitzpatrick and Rochester Hockey Academy instructors. Players will be put through drills that include stick handling, shooting, passing and proper body contact to have their game at highest level for tryouts.
Thursday on-ice instruction includes power skating with power skating instructor Erika Stone, a U.S. Figure Skating Association double gold medalist. Sessions will focus on sharpening players’ stride and body positioning using proper power skating techniques. Players will be challenged with off-ice conditioning drills endorsed by USA Hockey.
Following on-ice sessions on Tuesday and Thursday the off-ice training will be conducted by University Sports Medicine staff. Sessions will include high-intensity workouts to focus on flexibility, strength, balance, agility and dynamic functional movement patterns to develop explosive power. The programs are designed for hockey players and are age-appropriate, as well as endorsed by the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and USA Hockey.
Space is limited. Please call (585) 341-9150 or visit www.rhahockey.com to register.
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