Does anyone have a link to a few GOOD Hockey Specific fitness tests?

Hockey CoachCoach

Beep/bleep test is always a test worth using!? Can get it off google or on wikipedia.com

Hockey CoachCoach

Grant, I always do the following at the start of a season. It's pretty hardcore, but works on Hockey Fitness, rather than general fitness... It's similar to a pyramid, but a bit more developed. I'll post the actual exercise in a separate post, but the set up is that people team up in pairs, one timing the other, and then swapping. When the timing is finished, take off the 30 second breaks (total 5 minutes) and you've got their total time...

Hockey CoachCoach

Line up on the baseline, and then do the following%3A 1. Run to nearest 25 and back (maximum pace). 30 second break. 2. Run to the half way and back (maximum pace). 30 second break. 3. Run to the far 25 and back (max pace). 30 second break. 4. Run to the other baseline and back (max pace). 30 second break. 5. half pitch lap (jog). 30 second break. 6. full pitch lap (jog). 30 second break. 7. half pitch lap (jog). 30 second break. 8. run to the other baseline and back (max pace). 30 second break. 9. run to the far 25 and back (max pace). 30 second break. 10. Run to the halfway and back (max pace). 30 second break. 11. Run to the nearest 25 and back. Stop the timer. ENJOY!

Grant Hunt , United Kingdom

Thanks Tony! Sounds like a good one to use.

Hockey CoachCoach

300 yard shuttle is excellent. The team runs 50 yards 6 times up and back. Give 60 seconds to complete the first set. Allow 2 minutes recovery then repeat, but add 10 seconds to the time for completion. As the season progresses reduce the reoovery time and the time required to complete the shuttle. I have more!

Hockey CoachCoach

currently beep test/bleep test is the best and the most optimum. it really test the player.....

Hockey CoachCoach

The YoYo Intermittent Recovery test is being utilised more and more in both soccer and hockey. It offers a more realistic prescription than the beep test. Combine this with Don's shuttle test and add an agility test and you're away.

Grant Hunt , United Kingdom

Thanks guys... I know for the Beep test - Level 13 is minimum for National League Mens Hockey players. Level 11 for women. Tony, Don and Thor - Is there a time that would be a good measure for National League players? Thanks

Bram van Asselt, England

You could also shorten the distance of the bleep test and get the players to run with a stick and ball. Bram

Sportplan TeamAdministrator, United Kingdom

Hello Grant,

This week's Sportplan Session of the week is a PDF training packed with Pre-season conditioning ideas. I'm sure you could modify this session to suit your needs.

All the best,

The Sportplan Team.

Hockey CoachCoach

Hi there, Although I don't know exact times, I tend to work on 10%3A30 as a good time for my exercise (including the 5 minutes worth of 30 second breaks). Let me know what sort of times you're getting... Thanks Tony

Hockey CoachCoach

Hockey requires flexibility, upper leg strength, core strength, staminam speed, agility and explosive movements. Agility tests, ski sits, planks, bleep tests, dog runs etc... are good for this. I recommend that you use the illinois agility test ([link removed] details of which are on this website. Ski-sits enable you to test the strength of your players' legs. I assume you know how to do these. If not, type them in onto google. Timing how long the players are able to hold this position is a good measure of their leg strength. The plank is a good way to test the players' core strength%3A start on elbows and knees, locking hands together. Straighten legs and raise your body so that you're supported by the balls of your feet, with feet hip-distance apart. Face the floor, being careful not to arch your back or stick your bottom in the air. Ask the players to hold this position for as long as they can. This should enable you to test the players' strength. The bleep test is particularly effective, it combines general stamina with explosive sprinting. The dog runs are commonly known as suicides and test the players' general stamina. They start on the baseline, run to the 25 and back, to the halfway line and back, to the 75 and back, to the farside baseline and back. Get them to repeat this as many times as you wish, depending on their fitness and level. Time them; obviously, the faster the better. Hope these help!