Appendix

Training plan for on-ice and off-ice

Player were trained three times per week. Two training were with puck and one without puck. Progression between weeks was increasing difficulty.

  • First training in week (1. - 4. week): exercises without puck, short sprints. In first week was straight sprints with change of direction, in second week was added brake. In third week was backward skating or running and in last fourth week all together. Because one group had training off-ice duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net. ke. In third week was backward skating

  • Second training in week (1. - 4. week): duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net.

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    Because one group had trainings on-ice (Ice1) through one month and second group had only off-ice (Ice2) trainings, so Ice2 group have not shoot on the net, so the end of exercises was to touch cone. In the first week was straight sprints and in the second week some agility like change of direction. In third week was added short slalom or longer track before duel for puck. In last week we combined all these elements.

  • Third training in week (1. - 4. week): agility games or work with the puck. In this week were trainings in small area or games without puck. These games makes competing ambience, developing creativity and players. These games also working on conditions, skills and other parts of training (Brennan et al., 2009).

    •      Week no. 1
    Training no. 1 - exercises without puck, shorts sprints, level 1

    Exercise A - F

    All players start without puck. They have to make after change of directions or after turn accelerate. Another player starts after one finished this exercise. This exercise was aimed to sprint without puck with change of direction without other abilities. Other abilities like brakes, backward skating etc. were added in next weeks.

    The same exercises were at off-ice trainings. Distance, turning and commands were the same.

     Training no. 2 - duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net, level 1

    Exercise A - E

    This exercise at ice was normally or at corner of rink. The net was rotated opposite. The players started on command of coach. The aim of forward player was shoot at the net, aim of defender was block or avoid shooting. Players were changed at positions.

    At program on off-ice were realized at stadium area. In these exercises weren’t duel with shoot at net, but only touch the cone.

     Training no. 3 - agility work or work with puck, level 1

    Exercise A - B

    Exercise A was game called catch the fish. At the right side of borders were players (fishes) and they have puck on stick. At left side of borders was one player (catcher), his task is skate to other side and try to take pucks from,,fishes‘‘. They all started at command of coach. If catches took puck from fishes, they will be catchers. This exercise is for protecting puck.

    At off-ice training, players played normal game called catch the fish. They didn‘t have pucks and stick. Exercise B was catching players around the net. This game is for two players. They are without hockey sticks. One of player have to catch other player only by touch. They play this game maximum for 15 seconds, or if one player touched another one.

    At off-ice training, they play the same like on-ice.

         Week no. 2
    Training no. 1 - exercises without puck, shorts sprints, level 2

    Exercise A - G

    All player were in the crowd, about 3 meters from goal line. Aim of this exercise was skate correctly and fast as possible track what coach showed the players. In this exercise were added brake and dexterity like quick turn. At first week (level 1 of training program) were in exercise starts and change of directions.

    At off-ice they did they same like on-ice.

     Training no. 2 - duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net, level 2

    Exercise A - E

    Players focusing after start for brakes, turns and shoot on the net. These exercises were like races. They started on command for one puck, they made a duel and shoot to the net. Players have to be quick as possible.

    At program on off-ice were realized at stadium area. In these exercises were not duel with shoot at net, but only touch the cone.

     Training no. 3 - agility work or work with puck, level 2

    Exercise A - B

    Exercise A is called crossing. Players trying to cross from one side of borders to another one (in width). Players are without hockey sticks. My task was to hit crossing players with tennis balls (throwing). Players have to count how many times coach hit them. Same exercises was on off-ice.

    Exercise B is called game in circle. This game was at one of the circle for faceoff. Every player have one puck and they have to control own puck and try to get opponents puck out of circle. They played this game for 20 seconds.

    At off-ice training player play this game in circle from cones. Every player had behind shorts piece of rope (approx. 15 cm long) and tried to steal opponent‘s piece of rope. They played this game for 20 seconds.

     Week no. 3
    Training no. 1 - exercises without puck, shorts sprints, level 3

    Exercise A - F

    These exercises without puck was focused for backward speed after brake or after another skill like quick turn. Players were at crowd and started after player before him finished. At off-ice they did they same like on-ice.

     Training no. 2 - duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net, level 3

    Exercise A - E

    Players started this exercise at command of coach. Players focusing at turn, brake and sprint after sprint. At program on off-ice were realized at stadium area. In these exercises weren’t duel with shoot at net, but only touch the cone.

     Training no. 3 - agility work or work with puck, level 3

    Exercise A - B

    Exercise A is called,,snake‘‘. Every player follows the first one. players have to change backward skating, forward skating, turns, brakes etc. All players are without pucks. Other players trying to do the same as first person as quick and correctly as possible. At command they will change positions. At off-ice training program they do the same as on-ice, but even without sticks.

    Exercise B is called,,freeze‘‘. One of the players have to chase other players and try to touch them with stick or gloves. If he touch some player, this player have to brake and stretch his legs like A word, for release him another player have to skate under his body. . At off-ice training program they do the same as on-ice, but even without sticks.

         Week no. 4
    Training no. 1 - exercises without puck, shorts sprints, level 4

    Exercise A - E

    These exercises included forward skating, backward skating, brakes and turning. Same exercises were at off-ice training program.

     Training no. 2 - duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net, level 4

    Exercise A - F

    This is last level of difficulty of duels and starts for puck with shoot on the net. Players made brakes, turns, backward and forward skating finished with shoot on the net. Like all trainings number two, they must be faster than opponent.

    At off-ice trainings they didn‘t shoot on the net, but finish was touching the cone.

     Training no. 3 - agility work or work with puck, level 4

    Exercise A - B

    Exercise A was at one zone of a ring. All played against all. Players had one puck, and everyone want to score a goal. At off-ice trainings they played game called,,snake‘‘, all players must follow the first one as fast as possible.

    Exercise B is,,go in or go out‘‘. All players skate around the circle, after command of coach (like whistle) they have to take puck from circle and skate out from circle. There is always one less puck then playing players, so after every round one player go out.