How to Stretch Before Playing Hockey

Hockey is one of the toughest games in all of sports, and it is even tougher on the body. The ability to skate, shoot and fight while playing requires a body that is physically fit. It has been found that those athletes who stretch before playing or before practicing can increase their flexibility and therefore reduce or prevent injury.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hockey stick

1. Glide on the ice with your head and back straight. Slide your left leg back and point your skate away from the body. Bend the right knee and keep the left leg straight. Feel the stretch in the left groin area. Hold for at least 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.
2. Hold a hockey stick while slowly skating forward. Raise the arms up and back with your palms up. This stretches the shoulders, upper back and arms.
3. Lift your hockey stick above your head and tilt the top of your body to the right. Keep your feet apart. You should feel the stretch on your left side. Hold it for 10 seconds and then repeat on the opposite side.
4. Skate forward with your feet apart and bend forward at the hips. Keeping your knees bent, feel a stretch in the back of your legs. You should hold this stretch for at least 15 seconds.
5. Grasp your hockey stick behind your back and glide forward. Slowly raise the stick up, keeping your arms straight. Hold for 15 seconds. You should feel this stretch in your upper arms.
6. Lie flat on the ice with your feet together and knees apart. Lift your chest off of the ice with your arms and hold for at least 15 seconds. This should be felt in the lower back and the groin.
7. Sit on a stable surface with left leg bent and right leg crossed over it. Push against the right knee with the left elbow and rotate your body to the right. Turn the body by pushing the left arm and hand. Do not jerk or pull. Feel the stretch in your upper and lower back, as well as the hips and ribs.

Tips & Warnings

• It's always important to warm up before playing any sport. In the case of hockey, you can warm up and stretch while you are on the ice, which can save time.
• Since you will be doing almost all of these exercises on the ice, make sure that there is ample space for you to work safely.

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