Maximize Your Hockey Skills: Best Home Training with Synthetic Ice
So, you're dreaming of playing in the Frozen Four?
Do you want to be on top of your game at the collegiate level?
One of hockey's biggest stages isn’t just about raw talent.
What will you bring to the table?
Developing NCAA-level skills takes years, moving up the ranks from an eager kid to an assassin on the ice.
CREATE YOUR OWN HOME ICE ADVANTAGE WITH POLYGLIDE SYNTHETIC ICE
Some of your favorite players passed through college, honing their skills on and off the ice.
And one of the hardest things to do was get prepared when you could not access a rink.
Today, that’s not the case.
Synthetic ice has changed the game, allowing you to continue training or work on the finer details like a pro without stepping foot in an actual rink.
From basements to backyards, it helps players sharpen their skills year-round.
Whether you're a college athlete or just starting, synthetic ice could be your secret weapon to getting Frozen Four ready.
What is Synthetic Ice, Anyway?
Synthetic ice provides a unique alternative to skating on natural ice.
These are tiles or panels that are placed on a flat surface to emulate the look and feel of an ice rink.
Synthetic ice often has dove-tailed edges that help you connect them together like puzzle pieces to form a large surface.
Each synthetic ice panel is made of polyethylene, a versatile, high-density plastic.
When infused with slip surface agents, you can easily glide across the synthetic ice using your ice skates and metal blades.
Even the non-infused options are high-performing when treated with a glide enhancer.
Synthetic ice, since its inception, was primarily for commercial purposes or seen as a toy.
Now, technology has allowed it to be more customizable, making it accessible to a wide range of spaces and demographics.
Synthetic ice, like our PolyGlide Ice Panel, are solid core, meaning a solid piece with no pins, and double-sided, making them more durable.
These tiles or panels combine to create rinks for recreational skating, ice hockey, figure skating training, and much more.
The Evolution of Synthetic Ice in Hockey Training
Back in the day, synthetic ice was seen as more of a gimmick or novelty than a serious option for ice hockey training.
Can you blame them?
The materials, technology, and techniques used today replicate a performance on par with real ice.
Back then, using your ice skates on synthetic ice rinks was a death sentence for your blades.
Fast forward to today, and it's become an essential part of training for many.
The transformation from a backyard plaything to a legitimate training surface is nothing short of remarkable.
And since there is a rising need for at-home or more convenient options, the demand for synthetic ice has soared as players and coaches alike realize its potential.
Impact on Player Development
So how can synthetic ice help you get Frozen Four Ready?
Players can now train anytime, anywhere, without being restricted by rink availability.
More ‘ice’ means more practice time, which is crucial for honing skills like stick handling and shooting.
With synthetic ice, players can also focus on repetitive drills and techniques in their own time, leading to noticeable improvements in their game.
Coaches have observed that the more time players spend on synthetic surfaces, the better they perform on real ice.
This shift has made synthetic ice a staple in player development programs across various levels of hockey.
Synthetic ice is a low-impact option, so hockey players can practice while lowering the risk of injury.
At the same time, the added friction experienced by skaters on synthetic ice can translate into more power and speed during game time.
The evolution of synthetic ice has opened new doors for hockey players, providing them with a flexible and effective training solution that complements traditional ice time.
It’s All About Off-Season Training
Want to have that ‘Mamba Mentality’ a la Kobe Bryant?
Then you need to be working when your opponents are resting.
Synthetic ice is like having your own rink at home.
You can set it up in your basement, garage, or even outdoors.
This means you can practice anytime without worrying about rink schedules or fees.
You get to train whenever you want, no limits.
With synthetic ice, you're not bound by location or time.
Set your rink up in a basement, backyard, deck, or spare room and get to work.
A big advantage of synthetic ice is that hockey becomes a year-round sport.
No more waiting for winter to lace up your skates.
No more scheduling time for the rink at school or community.
Just grab your sunglasses, sunscreen, skates, stick, and puck and you're good to go on your outdoor rink.
You can get some conditioning in or even create a summer training camp with your teammates.
Developing Your Training Program with Synthetic Ice
The skills NCAA players need to develop include skating speed, agility, stickhandling, shooting, passing, and conditioning.
Synthetic ice can help you with these and more.
At higher levels, you’ll probably have a fitness, conditioning, and training plan implemented by coaches and other experts.
This does not mean you can’t include your own extra work on synthetic ice.
Whether you’re using a synthetic ice rink at a facility or your at-home option, it’s time to put in the work.
These are the 4 steps you should take for leveling up with synthetic ice.
1. Build a Weekly Training Schedule
Build your own routine based on the areas you plan on improving.
Set aside some time – at least 3 times weekly – to hone in on these skills on your synthetic ice rink.
If you already have a plan to develop certain skills with your team, make sure you're not overtraining, which can increase the risk of injury.
Common examples include stick handling, accuracy, shooting, or balance.
Synthetic ice is also great for improving your speed, so stick in some exercises to that effect.
The additional friction of synthetic ice actually helps players develop stronger skating mechanics and more explosive first steps.
For the best results, treat speed-related training on synthetic ice with the same intensity you would on real ice.
Discipline wins and consistency wins. Set it in your calendar and set an alarm so you’re always ready to go.
2. Progressive skill development plan
When you’re weight training, you see more results with progressive overload, the process of slowly increasing the weight over time for more strength and muscle growth.
The same should apply to other areas of training.
When training with synthetic ice, slowly increase your repetitions, intensity, and difficulty level.
This type of training pushes you to get sharper, more accurate, and more powerful.
So your weekly routine should be challenged the next week, increasing ever-so-slightly to get outsized results later.
3. Combining off-ice conditioning
Ice hockey is an intense sport that requires long periods of endurance. It can wear down the unprepared.
Combine your synthetic ice work with off-ice conditioning on your ‘off’ days.
Row machines, long runs, swimming, and cycling are some of the best ways to build your internal engine.
When everyone’s on the ice feeling gassed, the player who can pull that last bit of energy has the advantage.
4. Measuring and tracking progress
Find a way to track your performance and progress.
Whether recording your performance with your phone or tracking your intensity with a sports watch, you need to know what’s going well and what needs work.
You can share your results with coaches and trainers who can guide you on your form so you can get even better over time.
Conclusion
Synthetic ice isn't just some gimmick anymore.
It's become a legit training tool for hockey players at all levels, including collegiate, semi-pro, and pro.
If you’re a collegiate-level player looking to add value to a team that could head to the Frozen Four, take your training seriously with a synthetic ice rink indoors, outdoors, or at home.
Or if you aspire to be the best and you’re not in college yet, synthetic ice can get you ready on the days and times you can’t get to a rink.
It's not just about convenience, though that's a big plus.
Synthetic ice helps get those extra reps in, working on your skills whenever you want.
We've provided thousands of synthetic ice tiles and panels to hockey players just like you. It's a great way to stay sharp and keep improving.
So, if you're serious about hockey, it might be time to give synthetic ice a shot.
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