DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL FORCE VECTOR TRAINING FOR DEVELOPING ON-ICE AND OFF-ICE PERFORMANCE IN ICE HOCKEY
Abstract
Skating is a fundamental movement and predictor of success in ice hockey. Requires fitness components for skating are strength, speed, power, acceleration, endurance, or agility. These skating skills are developed at a young age with on-ice and off-ice trainings. Developing straight speed in ice hockey is crucial, because the game is constantly accelerating through the years. Horizontal movement is the dominant component in straight sprinting and is frequently used by strength coaches to transfer for skating maneuvers. Training in vertical force development is beneficial for easily using and similar to jumptraining, but there is no experiment regarding if vertical training is beneficial for ice hockey skating. Purpose: This study aimed to compare strength training programs focusing on horizontal and vertical directional power and their impact on on-ice and off-ice testing. Methods: Nineteen midget ice hockey players from the Czech midget league (age 15.79 6 0.59 years; height 176.79 6 4.94 cm; body mass 67.93 6 7.42 kg; BMI 20.92 6 1.83; underwent 2 measurements before and after ten weeks of the strength training program. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups (9 players in group for developing vertical strength training; 10 players in the second group for horizontal training). Subjects performed 4 tests on-ice (straight sprint for 6.1 and 35 m, a 5-meter RS test and Illinois tests with and without the puck and 4 off-ice tests (5-10-5 speed test, straight sprint for 6.1 and 36.575 m). The development took place twice a week for 1 hour before on-ice training. Mainly exercises in vertical training were squats, deadlifts, clean and jerk; in horizontal training, were mainly sled push, lunges, and hip thrust. Subjects had both trainings aimed on strength with load progression by linear periodization. The entire experiment was performed during main season. Results: Percentage differences showed that intervention by horizontal training improved 3 on-ice and 3 off-ice tests (Table 1). The intervention by vertical training improved one on-ice and 2 off-ice tests.
Paired t-test and Cohen's d was used for differences between interventions and showed that both programs have positive effects on ice hockey skating performance (Table 1). Conclusions: Trainings in horizontal force power have a better effect during the development of starts and acceleration on-ice and off-ice, but they are not appropriate for the development of agility. Training in vertical force power is more effective on tests off-ice but not on-ice tests. Practical Applications: These data suggest that training in horizontal force have a better effect then vertical training program for on-ice and off-ice performance. An understanding of horizontal and vertical force in strength training is important for creating training plans for ice hockey players. These programs can develop the performance of skating and predict our focus on strength training.