skip navigation

14U/16U Q-and-A: How important is off-ice training?

03/06/2015, 2:45pm MST
By Bob Mancini, ADM Regional Manager

Q: How important is off-ice training at this development stage?

A: The premier objectives in the long-term athlete development of hockey players during the 14U and 16U (Train-to-Train) stage are to further develop sports-specific technical skills, and to emphasize support training. Therefore, off-ice training is critical to the proper development of hockey players at this age.

It’s during this stage that the responsibility for development begins transferring from the parent to the player, and good training habits are both learned and developed. This training comes in the form of speed and endurance development, core strengthening and maintaining flexibility. As the age of the athlete increases throughout this development stage, so too should the frequency and duration of training.

Coaches, parents and players should also remember that an occasionally overlooked (and important) form of off-ice training is participation in other sports. Sports that complement the skills needed to be successful in hockey are the most advantageous, but players who continue any type of multi-sport participation at this age will benefit greatly.


The author, Bob Mancini, is a longtime hockey coach and player-development expert. His experience includes two seasons in the NHL as an Edmonton Oilers development coach and more than a decade as a head coach in the NCAA Division I and OHL ranks.

More ADM Newsletter Articles

Tag(s): Newsletters