Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1273865
STIX, THE SUMMER IS WINDING DOWN AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M READY FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET READY? ROBERT GARCIA, SAN DIEGO IF YOU HAVEN'T STARTED TO GET READY BY NOW, YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO. - EAT HUGE QUANTITIES OF HEALTHY FOODS. - IF YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO WEIGHT TRAIN, LIFT 4 TIMES YOUR USUAL POUNDS TO CATCH UP FOR MISSED WORKOUTS . - RUN 2 MARATHONS EVERY WEEKEND TO BUILD YOUR CARDIO IN A HURRY. - SHOOT 10,000 PUCKS AND STICK HANDLE FOR 128 HOURS BETWEEN NOW AND THE START OF TRYOUTS. OKAY, ALRIGHT, I DON'T MEAN TO PANIC YOU, ROBERT. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PULL IT TOGETHER. YOU NEED TO SET UP A PLAN FROM NOW UNTIL TRYOUTS. JUST AS IMPORTANT, YOU HAVE TO STICK TO YOUR PLAN. BUILD THE BEAST ON DAYS THAT YOU AREN'T WORKING ON YOUR STICK SKILLS SET UP A ROUTINE TO WORK ON YOUR STRENGTH, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS. REMEMBER TO CREATE A WORKOUT THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR AGE. TUNE UP THE GEAR WASH, THEN CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT FOR PROBLEMS, SUCH AS LOOSE STRAPS OR BROKEN PLASTIC. TRY ON EACH PIECE OF GEAR TO ASSURE THE PROPER FIT. GET YOUR EQUIPMENT BAG READY. (EXTRA LACES, TAPE, STICK HANDLING BALL, ETC.) TRAIN THE BRAIN SET SOME REALISTIC GOALS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO WORK FOR THE COMING YEAR. NOT SCORING OR ASSISTS, BUT PARTS OF THE GAME YOU NEED TO WORK ON. PERHAPS YOUR CROSSOVERS NEED IMPROVING, SPEND EXTRA TIME ON THOSE. WORK TO "SEE" THE RINK BETTER IN DURING DRILLS AND GAMES. ONCE TRYOUTS ARE OVER, DON'T STOP WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON. MAINTAIN & ADJUST. - KEEP GOING WITH THE GOOD EATING HABITS. THIS WILL KEEP YOU FUELED UP FOR THE WHOLE SEASON. -CONTINUE TO WORK ON YOUR STICK SKILLS AT HOME, PERHAPS DIAL BACK THE NUMBER OF MINUTES STICK HANDLING AND SHOTS TAKEN. -FIND OUT WHAT YOUR TEAM WILL BE DOING FOR STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING. WORK OUT A SCHEULE TO COMPLEMENT THAT AT HOME. - AIR OUT GEAR AFTER EACH PRACTICE AND GAME. WASH IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. PERIODICALLY CHECK THAT EACH PIECE IS IN GOOD CONDITION. -GET YOUR FRIENDS TOGETHER AND PLAY PICK UP GAMES OF OTHER SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. CRUNCH THE NUMBERS SET UP A SCHEDULE TO STICK HANDLE "X" NUMBER OF MINUTES A DAY. PICK A NUMBER OF SHOTS ON GOAL YOU CAN GET IN BEFORE THE TRYOUTS START. BE REALISTIC ABOUT HOW MANY MINUTES AND SHOTS YOU CAN COMPLETE. BUT,ONCE YOU'VE SET THOSE GOALS, STICK TO THEM. GOOD EATS EASIEST PLACE TO START IS YOUR DIET. TRY TO AVOID USING AND RELYING ON ENERGY DRINKS AND BARS TO BOOST YOUR PERFORMANCE. GET IN THE HABIT OF EATING A BALANCED DIET AND YOU WILL HAVE THE ENERGY DAY IN DAY OUT FOR THE LONG HAUL, NOT FOR JUST AN HOUR OR TWO THAT THE ENERGY PRODUCTS WILL GIVE YOU. 36 // AUGUST 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM AS K ST I X