Ice hockey is a staple sport for countries with colder climates, including Canada and the United States. More than 600,000 people play ice hockey at various levels, including amateur and expert.
If you’re planning to start playing ice hockey but are unsure if it is the right choice, this guide is for you. Here are seven amazing benefits of playing ice hockey.
Full Body Workout
Ice hockey involves the entire body. Skating, stickhandling, and shooting engage all of your limbs. Think of ice hockey as a full-body workout, promoting overall strength and muscle development. In particular, the skating and bodychecking strengthen the leg muscles, hamstrings, calves and hip flex muscles. Whereas, the shooting and checking helps to develop the forearms and shoulder muscles.
Ice hockey involves constant movement, going from one end of the field to another. This will engage all the muscles in your body and ensure a number of physical benefits, such as:
- Heart health
- Muscle development
- Regulated breathing
The best part? You can practice ice hockey at home with a passmaster. They are designed to help you improve your skills and get prepared for professional-level tournaments.
Enhanced Endurance and Stamina
Ever feel like you don’t have the stamina to go to the gym? Playing ice hockey can make this go away. You will practice for hours, keeping your body engaged. This can help build endurance and stamina.
Once you start playing ice hockey, you can look into other physically challenging sports, such as tennis and badminton. Instead of those quick bursts of energy, you will have stamina throughout the day.
Metabolism Boosting
Playing ice hockey can boost your metabolism and heart health. Ice hockey is a high-intensity game that engages with both aerobic and anaerobic systems. It will lead to calorie burn and increased metabolic rate.
Overall, ice hockey can improve your physical health. You will digest food quickly and ensure efficient energy utilization.
With ice hockey, you can pick up additional sports and build a workout routine.
Pro tip: Stay hydrated and well-nourished when you’re playing ice hockey. Give a water bottle and some snacks with you when you’re practicing. The last thing you want is to pass out.
Mental Resilience
Ice hockey is challenging. It requires mental resilience and strength to stay on the rink for hours.
With practice and patience, ice hockey can boost mental resilience. You will learn strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and logical thinking that will help you keep your head in the game. You will learn how to improve hand-eye coordination.
Mental resilience is one of the only qualities that helps you stand out in the sporting industry. This is especially true if you want to play at professional levels.
Team Building
Ice hockey is a team sport. It fosters cooperation, communication, and a sense of community. Playing with a team will help you prepare for national and international competitions.
You also have an opportunity to make friends. Develop social skills and make lasting bonds with teammates.
