Influenza and Hockey

The flu has gotten worse in recent years. Surprisingly, one community it has affected is the hockey community. In fact, it’s plagued so many hockey clubs across the nation that the chief medical officer of USA Hockey actually issued some recommendations to stop the spread of this virus in hockey associations.   

To Vaccinate or Not?

Vaccination is a touchy topic for many these days. However, the flu vaccine is still recommended to help stop the spread of this contagious respiratory illness. Unfortunately, though, the vaccine is not always effective.

The choice is yours on whether or not you wish to vaccinate, but it’s not a bad preventative measure…even if it doesn’t always work.

Quarantine at the First Sign of Symptoms

Vaccinated or not, if a player develops any of the symptoms of influenza, quarantine him right away. The less contact he has with others on the team, the less likely it is that the virus will spread.

Symptoms to be mindful of include:

l  Fever

l  Runny nose

l  Coughing

l  Sore throat

l  Body aches

l  Chills

l  Fatigue

l  Headaches

l  Vomiting

l  Diarrhea

Wash Those Hands

We all know that washing our hands after we go to the bathroom and before we eat is important. However, spread the word and remind your young players of this during flu season.

In fact, regular hand washing throughout the day with warm water and soap or with hand sanitizer is a wise practice.

Skip the Sharing

It’s never a good idea to share water bottles, utensils, or to eat from the same food someone else has eaten from.

Remind your players that, especially during flu season, it’s perfectly fine to skip the sharing.

Don’t Play Through the Pain

Finally, don’t teach your players that they need to “suck it up” or “play through the pain.”

That’s a great way to keep a player from getting well quickly and to spread influenza to the whole team. Allow players who don’t feel well to take breaks and recuperation time without any guilt.

Your whole team is likely to be a lot better off if you follow these tips all year round, but especially during flu season.

Dynamic Vs. Static Stretching: Which One is Right for Hockey Athletes?

In the hockey community, there has long been major debate about which type of stretching is better- dynamic stretching or static stretching. In truth, though, it’s not about which one is right; it’s about finding the right combination of both and doing the right stretches at the right time.

Dynamic Stretching

Dynamic stretches are joint and/or muscle stretches that involve repetitive motion. This type of stretching is what you want before a game or practice since it will help to warm up the muscles and joints and get them ready for the stress they’re about to be put under.

Static Stretching

Static stretching, on the other hand, asks you to hold a joint or muscle in a certain position, rather than repeatedly moving that joint or muscle. These stretches help to relax muscles and joints and prevent soreness. For this reason, they are best suited to after a hockey game or practice.

Try Lunges Before a Game

While there are all kinds of dynamic stretches that you can do, lunges are some of the best for hockey players. That’s because they are effective at warming up the entire leg and getting it ready to skate, spring forward, and do all the other moves that hockey calls for.

Stretch Your Quads After a Game

After athletes have played their hearts out, it’s a good idea for them to try quad stretches, a great form of static stretching.

One leg at a time, simply bring the foot to the glutes, balance, and gently push the hips forward. This will prevent leg soreness and stiffness.

There are many other great static and dynamic stretches to try. No matter which ones you do, try to incorporate both, but just remember when to do which types of stretches for best results.