The days are getting shorter, temperatures are becoming cooler and football season is kicking off. Yes, it’s fall – and one other important thing about fall is that once it hits, you know that hockey season is right around the corner. If you’re a hockey player or goalie, hopefully you stayed in shape and improved your game by attending either a hockey school or one or more hockey camps during the summer. But now that fall is here, it’s time to really get serious. Here’s a look at what you can be doing this fall to prepare yourself for puck drop:

-Play drop-in/sticks and pucks: Check with your local rink and see when there’s open ice for drop-in hockey and/or sticks and pucks. The former is a great way to get your game legs back under you, while the latter is ideal for working on specific skills.

-Exercise: Try to work out three to five days a week, for at least 45 minutes per day – and be sure to switch up your workouts to allow time for proper muscle recovery. For instance, on Monday do an upper body workout, on Wednesday go for a jog to improve your conditioning and on Friday work out the lower body.

-Take skating lessons: In today’s game of hockey, in order to be successful, you have to be a good skater. With that said, taking skating lessons never hurt, as you can work on faster starts, smoother transitions and more. Good skating is important for goalies too, so goaltenders should look into mini goalie camps or a fall goalie school that offers lessons for instruction.

-Watch hockey: Yes, while hockey season hasn’t actually started, there are still competitive games being played. This fall, the World Cup of Hockey is being hosted in Toronto (and televised on ESPN) and you may also be able to attend or watch (online or on TV) prospect tournaments and NHL training camp scrimmages.

-Play other sports: Aside from hockey, playing other sports (whether pickup or organized) can help keep your mind sharp and your body in shape. Try soccer, golf or tennis.

Fall is like hockey’s pre-season, so start preparing now. And don’t stop working to improve your game. For more information on our off-season goalie camps and goalie schools, contact us today.