When I was younger I didn't really do much off-season training and conditioning. I didn't do things like plyometrics and aerobics. Heck, I didn't even know what plyometrics were. All I did was play a lot of sports, especially hockey. And when my buddies and I weren't playing at the rinks, we were playing on the pond behind the house.

Stay Physically Fit

When the season is over, you want to keep your foot in the door and not get too far away from being physically fit. I recommend that you do a lot of leg-work and concentrate on your lower body in the off-season. That's going to get you where you need to go. I do a lot of leg conditioning in the off-season, whether it's riding a bike, running or weight training. We have a new strength and conditioning coach in Chicago, and he has us doing a lot of jumps, single leg squats and lunges. It doesn't matter how old you are, you can go out and do things like jumps and plyometrics. It's not going to stunt your growth.

Strength Training

Strength training has become in hockey and in all sports during the last 10 or 15 years. In high school we did a little bit, not a lot. Now it seems to be a much bigger part of the game. It's important to do some weight training because it will help you get stronger and win more battles. But remember to train properly and work with a qualified instructor or coach.

Get Outside

Don't be a couch potato. A lot of kids just want to sit at home and be on the computer. That is alright if you are doing your school work, but get outside and do something.

Play Other Sports

Playing other sports will help you improve different parts of your own game. Plus it's fun. When I was growing up, I played everything - soccer, baseball, and even football when I was in high school. I don't necessarily recommend just doing your sport year round. I do think kids should be involved in year round sports, for sure. In the summertime we used to take a little time off and play hockey maybe once a week instead of two or three times a week.

One Thing to Remember...

Watch out for the burnout factor. Than can come into play when you concentrate on only one sport or activity all year around. Go out in the off-season have some fun and enjoy some different activities.