The goal of pre-season cardiovascular training for hockey is to build a good aerobic base. Start by building up the work capacity. This is done by doing low-intensity work on cardio equipment, if possible, to reduce the pounding on the joints. Pre-season is meant to prepare you for the real season, so there is a fine line between preparing for the season and setting yourself up for burnout in the middle of the year. Building the work capacity slowly is a safe way to ensure you are peaking at the right time during the season. Once you can handle at least thirty minutes of low-intensity training, it is time to increase the aerobic base by pushing your anaerobic threshold higher. Playing hockey requires a series of anaerobic shifts, so preparing to strengthen the anaerobic system is very important. By the end of the pre-season, you should be doing more anaerobic training by working in the same ratio of work to rest that hockey demands, which is in forty-five second shifts.
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