Energy Systems / Intervals

Repeat Efforts — Shift Simulation

Full body (glycolytic/aerobic conditioning) Glycolytic / aerobic (mixed)
i.

How to Do It

Perform repeated high-intensity work bouts that mimic a hockey shift — roughly 40–60 seconds of mixed-intensity effort (sprints, changes of direction, battles) followed by a rest interval simulating bench time, repeated for the prescribed number of “shifts.” Push hard through each bout and recover during the rest, simulating the work-rest pattern of a game.

ii.

Why It Works

Mimics the actual work-to-rest demands of hockey shifts, taxing the glycolytic and aerobic systems in the pattern they’re used in a game; trains shift-specific conditioning — the ability to produce repeated ~40–60-second high-intensity efforts and recover between them.

iii.

Hockey Transfer

Directly replicates the energy-system demands of game shifts — sustained high-intensity work with bench recovery; the most sport-specific conditioning for building the capacity to perform repeated full-intensity shifts across a game.

iv.

Coaching Cues

  • "Work the whole shift hard"
  • "recover on the bench interval"
  • "repeat at game-like intensity"
v.

Common Mistakes

Pacing the shifts (not game-intensity); rest intervals too long or short; form and intensity fading across shifts

vi.

Progression / Regression

Progression

more shifts, longer work, or shorter bench rest

Regression

fewer shifts, shorter work, or longer rest

vii.

Primary Muscles

Full body (glycolytic/aerobic conditioning)
viii.

Energy System

Glycolytic / aerobic (mixed)

Ready to train?

Put it to work
on the ice.

This exercise is part of a fully periodized 12-week off-ice program — built by a sport scientist who coaches at the national level.

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