Jarome works the system.
21 July 2009
Jarome Iginla. Iggy. #12.
A goal-scoring, team-leading, opponent-crushing force respected by the greatest players in the world who also has the rare distinction of being an Olympic gold medalist?
Yep. He’s a star. But even living legends in the most intense hockey nation on the planet know that being elite means never coasting on past success.
“We work harder since that’s how Hockey Canada brought us up,” says the Edmonton-born Iginla. “There are no egos with Team Canada because Hockey Canada instills this early on.”
It’s an intriguing take; the Canadian approach to hockey and training isn’t about the individual, it’s about shaping your future, constantly and consciously working to eliminate in-game unknowns and helping your team find collective success.
“No matter how great the greats were,” Iginla says, “it was still about being part of a team.”
This off-season will be no different. The power winger, though dominant as ever, has specific training goals for Orientation Camp and beyond as he hopes to help bend Team Canada’s Vancouver results in their favour.
“As the game has gotten faster,” says Iginla, “you have to adjust your training accordingly. You need to be more agile.”
Of course, simply saying, “I’d like to be more agile” is one thing. Measuring that progress and using the results to further motivate yourself is another.
That’s where tools like Nike SPARQ Training <linkto SPARQ section> enter the equation. The agility Iginla highlights, of course, is the “A” in SPARQ. You record your SPARQ Rating, train for improvement, and re-attempt. Check the difference. Boom! Progress measured.
By constantly building toward new SPARQ rating benchmarks, players give themselves more opportunity to influence the elements of chance that change games – being the first to react to a bouncing puck, avoiding that open-ice check, or batting 6 ounces of vulcanized rubber out of the air and into the goal.
Because in a game of unknowns like hockey – especially the international game, with so many unfamiliar players and techniques – dedication to a training system is the best way to Force Fate, help your team succeed, and put up points when it matters most.
Just like Iggy.
A goal-scoring, team-leading, opponent-crushing force respected by the greatest players in the world who also has the rare distinction of being an Olympic gold medalist?
Yep. He’s a star. But even living legends in the most intense hockey nation on the planet know that being elite means never coasting on past success.
“We work harder since that’s how Hockey Canada brought us up,” says the Edmonton-born Iginla. “There are no egos with Team Canada because Hockey Canada instills this early on.”
It’s an intriguing take; the Canadian approach to hockey and training isn’t about the individual, it’s about shaping your future, constantly and consciously working to eliminate in-game unknowns and helping your team find collective success.
“No matter how great the greats were,” Iginla says, “it was still about being part of a team.”
This off-season will be no different. The power winger, though dominant as ever, has specific training goals for Orientation Camp and beyond as he hopes to help bend Team Canada’s Vancouver results in their favour.
“As the game has gotten faster,” says Iginla, “you have to adjust your training accordingly. You need to be more agile.”
Of course, simply saying, “I’d like to be more agile” is one thing. Measuring that progress and using the results to further motivate yourself is another.
That’s where tools like Nike SPARQ Training <linkto SPARQ section> enter the equation. The agility Iginla highlights, of course, is the “A” in SPARQ. You record your SPARQ Rating, train for improvement, and re-attempt. Check the difference. Boom! Progress measured.
By constantly building toward new SPARQ rating benchmarks, players give themselves more opportunity to influence the elements of chance that change games – being the first to react to a bouncing puck, avoiding that open-ice check, or batting 6 ounces of vulcanized rubber out of the air and into the goal.
Because in a game of unknowns like hockey – especially the international game, with so many unfamiliar players and techniques – dedication to a training system is the best way to Force Fate, help your team succeed, and put up points when it matters most.
Just like Iggy.
