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Best Alternative Sports to Hockey that Improve Your Skills

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that there are other sports that you can play in addition to hockey that actually improve your hockey skill. Sometimes we all need a break from our favorite sport but if you’re still looking to stay fit and keep your skills sharp then perhaps trying out some other sports could actually benefit you in the long term. All-round athleticism is the key so what other games can you play as an alternative to hockey?

 Games to Play After Hockey Season

Hockey season may be over but you can still keep fit and sharp by playing some other games and sports. Keeping in shape is key and soccer is a great choice for a variety of reasons. Soccer is an “invasion” sport similar to hockey and soccer can help you prioritize in terms of the strategic side of the game. Tactics are crucial in both games which is why playing soccer during off-season is an excellent way to boost some skills that you also use for hockey.

Squash is up next on our list and the game itself is becoming more popular as people realize just how fast-paced this game can be. Like hockey, squash promotes healthy competition and there is also a degree or cardio and hand-eye coordination required as well as good footwork and acceleration. If you’re needing something to play during off-season then squash is an excellent alternative to hockey.

Lacrosse is another that we feel holds particular value to hockey players and this is due to the fact that this is one of the quickest sports to play on two feet. There are some striking similarities between lacrosse and hockey with both offering a balance between offense and defense in terms of the flow of the game. This is an excellent cardio sport that will promote the hand-eye coordination that is required for playing hockey successfully.

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More Games to Consider

Of course, there are games that we would necessarily consider sports that still promote some of the skills required to be good at hockey. For example, a game such as bingo could be a suitable choice. Here is an example for how to blend sport with other games and bingo requires good reaction skills that are required to be successful at hockey.

Video games could also be another great choice as these also require a certain degree of hand-eye coordination to be successful at. Of course, you should still try and play other sports to keep fit but video games or games such as bingo in smaller doses are good choices for when you are looking to kick back and relax a little more.

As you can see, there are plenty of games and sports that you can consider during the off-season or when you feel like a break from playing hockey. Of course, it is all about what you want to play so consider the games that we have mentioned in this post or feel free to message us with some of your own suggestions.

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By Pablo Mendoza

Pablo Mendoza is an FIH Hockey Academy Educator and the owner of A Hockey World. Contact: pablo@ahockeyworld.net