As September rolls around, I’ve been paying close attention to how athletes approach the new season.

Some head into camp motivated to keep training, riding the momentum they built over the summer.

Others flip the switch off completely, putting all their focus on games and practices.

That “all or nothing” mindset is exactly what causes so many players to fade halfway through the year.

Today, I’ll show you a better way—how to stay strong, fast, and explosive all season long.

Why this matters

When the season starts, most players feel unbelievable.

They’re fresh, confident, and flying on the ice.

But by January, things look very different:

Slower strides.

Nagging injuries piling up.

Unfortunately, most players think ice time is enough to keep them sharp.

It’s not.

Why Players Fade Mid-Season

The biggest reason is they keep training like it’s July and burnout, or they stop training.

Here are a few more that I see over and over:

• They believe “I’m already on the ice, I don’t need the gym.”
• They’re afraid lifting will make them too tired for games.
• They try to train like it’s July and end up burning out.
• They get busy with school, travel, and games—and training is the first thing cut.

The result?

Half way through the season, the progress from months of off-season training has completely disappeared.

Here’s how to fix it.

Step 1: Set the Right Goal

In-season training isn’t about chasing PRs, bulking up, or grinding through long workouts.

The goal is simple: maintain the strength, power, and speed you built in the off-season—without adding fatigue.

That means controlling volume, managing stress, and recovering fully so you’re fresh for every game.

Do just enough to maintain (and slightly improve) your foundation while letting your body adapt.

If you nail this, you’ll arrive at playoffs feeling as explosive in March as you did in September—while everyone else is worn down.

Step 2: Train Heavy, Explosive, and Smart

The biggest mistake players make is training like it’s still July.

In-season, your workouts should be short and sharp: 20–30 minutes, 2–3 times per week.

French Contrast training is a proven system here.

It’s a four-exercise sequence that blends heavy lifts with explosive plyometrics—teaching your body to produce max force, fast.

The goal isn’t to leave the gym exhausted.

It’s to leave feeling primed, powerful, and ready to compete.

Prioritize unilateral movements—split squats, lunges, single-leg RDLs.

They fix imbalances, strengthen stabilizers, and keep your foundation strong.

Step 3: Build Around the Schedule

In-season training only works if you time it right.

It’s not about the number of lifts—it’s about where they fall relative to game days.

Here’s a simple framework the best players use:

• Day after a game: light recovery
• Early in the week: go heavy, plenty of time before next game
• Midweek: medium weights + explosive French Contrast
• Day before a game: light, bodyweight speed work to prime the nervous system

Always start with intent. Warm up, move fast, and finish sharp.

This structure keeps you fresh, healthy, and explosive all season—so when the games matter most, you still have your edge.

The Bottom Line

There’s no “perfect” way to train in-season.

Some players shut it down completely and hope ice time keeps them sharp.

Others try to push like it’s still the off-season and end up burned out by Christmas.

The truth is, the best players find the middle ground.

They train just enough to maintain strength, speed, and confidence—without draining their energy for games.

That’s what in-season training is really about: staying fresh, explosive, and ready to perform when it matters most.

If you want the exact system my athletes use to stay strong all year long, join the waitlist for our In-Season Training Program Here. It’s dropping in a couple of weeks, and it’ll give you the plan to separate yourself this season.

That’s all for this week.

See you next weekend.

Tony