OFF SEASON TRAINING / DEFENSEMEN

Week 4 · Lateral Power & Squat Strength

Gap control is a frontal-plane skill, so the jumps here go sideways. The front squat carries the strength work because backward skating and a defensive stance both live in an upright torso. Deload. Loads come down and bar speed comes back. You are absorbing week 3 here, not adding to it.

01Warm-Up02Lateral Jump Development03Squat Strength04Lateral Strength05Groin & Trunk+1 more
Blocks
6
warm-up to cool-down
Exercises
15
movements
Sets
27
about 46 min
00
Warm-up · 6 exercises
0/ 6 done
A
Straight sets · 1 exercise
3 sets
A1

Lateral Hurdle Hops

3 × 6/side · rest 1:30
0/3

Over and back, quick feet, hips square to the front the whole time.

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B
Straight sets · 1 exercise
3 sets
B1

Front Squat

3 × 8 reps · rest 2 min
0/3

Elbows high, torso vertical. The moment the chest drops, the set is over.

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C
Superset · 2 exercises
6 sets
A1

Lateral Step-Up

3 × 8/side · rest 1:30
0/3

Drive through the whole foot. No pushing off the trailing leg.

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A2

Cable Hip Adduction

3 × 12/side · rest 1 min
0/3

Slow on the way out. The adductor is a brake before it is an engine.

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D
Superset · 2 exercises
6 sets
A1

Copenhagen Plank

3 × 20 s/side · rest 45s
0/3

The single best insurance policy against a groin pull. Start short, build honestly.

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A2

Suitcase Carry

3 × 30 m/side · rest 1 min
0/3

One side loaded, shoulders dead level. Everything that keeps you square in a battle is working here.

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CD
Cool-down · 3 exercises
0/ 3 done
REST OF DEFENSEMEN
VIEW PROGRAM →
01Week 1 · Lateral Power & Squat StrengthGap control is a frontal-plane skill, so the jumps here go sideways. The front squat carries the strength work because backward skating and a defensive stance both live in an upright torso. Week 1 is re-entry: own the technique and the range, and leave every set feeling like two more were there.02Week 1 · Upper Strength & Battle StrengthDefensemen win or lose the net front on upper-body strength and the ability to hold a position under contact. Explosive triple extension opens it, heavy pressing and pulling fill the middle, loaded carries finish it. Week 1 is re-entry: own the technique and the range, and leave every set feeling like two more were there.03Week 1 · Posterior Chain & Pivot StrengthA pivot is a hinge that happens sideways at speed. Heavy trap bar work builds the engine, then the frontal-plane and eccentric work makes sure the hip can survive being asked to change direction on one leg. Week 1 is re-entry: own the technique and the range, and leave every set feeling like two more were there.04Week 1 · Lateral Conditioning & Point ShotThe shot from the blue line is a ground-up sequence, so it gets trained as one — pattern first, then load, then speed. The rest of the session is the lateral and backward work no forward ever has to do. Week 1 is re-entry: own the technique and the range, and leave every set feeling like two more were there.05Week 2 · Lateral Power & Squat StrengthGap control is a frontal-plane skill, so the jumps here go sideways. The front squat carries the strength work because backward skating and a defensive stance both live in an upright torso. Volume climbs. Same movements, more total work — this is the week that builds the base everything after it stands on.06Week 2 · Upper Strength & Battle StrengthDefensemen win or lose the net front on upper-body strength and the ability to hold a position under contact. Explosive triple extension opens it, heavy pressing and pulling fill the middle, loaded carries finish it. Volume climbs. Same movements, more total work — this is the week that builds the base everything after it stands on.07Week 2 · Posterior Chain & Pivot StrengthA pivot is a hinge that happens sideways at speed. Heavy trap bar work builds the engine, then the frontal-plane and eccentric work makes sure the hip can survive being asked to change direction on one leg. Volume climbs. Same movements, more total work — this is the week that builds the base everything after it stands on.08Week 2 · Lateral Conditioning & Point ShotThe shot from the blue line is a ground-up sequence, so it gets trained as one — pattern first, then load, then speed. The rest of the session is the lateral and backward work no forward ever has to do. Volume climbs. Same movements, more total work — this is the week that builds the base everything after it stands on.09Week 3 · Lateral Power & Squat StrengthGap control is a frontal-plane skill, so the jumps here go sideways. The front squat carries the strength work because backward skating and a defensive stance both live in an upright torso. Peak volume of the accumulation phase. It should feel like a grind by the last session; that is exactly the point.10Week 3 · Upper Strength & Battle StrengthDefensemen win or lose the net front on upper-body strength and the ability to hold a position under contact. Explosive triple extension opens it, heavy pressing and pulling fill the middle, loaded carries finish it. Peak volume of the accumulation phase. It should feel like a grind by the last session; that is exactly the point.11Week 3 · Posterior Chain & Pivot StrengthA pivot is a hinge that happens sideways at speed. Heavy trap bar work builds the engine, then the frontal-plane and eccentric work makes sure the hip can survive being asked to change direction on one leg. Peak volume of the accumulation phase. It should feel like a grind by the last session; that is exactly the point.12Week 3 · Lateral Conditioning & Point ShotThe shot from the blue line is a ground-up sequence, so it gets trained as one — pattern first, then load, then speed. The rest of the session is the lateral and backward work no forward ever has to do. Peak volume of the accumulation phase. It should feel like a grind by the last session; that is exactly the point.

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