The diploma thesis deals with pre-match preparation at a professional level for ice hockey players under 16 years of age with the Russian and Czech national teams. The aim of the work is to map and compare the pre-match phase for the Czech and Russian national teams up to 16 years old. I divided the work into several parts. The theoretical part is devoted to the characteristics of ice hockey, sports performance in ice hockey, fitness training, warm-up, hockey training, hockey match, stretching and eating. The practical part specifically focuses on the Russian and Czech national teams, contains records of morning training, meals, pre-match preparation, pre-match training, roster, number of goals in the games, games results and post-match stretching. I used observation, interview and statistical methods to find out the results for the practical part.

Title: Migration of Czech junior hockey players Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to understand the relationship between migration of Czech junior hockey players and the level of their success in the NHL. To help accomplish this goal, desirable secondary data needed to be collected. One of the secondary goals of this thesis was to analyze topics and studies related to this thesis. Methods: This thesis uses quantitative research. One of crucial methods used is document analysis; analysis of related case studies and data in particular. Comparative research was also used to compare data collected in this thesis and data collected in related case studies. Correlation analysis was used to understand the relationship between migration and success in the NHL. Results: The results of this thesis follow up on related case studies in certain aspects, mainly the data gathered in said studies. Comparison of data collected in mentioned studies and this thesis proves the generally known decline of total number of Czech players drafted to and playing in the NHL. The number of Czech players in the NHL has more than halved in the last 20 years. Case studies previously done on this topic showed that Czech players who spend their junior years abroad are very unlikely to succeed in the NHL. The results...

Background: The Swedish sports movement, is organized through RF, with a responsibility to contribute to societal benefits. Part of the societal benefit is to ensure that more young people play sports. The Swedish Sports Confederation, RF, acts as an umbrella organization and organizes most of the Swedish sports movement. Statistics show that the amount of young ice hockey players is the lowest in 20 years. Policies have been implemented from RF and SIF, to get more young people to play sports and ice hockey. Despite the policies, there has been no change. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to create an understanding of how ice hockey clubs experience policies from RF and SIF with the goal to keep the young players in ice hockey Question: How do ice hockey clubs experience the policies from RF and SIF, to keep young people playing ice hockey? Methodology: The study uses a qualitative method, based on semi-structured interviews. The respondents are one representative from the Swedish Ice Hockey Association, and a representative from each of the five largest ice hockey clubs in Sweden, in terms of the number of licensed players. Conclusion: Based on the question and the empirical material, we were able to conclude that there's a loose coupling, with both running an elite business while broadening the breadth. There is a will in the ice hockey associations to keep young people, but there is a big responsibility on the individual within the associations. / Bakgrund: Den svenska idrottsrörelsen har sedan organisering genom Riksidrottsförbundet, RF, tillskrivits ett ansvar för att bidra till samhällsnytta. En del av samhällsnyttan, är att se till att fler ungdomar idrottar. Riksidrottsförbundet, RF, agerar som en paraplyorganisation och organiserar större delen av den svenska idrottsrörelsen. Statistik visar att antalet ungdomar som spelar ishockey är det lägsta på 20 år. För att få fler ungdomar att idrotta och spela ishockey har RF och SIF initierat satsningar som ska möjliggöra en förändring. Trots satsningarna, har ingen förändring skett. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att skapa en förståelse för hur ishockeyföreningar upplever satsningarna från RF och SIF, med målet att behålla ungdomar inom idrotten. Frågeställning: Hur upplever ishockeyföreningar det förändringsarbetet som finns från RF och SIF, för att behålla ungdomar inom ishockeyn? Metod: Studien använder sig av en kvalitativ metod, baserad på semistrukturerade intervjuer. Respondenterna är en representant från det svenska ishockeyförbundet, och en representant för vardera av de fem största ishockeyföreningarna i Sverige, sett till antalet licensierade spelare.  Slutsats: Utifrån frågeställningen och det empiriska materialet kunde vi dra slutsatsen att det finns en löskoppling mellan att bedriva en elitverksamhet och breddverksamhet samtidigt. Att viljan finns att behålla ungdomar men det ligger ett stort ansvar på individen inom föreningarna.

Title: Compensatory exercises in ice hockey Objective: The aim of this diploma thesis is to create battery of compensatory exercises suitable for ice hockey. Methodology: It was used scientific method of observation - theoretical-empirical character. The results were measured by pre-intervention and post- intervation measurements. The results were compared with using a Cohen's coefficient d, an arithmetic mean and a percent. Results: We have created the battery of comepnsatory exercises suitable for ice hockey players. This battery was created by studying the literature, consulting with coaches and physiotherapists and from personal experience. We were found differences in all tests compering pre- intervention and post-intervation measurements, which indicate a tendency to qualitative shift. Key words: ice hockey, muscle imbalances, compensatory exercises, unilateral load

Title: Development of speed skills in ice hockey in categories U11, U13, U15 Objectives: This master thesis is mainly focusing on verify whether the development of speed skills on the ice in ice hockey is effective off-ice training. Another goal of the thesis is to experimentally verify if the development of speed skills has a different impact on selected age groups according to the same intervention program. Methods: In this master thesis was used the method of quantitative analysis of results. The measurement took place in the form of motor tests, which were compared between two research groups. Results: All categories were divided into two research groups, which completed a six-week intervention training program on-ice and off-ice or only on-ice. In the 20 m direct sprint test and test stop and start, there was a significant improvement more in the experimental group of all categories, which we assessed according to Cohen's d. In the reaction test, only the experimental group U15 improved. In the last agility Illinois test, experimental groups U13 and U15 improved. For the other groups, the players either did not improve significantly or both groups improved equally. Subsequent comparisons between categories showed that the younger categories improved more than the older ones. Keywords: Ice...

SyfteSyftet med denna studie var att undersöka passningsprecisionen hos ungdoms- och juniorishockeyspelare (15 – 18 år) som under den gångna säsongen var aktiva inom serierna ”Elit” eller ”Division 1” i antingen U16, J18 eller J20.MetodFör att undersöka passningsprecision i ishockey så designades två tester. Testerna gick ut på att försöka träffa en tre centimeter bred målpinne med en puck från ett avstånd på 15 meter. Fem spelare genomförde två test med olika komplexitetsnivåer, en i rörelse samt en stillastående. Varannan passning slogs med forehand och varannan med backhand. Passningarna genomfördes i serier om tio passningar (5 forehand och 5 backhand). På båda stationerna genomförde varje spelare fem serier, det vill säga totalt 50 passningar (25 forehand, 25 backhand).ResultatResultatet i denna studie visade att det fanns en signifikant skillnad i passningsprecisionen mellan forehand och backhand i såväl stillastående (p < 0,001) som i rörelse (p = 0,009). Däremot var det ingen signifikant skillnad beroende av komplexitetsnivå för vare sig forehand (p = 0,29) eller backhand (p = 0,22).SlutsatserUtifrån det resultat som framkom så kan man se att passningshållet (forehand/backhand) påverkar passningsprecisionen. Samtliga spelare hade en högre precision på sin forehandsida jämfört med backhand oberoende av komplexitetsnivå. / PurposeThe purpose of the study was to measure passing precision among youth- and junior ice hockey players between 15 and 18 years of age, who in the past season played at either “elite” or “Division 1” level in U16, J18 or J20.MethodsTo measure passing precision in ice hockey, two tests were designed. The tests consisted of a player trying to hit a three-centimeter-wide pin by passing a puck from 15 meters away. Five players did the test that were divided into two different levels of complexity, one in forward motion and one standing still. The players hit a total of ten passes divided into five forehand passes and five backhand passes, they took turns in hitting forehand and backhand one by one. In total, the players did five series of ten passes on each station, a total of 50 passes divided into 25 forehand passes and 25 backhand passes.ResultsThe result of this study showed that there was a significant difference in passing precision between forehand passes and backhand passes, regardless off whether the pass was played in motion (p = 0,009) or standing still (p < 0,001). However, the test did not show any significant difference between the different levels of complexity on either forehand (p = 0,29) or backhand (p = 0,22).ConclusionsBased on the results from this study, you can see that the way you hit the pass (forehand/backhand) effects the passing precision. All players had a higher precision on their forehand than their backhand, regardless of level of complexity.

This study discusses ways how patterns of masculinity and femininity construct themselves in gendered practices of ice hockey, in the bodies of female ice hockey players and their gender identifications and how the players construct their gender performances. Opening section describes gender as an analytical category in the sport as a male domain where there are reproduced and emphasized elements of traditional masculinity as physical strength and dominance that are contrasted to the attributes of traditional femininity such as vulnerability and passivity. It outlines how gender is constituted in the sport in general and in ice hockey as a masculine sport, and how the norms of masculinity and femininity are reproduced through them. The dynamics of relationship between gender and ice hockey team is treated within the case study of a Czech women hockey team. The study discusses how gender positions of female hockey players of this team are constituted within the team dynamics, the effect of normative femininity to the constructions of physical performances, the concept of physical fitness for hockey and gender conformity appearance. It also outlines the gendered formal grounding of the women hockey through the rules and hierarchical structures and the influence of media coverage and the segregation...

Introduction/Background Elite ice hockey is a highly physiological demanding team sport of intermittent character and high levels of performance are required over 6-8 months. There are benefits by designing a training program that includes the manipulation of training through its periodization and programming to achieve peak performance at set dates. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in training program design between higher- and lower-performing teams in the Swedish Hockey League. Method Four differently performing teams were selected from a performance ranking system. The teams were divided into a higher-performing and lower-performing group. After receiving their verbal approval, an information document and a consent form were digitally sent to the teams’ representatives to obtain their written consent. Subsequently, the teams received a survey consisting of 177 questions that contained single, multiple, ranking and graded-choice questions about their training program design. Intra- and inter-group differences were analyzed with a descriptive statistical calculation of percentage. Results The intra-group analysis revealed a 77,9% difference in the lower-performing team group and 74,5% difference between teams in the higher-performing group. The inter-group difference was found to be 92,7%. The highest amount of inter-group difference (60,5%) was found in questions with no intra-group similarity, whereas 1,1% reveled intra-group different but intra-group similar results. Conclusion This study shows that there are significant differences in training program design between higher- and lower-performing teams as well as significant differences between teams in the lower-performing and higher-performing-group. Some discussed results seem to indicate that higher-performing teams tend to focus more on power, maximal strength and endurance training as well as on its individualization. However, due to the complexity of elite ice hockey, the intra- and inter-group heterogeneity and the shortcomings of the study design, these variables cannot be taken as team key performance indicators.

Critics of youth sports in the United States have lamented a system that creates issues of access and could be detrimental to the physical and mental health of its young participants. In response to these concerns, USA Hockey, using Long Term Athlete Development Theory (LTAD) as a key theoretical framework, created the American Development Model (ADM) to improve the delivery of youth hockey in the US. While USA Hockey has invested greatly in bringing ADM to scale across its constituents, it is not known to what extent the model is being implemented in its member organizations. Implementation fidelity of a prescribed treatment or curriculum is tied to better outcomes. This study leverages key concepts of program evaluation theory and survey development to produce a valid and reliable survey instrument that can be used to assess the implementation fidelity of ADM at the 12U age group across the nation. A survey instrument was developed through three waves of development. The first wave included local pilot testing and cognitive interviews. The second wave including a regional sample and utilized factor analysis coupled with item analysis to improve the instrument and to create composite scores of key constructs. The third and final wave included a national sample of 214 parents of 12U hockey players. The results of the survey produce psychometric properties indicating good reliability and validity of the instrument including face and content validity, internal reliability, and factor analysis. Analysis of composite scores for each construct of the model identified strong implementation of much of the on-ice components but was lacking in other areas such as physical development and mental skill development. The final ADM scale demonstrated statistically significant positive associations with two subscales of the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire, further validating the study and demonstrating an important association with the delivery model to key outcomes. The study concludes with a discussion of ADM’s implementation fidelity and policy recommendations regarding how the ADM curriculum may be improved given key findings.

Sport in Brno has its own great tradition, which is visible on huge stadiums situated in the sports complex Za Luzankami. Unfortunately, stadiums dilapidated and the whole areal turn to brownfield. The proposal of new multipurpose Kometa Arena, located at the site of the original, now demolished stadium, together with the planned new football stadium will initiate the reconstruction of the district, and get it back to past glories. The stadium belongs to the category of buildings where form follows function, which in this case primarily allow for a quality perspective on the pitch for a large number of spectators. In this case, the stands are also the main supporting structure of the whole stadium. On platforms anchored to the stands are located the modifiable cells containing functions related to the arena. The appearance of the stadium is determined by transparent facade that allows the neighborhood to see what is happening in the stadium and provides interesting views from high arena of the surrounding park, arboretum and the city.