Some of you might have heard this before. But how is it relevant to hockey?
Have you heard the expression a lack of focus? Has that ever been said about you? Well if you were not already aware, the best hockey players usually have the best focus. I found the key component to being focused is having clarity about yourself and your game. Knowing what you want and your plan to get it.
Personally, I play hockey to have fun. Might seem pretty obvious to some but I found once the pressure to succeed starts to build, especially playing at higher levels, it is easy for hockey to become less about having fun and more about succeeding. Which I think can lead to less fun and even less success.
I’ve decided to share my current game plan for those who might be interested. Keep in mind I’ve had game plans for many years now and with a variety of changes from when I started to now, I probably have more changes still to come. This is my plan I created to make sure I have fun every time I play hockey.
1. Focus on Playing my Game
I like to keep my Game within things I can control. I created a clear list of things that when I focus on I play my best hockey. The important part about step one is separating the things you control, like skating fast, from things you don’t control, like the referee making a bad call.
2. Celebrate when I play my Game
I find that having a little celebration after each shift is not only going to make hockey more fun, it also locks in what you want to be focusing on. The best part about this step is that if step one is a list of things you control then you can always have something to celebrate.
3. Empowering Thoughts
Those first two steps almost cover everything but I found that they go out the window so fast if you allow disempowering or negative thoughts to float around in your head. One example is instead of picking at all the things other players are not good at, try focusing on the things they are doing that make them successful and reflect to see if you are doing those things. The ability to produce empowering thoughts is the key to keeping you on course with your plan.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tip # 3 – Think Long Term
Has the pressure to make a team ever made you feel more scared then excited? Almost making the whole thing seem not worth it? I know this pressure that our society, my parents and I have put on myself to make a certain team and achieve short term goals.
For any minor hockey player dreaming about playing at a higher level, I think it is important to remember to think long term. It seems that too many kids act like whether or not they make the AAA team this coming season is going to be the end all, be all of their careers. Well I do strongly encourage you to do your best to play AAA, it doesn’t mean that AAA is the best way for everyone to improve nor is it the only way for a player to improve.
For instance, in some situations and more often in junior hockey, you will find yourself as one of last additions to a team. If you find yourself in such a situation, remember to think long term. Is playing for this team and not playing a lot going to help you improve as a player? Or would playing down a level or being on an affiliate team be more helpful to your development? These are pretty basic questions but often forgotten.
The coming months before your hockey season’s tryouts, is another scenario in which remembering to think long term can be helpful. I found it helps your focus shift away from the fear of not making your desired team and toward developing as a player. This allows you to start training and playing hockey because you love the game, you start to have more fun and become more likely to succeed.
To wrap it up let me share the story about my good friend, Matt Marquardt. Back many years ago when the now Bantam AAA blades were known as the Athletics, Marquardt, an aspiring young hockey player was turned away by the Athletics. The following year he failed to make the Trappers and he was never selected in the OHL draft. Now if you don’t know who Marquardt is, it is looking like he was just another minor hockey player that never made it, however he is actually North Bay’s top NHL prospect, knocking on the door steps of the Boston Bruins.
Marquardt’s success as a hockey player could never have came if he had given up when he didn’t make the Athletics, or when he didn’t make the Trappers, or when he wasn’t drafted to the OHL. Instead of giving up, he worked harder, improved his game and went on to play in the QMJHL, get drafted to the NHL, and is now playing in the AHL. He is a perfect example that if your goal is to play hockey at a higher level then you best remember to think long term. The goal is not to avoid adversity but to be able to see past it.
For any minor hockey player dreaming about playing at a higher level, I think it is important to remember to think long term. It seems that too many kids act like whether or not they make the AAA team this coming season is going to be the end all, be all of their careers. Well I do strongly encourage you to do your best to play AAA, it doesn’t mean that AAA is the best way for everyone to improve nor is it the only way for a player to improve.
For instance, in some situations and more often in junior hockey, you will find yourself as one of last additions to a team. If you find yourself in such a situation, remember to think long term. Is playing for this team and not playing a lot going to help you improve as a player? Or would playing down a level or being on an affiliate team be more helpful to your development? These are pretty basic questions but often forgotten.
The coming months before your hockey season’s tryouts, is another scenario in which remembering to think long term can be helpful. I found it helps your focus shift away from the fear of not making your desired team and toward developing as a player. This allows you to start training and playing hockey because you love the game, you start to have more fun and become more likely to succeed.
To wrap it up let me share the story about my good friend, Matt Marquardt. Back many years ago when the now Bantam AAA blades were known as the Athletics, Marquardt, an aspiring young hockey player was turned away by the Athletics. The following year he failed to make the Trappers and he was never selected in the OHL draft. Now if you don’t know who Marquardt is, it is looking like he was just another minor hockey player that never made it, however he is actually North Bay’s top NHL prospect, knocking on the door steps of the Boston Bruins.
Marquardt’s success as a hockey player could never have came if he had given up when he didn’t make the Athletics, or when he didn’t make the Trappers, or when he wasn’t drafted to the OHL. Instead of giving up, he worked harder, improved his game and went on to play in the QMJHL, get drafted to the NHL, and is now playing in the AHL. He is a perfect example that if your goal is to play hockey at a higher level then you best remember to think long term. The goal is not to avoid adversity but to be able to see past it.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tip #2 - Heads Up Hockey
Everyone has been told to keep their head up, but I have found a couple details about this popular saying that may help some players get to the next level.
One distinction I have made is that the average player almost always glances down to check to see if the puck is still on their stick when they are shooting. Every half second a player takes their eyes off of what is going on around them, they will be missing critical information to make decisions from and they will be less accurate especially if they are moving.
As an example, if you watch Nicklas Lidstrom drag the puck along the blue line then take a full wind slap shot, he will not once look down at the puck. Lidstrom is obviously one of the best of the best, and gives us all something to work towards. Most players will need to start practicing with just their wrist shot, where there is no wind up, but they will still glance down to check. This is a reflex habit and the only way to break it is with a lot of practice.
Another subtle distinction I found is that the average player focuses on not losing the puck when they are under pressure, which makes it hard to make the best play. The elite players (watch any player in the upcoming game seven) when they have the puck they are constantly looking for open ice and teammates, even in some of the most pressured situations. To master this skill, a player will really have to work on building their ability to handle the puck without seeing it. Being the difficult skill that it is, remember to practice it as much as you can. The best way to learn is by giving it a shot, mistakes will be made (if not, you are not pushing yourself hard enough), so learn from your mistakes and make corrections then give it another shot and so on and so on.
Take Away:
1. Keep your head and eyes up while shooting.
2. Focus on finding open ice to skate to, and open teammates to pass to.
One distinction I have made is that the average player almost always glances down to check to see if the puck is still on their stick when they are shooting. Every half second a player takes their eyes off of what is going on around them, they will be missing critical information to make decisions from and they will be less accurate especially if they are moving.
As an example, if you watch Nicklas Lidstrom drag the puck along the blue line then take a full wind slap shot, he will not once look down at the puck. Lidstrom is obviously one of the best of the best, and gives us all something to work towards. Most players will need to start practicing with just their wrist shot, where there is no wind up, but they will still glance down to check. This is a reflex habit and the only way to break it is with a lot of practice.
Another subtle distinction I found is that the average player focuses on not losing the puck when they are under pressure, which makes it hard to make the best play. The elite players (watch any player in the upcoming game seven) when they have the puck they are constantly looking for open ice and teammates, even in some of the most pressured situations. To master this skill, a player will really have to work on building their ability to handle the puck without seeing it. Being the difficult skill that it is, remember to practice it as much as you can. The best way to learn is by giving it a shot, mistakes will be made (if not, you are not pushing yourself hard enough), so learn from your mistakes and make corrections then give it another shot and so on and so on.
Take Away:
1. Keep your head and eyes up while shooting.
2. Focus on finding open ice to skate to, and open teammates to pass to.
Tip #1 - Be Willing to Make More Mistakes
Have you ever felt scared to make a mistake? Well, I know the feeling of playing hockey with the thought of “don’t make a mistake” constantly in the back of mind. I have played with the fear of disapproval from my coach or parent for not getting the puck out, not scoring, trying a move at the blue line… etc.
I have learned that disapproval and making mistakes is nothing to be afraid of. They are just forms of feedback about the actions we have taken. One of the best ways to learn and grow is by receiving feedback, making corrections then taking some more actions. Hence, mistakes are going to be essential to your growth as a hockey player.
Take away:
1. Take action when facing fear. Do not shy away from a situation because of the fear of making a mistake.
2. Embrace making mistakes by using the feedback to grow as a hockey player.
I have learned that disapproval and making mistakes is nothing to be afraid of. They are just forms of feedback about the actions we have taken. One of the best ways to learn and grow is by receiving feedback, making corrections then taking some more actions. Hence, mistakes are going to be essential to your growth as a hockey player.
Take away:
1. Take action when facing fear. Do not shy away from a situation because of the fear of making a mistake.
2. Embrace making mistakes by using the feedback to grow as a hockey player.
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