Interested in advancing to college hockey? Or maybe you just want to earn a captain spot for the upcoming season? Read on for tips you should be trying in order to improve your mental game–which will directly affect your overall play.
- Set Goals
Setting goals does not mean picking a task out of thin air. It requires deep thought to define both long and short-term goals that are realistic, measurable and have a set achievement date. Be aware of your current level of performance, know what specific goals to set that address your weaknesses, and have a detailed plan to reach that goal. Try formally writing down goals, it can help give a visual reminder of what you plan to achieve. - Commit to Your Game
Do not just be physically committed to hockey, but mentally committed as well. Think about the game outside of just competition and practice. An elite player gives their game utmost importance, which translates into determination and commitment for achieving the player’s goals. - Be Confident
Hockey players that have high self-confidence choose to have and maintain a positive attitude. Spend time developing your skills on a set goal, and be confident that you can achieve the expected outcome. If you fail, your high self-confidence will help come to a realistic explanation as to why. Take that reason and refuse to let it affect your confidence in a dramatic way. - Concentrate
Acknowledge that concentration is a key factor in being the best you can be. Focus on maintaining concentration in both practice and games, and avoid internal and external distractions. If concentration is broken, regain focus on the “here are now” rather than past or future events. - Maintain Composure
This skill is all about maintaining physical and mental control. Be able to quickly flush a bad play or shift. This is particularly helpful in moments of stress and anxiety. Recognize your emotions and use them to improve your performance. - Cope with Tough Situations
Do not simply maintain composure in trying situations, cope with them as well. Handling unexpected events in a positive manner is vital to your success. A poor performance, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances can hinder your mindset and get in the way of reaching your goals. Maintain a positive attitude and outlook on any situation. - View Challenges as Opportunities
Elite players should view a challenge as an opportunity, rather than a setback. Actively seek them out, and cope with problems along the way. Do not perceive challenges as problems or threats, this will not allow room for improvement. - Visualize
Visualization is a valuable technique of using one’s imagination to think positively about upcoming events. Try imagining outcomes on the ice, and think about exactly what you’d do in that situation. Visualizing yourself in action will prepare you for the real deal. - Relax
Staying calm is not always easy to do, especially in games where there are a lot of high stress situations. Practice relaxation techniques to help regain a clear head and allow you to think rationally under competitive stress. Visualization, listening to calming music, and breathing exercises all can be effective relaxation tools. - Deal Effectively with People
In order to succeed in any sport, you have to be aware of the fact that you are just a small part of a larger community. Teammates, coaches and even parents all play a role in your success. The ability to effectively communicate thoughts, feelings, and emotions while dealing with conflicts is all part of the package of total athletic success.
Stephen Heisler 