TCP Roadmap: Mastering the Hockey Mind: Part 2: Right Preparation

Purpose, awareness, and mindset

In this 4-part series, I talk about navigating your hockey journey from the perspective of developing and enhancing a player's mental game.

In Part 1, I talked about two of the five levels on the roadmap. Level 1 and Level 5

Level 1 focuses on RIGHT SKILLS, while Level 5 focuses on RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES.

In the next few posts, I will go deep into the levels of

2. RIGHT PREPARATION

3. RIGHT PRACTICE

4. RIGHT PERFORMANCE

Today I'd like to discuss RIGHT PREPARATION.

We know how important skills are for a player to be successful. When you're younger, your age determines what level you play at. But as you get older, it's a player's skill level that determines where they play.

Skills are the price of admission to play hockey at the different levels. Without a certain level of skill, you don't even get a chance to get on the ice with the best teams in the best leagues.

And up until now, hockey skills, along with fitness, were the only things players really worked on. However many hours a week players spend on hockey, 99.9% are spent on the physical side of the game.

But we know there's more than skill in sports. The higher players go in the game, the mental side of the game plays a bigger and bigger role in who moves on and who moves out.

And unfortunately, we don't really think about that too much in the early days, when skill is all you need. But trust me, the day you realize that you don't have the mental toughness to hang at the level you're at skill-wise is a very uncomfortable day.

The day you realize that for you to move up and play on better and better teams, you need to add more mental toughness to your game, and right now you don't have it, That's when you see players and parents start to panic.

Think about it. You've trained for years and years to get your shot at the best team. You get invited to a tryout or evaluation camp. This is your big chance. What you've been waiting for all your life And you choke.

Not because you didn't have the skill. But you were not able to access it because your mental game was weak.

Nobody wants to experience that. Unfortunately, that's when I get 90% of my players.

They finally wake up and say, "Oh sh*t, why didn't I learn this stuff And then they scramble to cram in as much mental game training as they can and hope they don't lose their shot.

I compare mental game training with buying home insurance.

For most of your life, you don't feel like you need it. Until a hurricane knocks your house down and you realize you should have bought house insurance,

I'll get off my soapbox. But I say all this because I want to emphasize that the reason I created the TCP Roadmap is because I want you to be a complete player. And that includes being as tough mentally as you are physically.

Level 1 will get you ready physically. and levels 2, 3, and 4 will get you ready mentally.

So let's continue today and talk about the right preparation.

Right preparation includes what I consider the foundation of a player's mental game.

I say it's the foundation because every other mental skill feeds off of these critical elements.

Purpose.  Awareness. Mindset.

Purpose is knowing what you want and having a plan to get there.

Awareness is knowing what makes you tick and how to navigate both the internal and external things that are happening to you every day.

A mindset is how you see the world. All your thoughts, feelings, and actions are influenced by how you see the world and what you believe is possible.

Purpose:

The foundation stone of anything you do, especially a sport as demanding as hockey, is understanding your ‘why’. Why do you wake up every morning to train? Why do you push your body to its limits, day in and day out? Knowing your purpose acts as a beacon of light when the path gets dark and uncomfortable. Maybe it's the love of the game, the camaraderie of the team, mastering skills to become the best, the roar of the fans, or perhaps a combination of all these factors. Whatever it is, hold onto it. Your purpose will fuel your passion, and passion, in turn, fuels performance.

Self-Awareness:

Knowing your purpose is just the first step. The next is understanding who you are as a player and as an individual. Self-awareness is about recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, both on and off the ice. And it's not just self-awareness; it's situational awareness too. It's being aware of what's going on inside you as much as it is being aware of what's going on in your environment and how you fit into that environment. By being aware, you can tailor your training and development to leverage your strengths while working on your areas of improvement. Remember, no two players are alike; embrace your uniqueness and let it shine on the ice.

Mindset:

Now that you know your 'why' and 'who', it’s time to focus on the 'how'. Mindset is the lens through which you view challenges and opportunities. Do you see a missed shot as a failure or a learning opportunity? A growth mindset, one where you view challenges as chances to learn and grow, is pivotal. Every game, every practice, and every mistake is an opportunity to improve and evolve. With the right mindset, not only will you bounce back from setbacks more quickly, but you'll also have more fun and focus along the way.

In the following post, I will discuss RIGHT PRACTICE. I'll uncover the importance of focus, motivation, and deliberate practice—indispensible tools in the arsenal of a high-performing player. I'll also explore the facets of resilience, competitive level, and grit. These might just be words to some, but for a player committed to becoming a complete player, they are the keys to unlocking unparalleled greatness.

Remember, the path to success in hockey isn’t just paved with sweat and skill. It’s also a journey for the mind. And as we venture further into this series, I hope to equip you with the knowledge and tools to harness its full potential. 

Click here if you're interested in how a mental game coach can help you or your player improve their performance, results, and enjoyment in the game 

Click here if you're interested in learning what your hockey type is. It's like a hockey personality and temperament assessment that gives you a lot of cool insight into the kind of hockey player you are.

Click here if you want to boost your mental toughness in hockey.

Click here if you want to learn more about how to work with me personally to ensure your mental game is as strong as your physical game. We all know how big a part the mental game plays in a player's success. Don't leave yours up to chance. Learn about the many options available to improve this part of your game.

Click here to read Part 1

Click here to read Part 3

Click here to read Part 4