TCP Roadmap: Part 1: Unlocking the Power of the Hockey Mind

Now is the perfect time to review the core mental skills that are necessary (or mandatory) for players to have their best season ever.

Players train all summer to make sure their bodies and fitness are ready, but how much time is spent on making sure the mental side of the game is?

In this 4-part series, I want to review the core tenants of my Complete Player Mental Toughness Roadmap and hope to re-ignite, re-inspire, and re-motivate you to make sure you're doing everything you can to make mental toughness training a priority in your hockey development.

I've been working with hockey players for over 20 years, and it is clear that the journey of the elite hockey player isn't just about physical strength or skills. It’s also about the power of the hockey mind and a player's mental toughness.

In this 4-part blog series, we're going to embark on a deep dive into the mental aspects that play a significant role in taking your game to the next level.

If you're familiar with my TCP (The Complete Player) Roadmap, then you know there are five core levels of what it takes to become a complete player. (If you don't have my TCP Roadmap, click here to download a copy.)

The five levels are:

1. RIGHT SKILLS

2. RIGHT PREPARATION

3. RIGHT PRACTICE

4. RIGHT PERFORMANCE

5. RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

In Part 1, I'll start out by talking about the two levels in the roadmap that I don't actually do much coaching at. But they are core areas of a player's development and play a significant part in your hockey journey.

The first level, right skills, is what you work on all the time. If you're like most players, this is where you spend 99% of your time. These are things like skating, puck handling, shooting, defending, puck stopping, checking, forechecking, and backchecking. I could go on and on. These are the skills, techniques, and tactics that players must learn and master to become a complete player. To become the best player you can be.

But to become a complete player, not just a skilled player, there are many other important things you have to learn and master beyond just the core skills. Yes, skills are important. Yes, skills are required. The better your skills, the more opportunities you'll get.

But skills are just one level out of five on your hockey roadmap.

Now let me jump to the 5th level on the road map.

The 5th level, right opportunities, is another level I don't do much with other than point it out.

The right opportunities are things like having access to great coaches or playing in a competitive league with competitive teammates and competitors. It's things like growing up in a strong hockey market or having a former pro as a family member. It's even stuff like, When were you born? Are you big or small, fast or slow, mature early or mature later?

Another opportunity that has a huge impact on a player's development is how much support they get from people around them. People like family, friends, coaches, teachers, and mentors The amount and type of support players get is hugely important, and not everyone gets the same support on their journey.

I could keep going, but you get the point. Right opportunities" are the many things that happen outside of you, mostly beyond your control or influence.

Here's how I like to describe "right opportunities" to give you a visual.

Imagine you're in a race, and you walk up to the start line. However, in this race, not all the racers start out at the same start line. Some get to start out ahead, and you're thinking "What the heck, that's not fair". And others have to start behind you, giving you the advantage. And then there are a bunch starting right next to you.

And what determines your start line compared to others is the number of "right opportunities" you get (or don't get). 

That's the hockey race you've signed up for.

The question is: What are you going to do about it? You don't get to change your start line; that's decided by your opportunities. But you do get to decide how you're going to make up the difference with the players ahead of you and how you're going to stay ahead of the people behind you.

That's the race you're in, and that's what the TCP Roadmap will help you with.

In the next post, I'll talk about what I consider the foundation of a player's mental toughness.

Purpose, awareness, and mindset This is the APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF PREPARATION.

And in future posts, I'll break down the Right Practice and Right Performance levels on the roadmap.

So, make sure you download my roadmap for the next posts, and I'll be back with the right preparation 

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 2

Click here to read Part 3

Click here to read Part 4