Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Use your nerves


Its playoff time and the rinks get louder, the games mean more and the fans get more belligerent. Unfortunately the fans DO get more belligerent and abusive in their comments, they also get loud, sometimes, really LOUD. This can all be distracting to a goalie who must maintain focus and poise, especially at this time of year.


Use the energy in the building to feed your fire. When you make a great save and the building gets louder, take it in, tell yourself the noise is for YOU, the cheering is for YOUR save. Or the other teams fans are booing you because your stopped their team. This means your doing well, enjoy their catcalls and boos, knowing that you are defeating their spirit and pushing them to be negative. Relish in the moment of being the focus of their attention.


When the players start to make abusive comments to you, smile, in the knowledge that YOU are doing something so right, they are not happy with you and PO'd that they can't score. Know that the comments toward you are their way of showing their frustration and build your own confidence from their frustration.


If the other team starts to 'crowd the net' or bump you, smile! Again knowing you are frustrating them to the point of breaking. Keep smiling or simply 'going about your business' without reaction because that is what they want.


The hardest part will be to maintain focus, and not to overreact in either direction. Get cocky or start to make your own comments and it can come back to bite you. Maintain your calm and be focused on the NET SHOT, because it is all that matters! What has happened doesn't matter, only the next shot matters. Remember this!


If you are focused and 'into the game' you can block all the distractions out, you need to be so into the game that you don't hear most of what is going on, its just you and the puck that matter. Allow yourself to hear what you need to hear, and build your own confidence from those sounds. Playing in the moment and being laser focused on the NEXT SHOT.


Do what works best for you, but I have always found that you need to turn your focus level up and down a few degrees when the play is stopped or between periods. While you must maintain your intensity level and focus, don't put yourself in the position of being zoned out to your own team and the positive things that are happening around you.


Martin Brodeur is a great example of a goalie who you will see laughing or smiling during a stoppage, but is incredibly focused while the play is on. I have known goalies who completely 'zone out' and become so intense for the entire game time (before, during stoppages and breaks and even for a time afterward) that no one could even speak to them. I have also noticed that most of the 'over intense' goalies, burn out earlier in their careers or can't take the stress they place on themselves and quit as teenagers.


Remember, winning isn't everything, but it certainly is a lot more fun when you do! Regardless, gain confidence from knowing that you have done your best and that you won't win every game or stop every shot, but your attitude should be that you can, and should!!


Most importantly, at any level, no matter what the outcome is, the sun will rise tomorrow and life goes on. Hockey is a game, not life or death, so do your best, enjoy the moment, build your own confidence and relish in the fact you have done all you can.

No comments: