How Your Hockey Player Should Deal with Fear

Learning something new, or being unsure of an outcome can leave even the bravest individual a little uneasy. For children, fear is very common. Their growing minds can often create fears out of situations that are easily rationalized by adults.  Add to this a new and unknown, sport, team or coach and fear can all but paralyze even the best athlete.  The following article provides advice to help use fear to become a stronger athlete and competitor.

Fear is a natural instinct that once helped protect humans from being eaten. Though being eaten is no longer a daily problem, fear is still a large part of life. Fear is a combination of thoughts, emotions and physical responses that work together to help alert someone to danger and prepare the body to react. When a person feels fear, additional adrenaline and other chemicals are produced which increase strength and decrease reaction times. At normal levels, fear can be helpful. At excessive levels, the chemicals and emotions triggered by fear can easily cloud judgments, create a feeling of nausea and sickness and actually decrease performance. In athletics, fear is common when players are trying something new, playing in a big game or attending team tryouts. To cope with fear, players can try these techniques:

• Admit That You Are Afraid - Recognizing that fear is a factor is the first step in correcting it.


• Learn and Prepare - Nothing minimizes fear more than being over prepared. The higher the confidence level players have in their ability, the less likely they are to become afraid of the outcome.


• Focus on Positive Images - There are many images that players can visualize when motivating themselves. If the images are positive then the outcomes are more likely to be positive. Michael Jordan often visualized making free throws in his back yard when making high-pressure free throws in games.


• Listen to Experience - When going into a new situation, seek advice from people who have been there before. Older siblings or players can help less-experienced players better understand the situation.


• Stay Busy - Withdrawing into oneself provides even more time for negative thoughts. Staying busy with friends and family is an easy way to relax and minimize the opportunity for fear.


• Talk it Over With Parents - Fear is normal and players’ parents have had many opportunities to experience fear in their own lives. Parents have the unique advantage of helping players see a broader perspective.

Fear can help players. The fear of being scored against can make the defense try harder to block a shot. The fear of losing can make the offense work harder to score. However, when players keep dwelling on these fears before or after the immediate event, they need to quickly work to regain control of their emotions and stay focused on playing well rather than playing afraid.

Editor’s Note: A special thanks to Sports Esteem for this article.

Specialized Speed training – Start at What Age?

Speed on the ice is a tremendous asset for any team, but it can be difficult to develop. Lee Taft, founder of the Lee Taft Speed Academy, spoke with Executive Editor TK Stohlman to discuss speed training fundamentals for young hockey athletes. Read on for an excerpt from that interview.

Stohlman: You say everybody is born with the “speed” ability.  At what age should parents start to consider that specialty/speed training?

Taft: I would not start any specific hard-core training until they’ve gone through puberty and they have a pretty solid foundation of their muscular system. So we’re talking maybe 15 or 16 years old.  Then we can start to be a little more specific as to their training protocol.  But, having said that I think that early pre-adolescence you’ve got to start them understanding their gross motor learning of techniques of movement.  I certainly don’t mean hard-core instruction.  I just mean let’s go play, let’s just go out and play and while they’re playing may be we suggest something different to them. We don’t want to do anything too specific too young.

Stohlman: Are there guidelines? Is there an optimal amount of speed training versus general training?  Do you have any guidelines for parents?

Taft: Yes. I suggest no more than a couple of times a week because unless you understand the recovery requirements of that, not only that particular day but the days after, you don’t want to a over stimulate the nervous system because it won’t recover properly enough.

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Lee Taft for the interview.

5 Ways Your Player Can Be The Team Leader

Many athletes fail to develop as leaders not because they lack leadership ability, but because they lack a fundamental understanding of what leadership is. To become an effective leader, the athlete first needs to understand the job of a team leader. Once this is made clear, the athlete can go to work developing the skills he or she needs to assert a positive leadership influence on the team. If you do not already have a clear job description of a positive team leader, here is one to consider.





Your job as positive team leader is to elevate the team in ways that build trust.  We want you to focus on five winning practices:

1. Model the Way.  Set a positive example for your teammates in what you do and say in competition, in practice, in the locker room, in the classroom, and in the community.

2. Assure Execution.  First make sure you know and execute all of your team assignments.  Then, reach out and assist your teammates who need help with executing their assignments.

3. Spark the Energy.  Sense when the team is losing positive energy.  Use your voice and example to spark the energy - especially when the going gets tough in practice and competition.

4. Promote Unity.  Help everyone feel included, valued, and respected.  Don’t tolerate cliques or divisive conflicts on the team.  Ask for help from your coaches if you see serious conflicts arising.

5. Elevate Your Teammates.  Everyone struggles now and then.  Reach out to help a teammate who is struggling - including younger athletes and role players who don’t see much playing time.  It is not your job to solve their problems.  But it is your job to provide encouragement and friendship.

This kind of leadership can be practiced by anyone, from the team captain to the star player to the last person on the end of the bench.  This same kind of leadership is valuable not only in athletics, but in all kinds of settings beyond sports.  If you can learn how to lead in this fashion, you will increase your chances of success in athletics and beyond for the rest of your life.

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Steve Horan of PositiveSports.net for the above article.

What’s Hurting Your Player’s Performance?

Parents can have a tremendous impact on helping their child get into and stay with sports activities. Kids develop at different rates and even though two kids are the same age, there can be as much as six years of physical difference between them. Differences in physical ability and skills can affect the confidence that young kids have. This confidence then has a big influence on a child’s attitude towards playing. From the sidelines, many things that parents often attribute to lack of “hustle” or perhaps a bad attitude are often due to problems in other areas.



Parents need to be open to looking at these other areas that might be affecting their child’s enjoyment and performance.  After a game, some areas to consider are:

• Were there external distractions, such as problems at school or with friends or siblings?


• Were there physical difficulties, such as an illness, lack of proper nutrition, or insufficient rest?


• Is there a diminished lack of interest in the sport caused by burnout or a lack of time for other activities?


• Is physical conditioning in areas such as stamina or strength adequate for playing an entire game?


• Does a lack of fundamental skills hinder more advanced play?


• Is there a good understanding of strategy and positioning so that a young player knows how to react in specific situations?


• Is the child playing at the right level of competition? Playing with kids who are much more or much less talented can be demotivating and slow improvement.

If it is not clear what the problem is, parents should have a positive conversation with their child or with the coach to better identify the problem and the necessary corrective actions. Sports are learned activities and require time to master. Parents must be patient in helping their child and must avoid over-correcting. The age of the player and the length of time between events give parents plenty of opportunity to take the right actions.

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Sports Esteem for the above article.

Learn From The Pros: Don’t Dwell on Your Mistakes

Cal Ripken Jr. is one of baseball’s legends, and today, players like Alex Rodriguez still look to him as one of their heroes. One of Cal Ripken’s childhood stories is of how his Little League baseball team lost the regional final. Cal gave up a three-run homer and was the losing pitcher. After the game, all the players were crying and miserable, especially Cal.  If the story had simply ended there, with the team leaving for home, miserable and defeated, it would have been one of their worst memories.



But as it worked out, the next day another team took Cal’s team deep-sea fishing. Cal had never done that before. It turned out to be a fun time and a great memory.

What would have happened if Cal had gone home the next day and continued feeling bad about the way he played? Would he have quit and not gone on to accomplish a championship career? Players can get too wrapped up in their mistakes and forget to focus on their accomplishments. Players learn from mistakes by understanding them and not by dwelling on them.

Q&A: Should Your Child Play Above Their Age Group?

Dawn asks: “What if your child plays for a Major team but he is only a Minor?  Is it best to play for an age specific team where all players are minor or major?  What are the benefits of playing on either? My biggest concern is ice time for the younger players on a major team.



If a team finds itself on a power play,  the younger players sit.  Rotations are shorter for the younger players.  There is favoritism towards the major players as those players will be moving up with the coach next season while the younger players stay behind.   Wouldn’t it be better to play for an age specific team so all players get the experience of power plays and the ability to stay on the ice during crucial situations?”

Answer: “The reason most parents give for having their kids play up a level with older, more advanced players is so they can be challenged and therefore advance at a faster rate.  The reality is that parents often push their kids ahead because they feel it will give them a better chance to play at the college or professional levels. Like most decisions such as this there are advantages and disadvantages.  The advantage is that the younger player will be challenged to push himself harder and as a result will likely improve his level of play.

The disadvantage of playing up a level is the issue you mention.  He is likely to get less ice time in power plays or other situations at the end of close games. Unless your child is an exceptionally gifted athlete who can move up and get significant experiences in all situations, why not let him play with his own age group so that he can get experience in power play situations as well as situations when the “game is on the line?”  He will most likely enjoy this experience more and have just as good of a chance to reach his full potential in the long run.”

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Dr. Greg Dale for answering this question. Gregory A. Dale, Ph.D. is a Professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Ethics at Duke University. He is also the Director of Mental Training and Co-Director of the Leadership Program for Duke Athletics. For more information about Greg, click here to visit his website.

If you have a question, we would love to help. Please email us and we will do our best to answer your question.

Sweet Way to Teach Your Player about Positioning

When our son was just starting Mite hockey, he often had difficulty learning where to position himself on the ice to be most effective.  We created “candy hockey” to help him learn proper positioning.

We would either use a hockey rink clipboard or draw our own on a piece of paper (which helped him learn the lines on the rink). We then chose two different colors of M&M’S or Skittles for each team. We used a dark-colored candy for the puck.  We would pretend he was one of the players (a candy with the letter-side up). We created different situations on the “ice” and asked him to move his player to an appropriate position.

By doing this exercise after games, we were able to create situations that we had just seen on the ice and help give positive reinforcement for good positioning and gentle, non-accusatory suggestions for improving less optimal positioning.  We were usually able to create three or four situations each time and then had fun eating the candy, enjoying a constructive bonding experience after games.

Thanks to Jim Godwin for sharing this tip.  Photo courtesy of PiccoloNamek.

7 Concepts to Help Your Player be Mentally Tough

In this article for parents and players, former NHL player and player development expert, Jeff Serowik, discusses how players can improve their mental toughness and perform consistently at a higher level.



This is a message on mental toughness. When you reach a particular level in hockey, you will realize that mental toughness will set you apart from your competition. Two players can have the same skills and speed, but it is their mental state, which enables one player to be great, while the other is ordinary.

Hockey is truly a game of mistakes. Even the superstars make them. The key is learning to overcome those mistakes quickly to succeed. Successful players know how to get their head right back into the game - I mean immediately in the very next shift! Young players need to develop this aspect of their game just as much as they develop skating, shooting, checking, and team building skills. Learn this now!

Here are a few concepts that will help you develop your mental game:

1. Take note of your favorite NHL Player. He will make mistakes during the course of a game; but they go by practically unnoticed because he doesn’t go into a shell, get down, feel sorry for himself, throw a temper tantrum, bang his stick, or take frustrations out on a fellow teammate. Never show your opponent you’re frustrated or weak!


2. Tune out negative situations around you and turn them into positives. Example: If you get beat 1 on 1 or have a bad give-away, don’t get down on yourself. It’s now history; - focus on the present. Quickly get yourself and your head back into the game with a good hit, a shot on goal, or just beat your opponent down the ice and work hard. Do anything positive – no matter how small. You will regain confidence. Charlie Corey, my Prep School coach used to say, “Serowik, do you think people in China care you made a mistake?” It’s done and forgotten, - move on!


3. Make a list of your responsibilities as a hockey player. Think about them before every game. During the game don’t think, - REACT! Example: If you are a defenseman, write down your duties in all three zones, power play and penalty kill. Move the puck quickly, stick between the legs, play the man, box your opponent out, hit the net every shot, head on a swivel, communication, control gap, how to play a 1v1, 2v1, 3v2 etc. …And so on. I had a 2-page list that I carried in my wallet for my entire 10 year pro career. I pulled out that list before each and every game and went over everything, so that it was all in fresh mental storage. If it’s in mental storage and you’ve already thought it through before game time, then it will come to you naturally during the game. Once the game begins you don’t want to think - just REACT!


4. Take 10 - 15 minutes before each game for “alone time”. Go over your responsibilities, almost like saying your prayers. Go tape your stick by yourself, -visualize all positive thoughts. Example: Picture yourself scoring the winning goal, having a big hit, a great assist, hugging your teammates in victory. These are all positive thoughts that will put you in the frame of mind to be a winner.


5. Tailor makes a catch phrase to say to you in time of trouble. Example: “Keep it Simple” - and my favorite, “Move Mountain”.


6. When game time comes, - you should come out for warm-ups hard and ready to compete. This is NOT the time to be social or screw around with teammates. Get a good handle on the puck, make some hard passes, stretch out, and get your legs going with some hard sprints.


7. On your first shift do something, - anything to get yourself into the game quickly. I’d to make a crisp hard pass, give a big hit, or even get hit by my opponent to wake me up and motivate me. The first couple of shifts usually dictate the rest of the game.

I hope these points are helpful. Getting mentally tough is a lot easier said than done. Work on it everyday and you will be on your way to becoming a mentally tough hockey player. Special thanks to Jeff Serowik and Pro Ambitions Hockey for sharing this article.

Top Mistake to Avoid When Motivating Your Players

Young players fear failure, even if they don’t admit it. And certain mistakes on your part can make such fears loom larger than they really should – large enough to cost the team a win, if the kids are too focused on the possibility of losing.



To avoid making things worse, don’t pressure your player by overblowing the importance of the game’s outcome.  Do listen carefully to the child’s concerns, and give plenty of support and positive reinforcement.

10 Ways Your Player Can Be a Better Teammate

When players join a team, they often get instructions from a coach about what is expected of them, but, players rarely get a similar set of instructions from their teammates. However, learning what is expected from teammates can be a fairly simple process. All players need to do is list what they want from their teammates and then work to give those things first. Here is a common wish list for teammates:

1. Talks to me - Someone who is in a good mood and goes out of the way to say hello and talk to me.


2. Helps me - Someone who practices and learns about the game and then helps me learn too.


3. Gives me a chance - Someone who shares the play with me by passing.


4. Encourages me - Someone who always tells me to keep trying when something I do isn’t working out.


5. Congratulates me - Someone who is the first person to congratulate me when I do something right.


6. Sticks up for me - Someone who I can count on when I’m challenged by someone on the other team.


7. Shows confidence - Someone who is positive about our abilities to win contests.


8. Never quits - Someone who always plays hard no matter the score.


9. Never pouts - Someone who is always upbeat even if something doesn’t go the right way.


10. Never boasts - Someone who thanks other players for their help after making a score.

Being a good teammate takes work and thought. Players who make the effort will see the reward long past their time on the team. Special thanks to Sports Esteem for the above article.

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