Stay Mentally Energized During a Long Season
Every athlete recognizes the importance of caring for their body, especially to meet the demands of a long hockey season. Athletes need water and recovery drinks to hydrate and replenish their bodies.
Healthy foods and energy bars help fuel an athlete and maintain healthy body functioning. Some players take vitamins and supplements to sustain peak physiological balance. Imagine how much your body would break down if you neglected to care for yourself.
Would you agree that the mental rigors of hockey are as much, if not more, than the physical demands of the game?
However, most hockey players do not do much at all when it comes to maintaining optimal mental functioning.
Examples of mental rigors include injuries, losing streaks, team conflict, loss of playing time, pressure to perform, and high expectations.
Also, under performance, mistakes during games, obligations outside of hockey (school, work), social pressures, early morning training sessions, long and intense practices, etc.
How Can You Reset Your Mind?
First, it is important to realize that being a hockey player is not who you are but a role you fill.
In other words, you are much more than a hockey player. If you see yourself as primarily a hockey player, then mistakes or a bad game will negatively impact your self-concept, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
Expanding your identity will lessen the pressure you feel to perform “perfectly” every time you hit the ice.
Another way to mentally energize is to leave your hockey “self” at the rink and have interests outside the sport. Too often, a bad game can stick in a player’s mind for hours or even days. Hobbies, a social life, time with your family, and “staycations” help break up the monotony and relax your mind.
The Philadelphia Flyers headed into the 2024 All-Star break on a season-worst five-game losing streak. During that period, the Flyers were outscored 27-12.
In their three games after the bye week, the Flyers were 3-0 and outscored their opponents 9-4. The break allowed the players to mentally re-energize and reset for the second half of the season.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson commented that the team needed a mental reset to regain their momentum and prepare for a playoff push in the second half of the season.
ERSSON: “I think everybody maybe needed a little bit of a mental break from hockey. It was a tough schedule there in January. We had a lot of games. I think everybody needed a little bit of a break, and we used that to our advantage. We knew how important this part of the season is, that everything steps up another notch, and we have to do it, as well.”
To consistently play at your peak throughout the season, you need to prioritize your mental and physical recovery.
There are numerous ways to re-energize throughout the season such as finding a mentally engaging activity outside of hockey.
Having balance in your life beyond athletics, and having a social life outside of sports are key to not having your identity tied to hockey.
Most importantly, remember that hockey is something you do, not who you are.
Related Articles on Hockey Mental Game:
- How to Create a Winning Mindset for Hockey
- How Hockey Players Grow into Their Potential
- 5 Components of Managing Injuries
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Mental Coaching Programs for Hockey
Our mental game coaching programs for hockey players helps athletes improve confidence, concentration, let go of errors quickly, and stay composed during crunch-time. Read more about sports psychology for hockey players at Peaksports.com
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