Where is your Focus When Facing a High Volume of Shots
When you are bombarded by shots throughout a game, you may become fearful that you will let in several goals. After all, it’s the law of averages, right?
The more shots you face, the more shots you let in? If you have this belief, you will most likely prove yourself right and allow more goals than usual. When a goaltender fears letting in shots, that fear impacts their performance in several ways.
- The fear of failure often undermines self-confidence, which is necessary for peak performance.
- When you fear giving up goals, especially potentially game-winning goals, you may overanalyze situations. Overthinking during games leads to hesitation, delayed reactions, and poor decision-making.
- When fear dominates your mind, the pressure to perform builds. Unregulated pressure can lead to choking during tight games or the playoffs.
- Worry and anxiety impair focus and physical coordination. In a high-speed game, distractions can be the difference between saves and goals, as well as winning and losing.
- Fear can cause you to tense up, interfering with quick reflexes and fluid play. In addition, tense muscles and increased worry cause mental and physical fatigue, affecting performance late in games.
Addressing fear proactively ensures it doesn’t cause your play to spiral downward and hurt your play. In addition, learning to focus in the present or one shot at a time minimizes worry and anxiety and helps to immerse yourself in the flow of the game.
Take, for example, Karel Vejmelka, goaltender of the Utah Hockey Club. Vejmelka was in goal when Utah played the Carolina Hurricanes early in the 2024 NHL season.
Utah came into the game having lost seven of their last nine games, while the Hurricanes had a top-five offense and defense. Utah was outshot 50-21 and had to kill off 25 penalty minutes, including over 10 minutes alone in the third period.
However, Vejmelka was up for the challenge, making 49 saves and leading Utah to a 4-1 victory over Carolina. Vejmelka didn’t buy into the law of averages—quite the opposite. Vejmelka put a positive spin on playing in a game with a high volume of shots. Vejmelka’s perspective helped him elevate his game.
VEJMELKA: “In those games with a lot of shots, I feel really, really good. It’s kind of easier to play than if I have only ten shots“
Vejmelka’s approach to the game was facing one shot at a time, which helped him stay mentally present and engaged throughout the game.
VEJMELKA: “I just tried to focus for another shot, just helped my team so they don’t get a goal. So it was kind of the same mindset all night long.”
Hockey is a fast-paced game requiring steadfast focus and quick reactions. You have no time to think about ‘what ifs.’ Peak play demands that you focus one shot at a time.
Peak performance requires that you debunk negative beliefs. If you can disprove negative beliefs and label them illogical, those beliefs lose their power and influence over your performance, allowing you to focus on the only thing that matters… the action in front of you.
Related Articles on Hockey Mental Game:
- Focus on What You Can Control to Improve Performance
- How to Be Focused Playing in Front of Family and Friends
- What is a Process Focus in Hockey?
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