It’s that time of year.

When every game, every shift, every shot, every save and every battle counts.
And the last thing any of us want to do is to fold up like a cheap tent under
these intense circumstances.

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. The pressure and stress is all INSIDE OF YOU.
There is absolutely NOTHING that says a particular situation HAS to be stressful.
We are the ones that create the stress.

The truth is that “pressure” only exists inside your head.

That’s why some players are able to step up and play their best even under the most
intense conditions and why others seem to crumble.  Nothing that happens to you,
or any situation you are in, is stressful in and of itself. It’s your reaction to what happens
that causes stress.

For the players that I was coaching as a part of Team Ontario at the National Under 18
Championships back in November, the championships were the most intense
competition they had ever been a part of.  Scouts were watching their every move,
coaches were evaluating their performance on and off the ice and their parents were
sitting up in the stands hoping for them to have an elite level performance as a player
and as team.

Some players looked like they were paralyzed by fear, stress, and pressure.
They could barely play up to their normal level, never-mind exceeding their own
expectations or those of anyone in the stands. A handful of players stepped up
to the plate and knocked the ball out of the park with their performance
(sorry for the baseball analogy).

Each and every player had to deal with the same level of pressure and stress.
They were all on an even playing field going into the tournament.
But some came out on top, while others moved down the depth chart.

Why were some players able to rise up to the occasion, while others suffered?

Because they were able to manage their stress. They didn’t allow themselves to
get stressed out. They didn’t let the “pressure” of performance get to them.
They understood that performing your best is about focusing on the things you’ve
got control over, and blocking out the distractions that you can’t control.

Whether you are finishing up your regular season games, starting the playoffs,
or getting ready for your biggest tournament of the season, you have to understand
that the stress and pressure you might be feeling isn’t real.

And you don’t have to let it get to you. It’s the same for each and every player,
whether you are getting ready for the gold-medal Olympic final, or heading into
tryout season.  Some players will rise up to the challenge and some will crack
under pressure.

How will you respond?

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
www.totalfemalehockey.com