How NOT To Get Noticed In Girls Hockey
I was at the Under-15 Team Ontario tryouts this past weekend in Ottawa, sharing off-ice training, nutrition and mental performance strategies with the 80+ girls hockey players at the camp.
Every player there wanted to stand out and make the team and I went over exactly what they needed to do in order to get noticed.
But more importantly…
=> I told them exactly what NOT to do to get noticed!
And I wanted to share the same information with you.
The best way to make sure you DON’T stand out on the ice is by…
=> Trying to be something that you’re NOT!
If you are a stay-at-home defenseman, then don’t try to be Bobby Orr by trying to go end-to-end every time you touch the puck.
It may help you to stand out – but it will be for all the wrong reasons.
If you try to be something you aren’t in these tryout situations, you are going to stick-out because of your weaknesses, instead of standing-out because of your strengths.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret…
Any high-level coach or scout can watch you skate for a period or two and know exactly what kind of player you are.
It only takes them a few shifts to figure out if you are a pure goal-scorer, a solid two-way forward, a rushing D or a stay-at-home D.
By the time you are into the second practice or game, they know exactly what kind of player you are and expect that you are going to excel at what you are already good at on every shift.
So if you are a great two-way forward, who all of a sudden can’t find your own defensive zone because you are too busy cherry-picking up by the far blue-line, you are trying to be a player you aren’t.
In these tryout situations, skaters think they need to be “flashy” in order to stand out.
If you are always “flashy”, keep being “flashy”.
But if you aren’t, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT!
Coaches don’t need a team full of end-to-end rushers.
They need stay-at-home defensemen and two-way forwards too.
Instead of worrying about the things you don’t do well, (and remember, all of us have things we don’t do well out there), focus on what you are already good at.
And commit yourself 100% to being the best at those things
each and every time you touch the ice.
Keep Working Hard, Dreaming BIG and Commit To
Being The Best At What You Are Already Good At.
~ Coach Kim
PS – If you enjoyed this newsletter, and think that another member of your team, family or coaching staff might benefit from the information, please feel free to share this message with them.
And let them know that there are 400+ more articles and videos specifically about how to get to the next level of girls hockey waiting for them here at Total Female Hockey:
