Are You A “Real” Hockey Player?
A ‘real’ hockey player eats, sleeps and breathes hockey.
They have other interests too. They probably play a few other sports and find time to spend with friends and family. But they have a ‘hockey first’ mentality. If the opportunity to hit the ice arises, they are always going to lace up the skates.
When they get a precious and rare day-off from the rink, they are probably at the gym doing a workout or in the driveway taking shots. They do it because they love it.
Not because their coach told them to or because their teammates are doing it. They do it because there really is nothing else they’d rather be doing. I was at a coaching course last week and a few university coaches and I were talking about how there just don’t seem to be as many ‘real’ hockey players out there anymore.
Let’s be clear – there’s nothing wrong with not being a ‘real’ hockey player.
I’ve coached many players who are able to compete at the higher levels
of girls hockey without being consumed with a desire to do whatever it took
day in and day out to be the best. They just happened to be good enough
to play at a high level and were willing to do what it took to be an effective
player on their team.But real hockey players aren’t happy with just doing enough to play at a high level. They are always looking to do more. They are always trying to push the envelope and be their best.
I’ve coached many players who are able to compete at the higher levels
of girls hockey without being consumed with a desire to do whatever it took
day in and day out to be the best. They just happened to be good enough
to play at a high level and were willing to do what it took to be an effective
player on their team.But real hockey players aren’t happy with just doing enough to play at a high level. They are always looking to do more. They are always trying to push the envelope and be their best.
If I think back on the high level teams I’ve had the opportunity to coach over the past few seasons, I can honestly say that each team might have had a maximum of 3 ‘real’ hockey players on it. There might have been 7 or 8 highly talented players on each team, but only a few who had the true ‘hockey first’ mentality. And to tell you the truth, the ones who had that mentality are the ones who not only moved up to the next level, but excelled there. They weren’t necessarily the most skilled or talented player on the team. But they were definitely the most committed, competitive and driven.
They were never happy just doing whatever everyone else was doing.
They had a vision of where they wanted to be and what they wanted to
achieve as a player and realized that they were ultimately responsible
for their own success. They didn’t just do what was asked of them –
they did more, expected more and therefore achieved more.
It’s easy to figure out if you’re a ‘real’ hockey player.
You either have the ‘hockey first’ mentality – or you don’t.
I’m not saying that having the ‘hockey first’ mentality is a good or bad thing.
But it is essential if you want to excel at the elite levels of the game.
It is essential if you want to discover how good you can truly be.
Work Hard. Dream BIG.
Your friend and coach,
Kim
Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director & Founder, Total Female Hockey
