I’m seeing a disturbing pattern emerge with many of the girls hockey players I am working with this season – and the season hasn’t even started yet. Whether during practices, games or off-ice training, every single day I hear players saying the most dangerous word in girls hockey over and over again…CAN’T.

“I can’t crossover that way”.

“I can’t shoot a backhand”.

“I can’t do push-ups”.

It’s not that they can’t do the skills at all – they just can’t do them as well as they would like to be able to yet.

And every time I hear them use the word “Can’t”, I want them to add that powerful word afterwards…”YET”.

I can’t do push-ups….YET.

I can’t shoot a backhand…YET.

I can’t do crossovers that way…YET.

Lack of confidence is by far the biggest problem among girls hockey players.

And I simply will not allow the players I work with to dis-empower themselves by using this negative language.

Ideally, they wouldn’t use the word “can’t” at all. But I know, having been a young female hockey player myself, that the journey towards positive thinking and speaking can be a long one.

So I am starting off small.

For right now, all my players will add a “yet” onto every “can’t” statement I hear them say.

It’s a little step in the right direction, but it will make a HUGE difference in the long run.

If you are a girls hockey coach or parent, please try this strategy out with your players and let me know how it works.

Remember – it’s our small actions that lead us to our BIG DREAMS.

So Keep Working Hard, Dreaming BIG and Stay Positive.

Your friend and coach,

~ Kim