Playoff time brings a mix of nerves and excitement that can be enough to get any player stressed out. In order to perform your best throughout the playoff run, you need to have strategies in place that help you to get focused, stay focused and re-focus. Maintaining the right level and kind of focus can be really tough during the playoffs. Here are a few key tips to keep you focused this post-season…
When it comes to getting focused, we tend to worry more about the outcome (winning the game), instead of the process of how we are going to win the game. Instead of focusing on “having to win”, players and coaches need to focus on “what it takes to win”. Players should give themselves action-oriented key words to focus on like, “Keep feet moving”, “Battle for pucks”, “Head on a swivel”, “One shot at a time (goalies)”. It is critical that players stay focused on the things they have control over, instead of the outcome of the game.

Staying focused during a playoff game is easier said than done with all the potential distractions on and off the ice. Players can easily become overly focused on the other team’s players and plays, as well as the what the refs, coaches and fans are doing. All of these are external factors that they have absolutely no control over. Using the action-oriented key words they identified before the game will allow players to stay focused on what they need to do to perform their best. Remember that the key to success in the playoffs is playing your game and not theirs.

Because of the high level of emotional and physical intensity in playoff hockey, the outcome of most games is completely unpredictable. With the season on the line, players and teams will do anything to “stay alive”, leading to long series with many up and downs. It is critical that players and coaches have re-focusing strategies in place that keep them on track no matter what the playoffs have in store. One great way to help the entire team stay focused on their goals is to create a playoff theme. A team can choose a slogan like, “Whatever It Takes”, “Seize The Opportunity”, “This Is Our Time”. I know it sounds “cheesy”, but having an easy to remember, inspirational theme can really help to refocus the group when times get tough.

The ability to maintain focus is an essential part of surviving and thriving through the playoff run.

What are you going to do to keep yourself focused throughout the post-season?

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim