5 Things Hockey Players Need to Do in the Off-Season
As the hockey season comes to a close, it’s time for athletes to start thinking about what they will do in the off-season. The off-season is the ideal time to physically and mentally recover and focus on training to improve your performance for the next season. Here are 5 things you should be doing to make the upcoming season your best yet!
1. Perform a Good, Better, Best Evaluation
The off-season is a great time to evaluate opportunities for improvement. Knowing where you can improve will make you stronger in the new season. What were you good at, and what helped you be good? After you answer that question, use your answers to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Mistakes and setbacks happen. It’s essential to not hold onto shortcomings and instead look ahead to the new season with positivity. Getting advice from coaches and identify areas that could be better, so you are aware of specific changes you need to make.
2. Set Goals
In the off–season, players can keep a personal agenda, planner, or calendar for being accountable. This includes goal–setting. What do players hope to achieve in their off–season? The regular season?
Process goals are based on what you’re going to do. These goals are actions you can control on the ice: moving to the puck, getting to the net. Outcome goals are the outcome, like winning the game. When it comes to mental toughness, it’s better to have process goals. You can’t control the result of the game. You can do all the actions to the best of your ability, and the other team could be incredible and win anyways. With process goals, you focus on controlling what is in your power to control.
Goal-setting helps players stay focused and encourages players to track their progress over extended periods. Players can hang their goals in a visible place, like a fridge door or taped to a mirror.
3. Get Motivated
Read books from successful players, teams, and others who endured hardships. Watch documentaries, videos of amazing plays, and anything else that inspires you. These stories will inspire and motivate you to keep moving towards your vision.
Remember your vision and mission, and keep building the steps you need to take to achieve them. What is your dream? What are you aspiring to become? Your vision answers these questions, it’s inspirational, and it gives you a target to continually work towards.
4. Make A Commitment
Too many hockey players want the result but don’t want to commit to the process. There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. This is the battle that many athletes face, and you need to start getting serious and commit to a growth mindset.
Every day you’re going to run into new challenges; this is inevitable. But with a growth mindset, these challenges are new opportunities to grow, learn, and improve.
With a growth mindset, you believe that talent can be developed if you work hard, stick with it, and train. It’s wanting to be the best version of yourself and taking steps to improve continuously.
Every time a challenge is thrown at you this off-season, you will overcome it by simply taking a step to improve. This “one more step” mentality builds your confidence, and it makes the next challenge just a little bit easier to get through. When you commit to this growth and opportunity mindset, you’ll be able to face anything on and off the ice.
5. Relax
This is the time to visit friends and families who were neglected during the regular season. Spend some time creating memories and document those experiences with a camera or journal. Try to avoid anything hockey related for a bit.
Take time for self-care, which can be any activity that you do just because it puts you in a good mental place, like running, or listening to music.
When you step onto the ice at the end of the summer, you will be confident, mentally prepared, and ready to crush your season goals.
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