The Goalie’s Edge: Elevate Your Mental Game
Today I'm focusing on Goalie's. They're the last line of defence for a team, often big hearted and forward thinking, goalie's and their mindset are key to the success of any hockey team.
Goalie's, You’ve already been working hard on your physical skills, but now it’s time to focus on the mental aspect of the game.
Mental toughness can be the difference between good and great, and today I’ve got three unusual goalie mental training exercises that will give you an edge on the ice.
1. Mirror Visualization
Objective: Strengthen your mental image of success.
Exercise: Look into a mirror and visualize making key saves, focusing on your posture and reactions.
Why It Works: This helps create a powerful mental image of success, reinforcing confidence and muscle memory.
Activity: Set aside 5 minutes before practice to perform mirror visualization, imagining key game moments and saves.
2. Storytelling
Objective: Embed positive outcomes and prepare mentally for game scenarios.
Exercise: Write or record a story where you are the hero making crucial saves.
Why It Works: Creating a narrative reinforces positive outcomes and prepares your mind for similar real-life scenarios.
Activity: Spend 10 minutes each week writing or recording your game hero story, describing saves in vivid detail.
3. Mindfulness Bells
Objective: Build the habit of quickly refocusing under pressure. I do this one myself, in the office, it keeps me in the flow.
Exercise: Set random timers throughout the day to practice instant mindfulness. When the timer goes off, take a few deep breaths and visualize a key save.
Why It Works: This technique helps you stay calm and refocused during high-pressure moments in games.
Activity: Use a mindfulness app to set random timers, and practice this exercise multiple times a day.
Incorporating these unique mental performance training ideas can significantly enhance your goalie game and mental resilience. Stay dedicated, keep practicing, and remember that your mental game is just as important as your physical skills.
Until next time, Skate like the wind!
Izzy
Boost Your Hockey Confidence!
Credit: Tricia Mercuri
 
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