Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/81890
I AM A 13-YEAR-OLD GOALIE AND I HAVE A PROBLEM IN THAT ME AND THE OTHER GOALIE ARE FIGHTING TO PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. I DON'T HAVE VERY GOOD PRACTICES BUT PLAY WELL IN GAMES. MY COACH DOESN'T SEEM TO TRUST ME TO PLAY IN BIG GAMES. WHAT CAN I DO? NICK DINGWALL BLOOMFIELD TWP, MICH. HIRE A NICK, REREAD YOUR QUESTION. WITHIN YOUR QUESTION YOU TOUCH ON THE REASON YOUR COACH PROBABLY DOESN'T TRUST YOU IN THE BIG GAME. YOU WRITE THAT, "I DON'T HAVE VERY GOOD PRACTICES." MANY COACHES I KNOW BASE MOST OF THEIR DECISIONS ON WHAT EFFORT, FOCUS AND COMPETITIVENESS A PLAYER SHOWS WHEN THE SPOT LIGHT ISN'T SHINING. THOSE TIMES ARE MOST OFTEN ON THE RINK AT WHAT HE'S MISSING IF HE DOESN'T PLAY YOU IN THE IMPORTANT GAMES. EFFORT PRACTICES ARE WHERE YOU REALLY SHOW WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF. HERE YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK TO IMPROVE WITHOUT THOUGHTS OF GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE MAKING THE HIGH- LIGHT REEL SAVE. COACHES NOTICE THE LITTLE THINGS: THE EXTRA EFFORT DURING ALL THE DRILLS, EVEN ON PRACTICE. THE ROUTINE OR "BORING" DRILLS. PRACTICES ARE WHERE YOU PROVE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE HARD WORK TO BE A BETTER PLAYER, AND THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER GAME PLAYER. PERHAPS YOU'LL BECOME A TEAM LEADER. FOCUS PRACTICES ARE WHERE YOU FOCUS ON IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS. NOT ONLY YOUR PHYSICAL SKILLS, BUT YOUR MENTAL SKILLS ALSO. IF YOUR COACH SEES YOU RUN THROUGH YOUR SKILL DRILLS, WITHOUT FOCUSING ON PROPER TECHNIQUE, HIS FIRST THOUGHT MAY BE THAT THOSE BAD HABITS WILL SHOW UP IN GAMES. FEELING THE BACKDOOR PRESSURE AND WORKING THROUGH SCREENS. TRAINING AND IMPROVING YOUR FOCUS BEGINS AT PRACTICES. ONCE AGAIN, COACHES NOTICE LITTLE THINGS ABOUT PLAYERS, SUCH AS, IF YOU'RE "DIALED IN" AT PRACTICES YOU'LL BE "DIALED IN" DURING GAMES. PRACTICES ARE THE IDEAL PLACE TO SHARPEN YOUR MENTAL FOCUS ON PLAYING THE ANGLES, COMPETITIVENESS. SOME PLAYERS HAVE IT, OTHERS DON'T. IT'S THE "NO QUIT" ATTITUDE THAT SETS PLAYERS APART AND CATCHES THE ATTENTION OF A COACH. THESE PLAYERS AREN'T LOOKING FOR RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORT. THEY GET THEIR OWN SATISFACTION FROM NO QUIT ILLUSTRATIONS BY Mike Curti CREATE A DVD WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR GOOD GAMES AND GREAT SAVES. GIVE IT TO YOUR COACH AND SHOW HIM PROFESSIONAL FILM MAKER TO EVERY SHOT IN PRACTICE, BUT WORK ON THE "NO QUIT" ATTITUDE WHEN THE GAME IS NOT ON THE LINE OR A CROWD IN THE STANDS. DO IT BECAUSE THAT EXTRA EFFORT FEELS GOOD. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE COACH IS WATCHING. DOING A JOB WELL. NEVER GIVING UP, NEVER STOP WORKING. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER.2012 39