It’s no secret that outbursts revealing your “mortal” side tarnish your image and reduces your production. Staying calm in adverse situations when things aren’t going your way is a skill that every player needs in their arsenal. There is no need to cause people to think you are something you aren’t and certainly no one wants to be known as a whiner.
The playing field is more level in the playoffs, rules become guidelines that are stretched further than normal and the compete levels go to yet another level so it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where you feel you are being treated differently than during the regular season. I believe there are a different set of rules that govern the playoffs. This is caused by compete levels going to another level as well as referees feeling the players should decide who wins; not them. Referees want to do a perfect game no different than players.
The only adjustment is playing smarter in every situation. Playing smarter is the key to success in the playoffs whether it’s adjusting to the referees, execution of fundamentals or team play. The smarts level has to be raised. If players appear to be getting away with holding and grabbing more than the regular season, your only reaction should be to back off, release, spin off and keep playing. Players have to be smart enough to recognize what they have to do to keep themselves focused in to what really matters; the game and winning.
It’s good to assess the philosophical side and go over some common sense things like:
The word WIN means, “What’s important now”. If there is a non call, bad call or goal scored by the opponent, your first thought should be, “What’s important now?” The answers are to keep playing, kill a penalty or get the goal back.
Competitors act; fools react.
Maintain a clear head so your feet and hands can do their work. Common sense says, “Cluttered minds eliminate execution by the feet and hands."
It’s all about being focused and happy throughout the journey; and not about where you want to be @ the end.
The way to address referees will always be as important as how you play. Your knowledge of how to talk to referees is as important as your knowledge of how to play the game. If you feel the rules are being stretched, simply say, “Look, I’m being held in situations I’m not accustomed to. Could you please give it a look and tell me if I’m out of line or right in my assessment? You will get nowhere when you yell and cuss @ them.
Opponents look to find ways to rattle opponents; especially the star players and weak minded players on the team. They know they can’t beat you without getting you off your game. The goal is to agitate, get rid of your focus, in any way possible; physically or verbally.
All you ever need to understand is every game, every season; the team and organization are all more important and bigger than you. This allows you to disengage fm anything that may be upsetting you and ultimately the team. This may seem like a small issue in the overall scheme of things, but sometimes a bit of a difference is the difference in a game of emotions and inches.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights reserved.No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
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