Try outs.

Question
Dear Rob,

  Hi, my name is Riley, and I'm 12 year old boy. I've played for the same organization, The Northern Cyclones, for most of my life. Each try out season, I always try out for them and for every year I've tryed out for them, I've made it. However, the coach of the skill level I'm moving up to (which is Bantams) is really strict and expecting of his players. It's not that I need help preparing for the try outs, I feel prepared mentally and physically. It's just I find it hard to imagine moving to another team knowing no one on the team, the coaches, or what the facility will be like. Some advice would really rest my conscience. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Riley.

Answer
Riley,

Thanks for writing.  So, let's see, you are going into Bantam class. But isn't Bantam class aged at 14 and 15 year olds?  Does this mean you are playing up a class?  Shouldn't you be playing Peewee's?

Well, as far as your question is concern, it doesn't matter if you are playing peewee or midget, the problem is still the same.  From what you are saying, it sounds like you have played for the cyclones forever, but now you are moving to a higher team that is located in a new facility that you have never been in...is this correct?

Right now things feel terrible because of new surroundings, but trust me, 5 years from now, you are going to look back on it and say..."Wow, those were the good old days"!  Look at it this way, no one there at this new rink knows you from the man in the moon.  This means that you can have a fresh start.  It's like having a second chance.  Here's why...

No one knows how you play.  As far as they are concern, you might be the next Patrick Kane.  But now is a great time to show off your skills.  You see, at your old rink, coaches already have this set notion about you and how you play.  And if you are a goalie, it's 10 times worse.  Because coaches have their favorite goalie and they generally don't care if you are better then the one that he currently has...yeah, suck to be a goalie when coaches already have an opinion about you.

If you are, or you are not a goalie, now that you will be heading to the new facility, now is a great time to shine.  It's a great time to show others what you can really do.  This is because they will not have any preconceived notions on who you are or what your skill level is.  It like have a fresh start.

Well, look at it this way.  Place yourself in their shoes.  Let's say you have been playing at the rink for years and a new guy come to the rink to join your team, wouldn't you be curious about how good he plays?  Sure you would be.  

Riley, let me ask you something a little off the subject.  "What the difference between an amateur and a pro"?  Yes, I know...the money.  But mentally, what's the difference? The only difference is the 6" between their ears.  You see, a professional does what others won't do.  This is why he is where he's at in life.  Because is made choices that got him where he is.  But amateurs say...I'm tired, I'm too this, I'm too that...blah, blah, blah.  Excuses after excuses.  But a pro, when he was your age said..."I'm not going to let anything get in my way."

Nothing is going to keep me from raising the cup of my head.  The problem with most pro's is, now that they are there, they sometime lose the vision.  They feel that they have made it and in fact, they forgot that once they have their name on the cup, their name will be on the cup until the sun stop shinning.  They can actually come alive in a fans mind, when a fan touches the cup.

So stop and think about this...what is it that you really want?  What is it that you want to leave behind after you are gone?  Can a 12 year old like you, make it to the NHL?  Most of the time I hear coaches and parents say...Don't tell kids that because you are giving them false dreams. Why?  Those aren't dreams, they are goals.  When you see a half a glass of water..is it half empty or half full?  Remember, it's only 6 inches between your ears.  If you think you can't, your right...you can't!

Here's a word that you need to drop from your vocabulary..."I'll try!"  Try really means NO.  But people use it like a business card that really says...call me later.  I'll Try is a buzz word for I can't do it, I don't want to do it, I don't have time to do it,  I don't have time for you.  When you say something to someone...you do it.  If you say something to yourself...you do it.

Hope all of this helped.  Good luck this year and let me know how things go.

Rob Lopez - Commissioner
University Ice Hockey League - Mexico
www.passthepuck.net