Mental funk

Question
Hi there,

I'm 35 playing in a adult hockey leagues B division. I played a couple of
years housleague as a kid then hung up the skates until I was in my late
20's. I just moved to a new area and playing 2x a week here. My problem is
that I just can't seem to score. I feel I'm one of the better skaters and
stickhandlers in the division. In fact I usually get 3-4 decent chances to score
each game but rarely do. It's in my head now and getting worse. The funny
thing is the other night I play pickup with a mix of my division and the division
above and I score each nite. Usually 2-3 goals. I find I'm so relaxed I just put
the puck where it needs to be without thinking. I've tried to relax and just play
to have fun but I end getting angry when I miss a big breakaway almost
every game. I think I have the skill but it's a mental block. I've tried different
sticks, new equipment but still no luck. Any suggestions to break the barrier?


Answer
Hey Joe!!

I totally understand your feeling - I been there and done that!

You are right on track Joe - it is about RELAXING while you play - let your skills do the work - stop thinking too much and just HAVE FUN...  You do it in pickup - cuz your mind is thinking "this is only pickup" and if I mess up it really does not matter.

Let's face it my friend - we aren't going to the NHL - so even our adult leagues "don't matter that much!!!"...  Like you say it gets in our head and only gets worse...

So just repeat to yourself before the game starts: "It just doesn't really matter that much, I will not resist this idea of HAVING to score, I will just go out and have fun!!!"...

A little thing I try to do to help when I get in that rut, is chirp it up - cracking jokes on the bench, smiling while on the ice, laughing at my own "funny" moves and misses...  get a couple other guys "joking" around with you ...  and that helps relieve allot of tension...  making it easier to just have FUN!!!

So stay the course...  part of this is learning to relax during "game" situations...  confidence is a huge part of the game.  

On a technical side here are a couple things you can also think about:

A quickly released "quick" shot is probably one of the highest percentage scoring opportunities going.  Done quickly (i.e. IN STRIDE), gets allot of goalies off guard;  shot sharply and accurately will also NOT give goalies enough time to react.  Also when taking this shot know that the lower corners are higher percentage shots.  

Another thing is shoot from the eyes of the puck.  

i.e. Do this exercise.  With puck on blade stand in front of goalie in net.   First notice your "openings" from where your eyes are while standing.  

Then go down on your belly and look from the "eyes" of the puck.   Notice the openings you have now!  ALLOT MORE ROOM ON YOUR STICK SIDE now isn't there??

If you trust this shot I guarantee you will score more goals shooting just inside the post on YOUR stick's side... (i.e. if you shoot left - shoot to your left... and vice versa) --  the only thing a goalie can do to really stop this is to cheat by keeping his body centered on the puck...  if he does that -- then that is your queue to go back hand deke!

Try these...  I guarantee you'll significantly increase your production!

If you have some specific situations in mind --  let me know and I'll see what we can come up with!

Hoping this helps...

Good luck with the puck!

Martial