Take Control of Your Game

Step up and take control. Whether it’s checking an opposing player to take away control of the puck or it’s moving the puck to the net while the other team is all over you, it takes guts and confidence to take or keep control of the puck. Where do you get the confidence? You get it through experience in the game and during practice. It takes time to get good at anything, but if you chip away at it a little at a time you’ll be surprised how far you get towards your goal. How do you eat an elephant? – “One bite at a time.” Little things can add to your skill. Extras like going to free skate and just skating helps refine your footwork. While you’re there work on your stride, and anything you know may need some work. Shooting and stick handling in your driveway with a street hockey puck or tennis ball all helps improve your skill. This is how you take control of your game. Read up on the game and the rules. Watch some hockey on TV – pro and college. Take care of your health. Get some rest and try to eat healthy foods. This doesn’t just apply to hockey. It’s the same in almost any discipline. If you want to get good at anything you need to step up and take control of your game. Learning and refining your skills is an ongoing commitment you make to be the best at what you do. Don’t expect to get very far without working hard towards your goal. Some players seem to have natural ability at what they do, but this will only carry them so far. Sometimes it’s the ones who have to struggle the most that get the farthest. At some point you may look back at what you’ve done and realize just how far you’ve come.