Creating a Winning Mindset with Hockey Affirmations: Tips and Tricks
Hockey is fast paced, physically demanding, and one of the most technically challenging sports around. It is not only tough on the body it is equally challenging for the mind. This component is one of the areas of hockey which I love most about the game. You must have a winning mindset or you will never grow or prosper in the sport.
So, how do you develop a winning mindset in hockey?
It starts with affirmations or positive statements you can reinforce when on and off the ice. It is a way of reprogramming your subconsicous mind with positive beliefs and attitudes. The result is improved performance, reduced anxiety, enhance mental resilience, and ulitmately better gameplay.
Here are a list of 15 affirmations, Dr. Saul Miller, sport psychologist and author of Hockey Tough , shared with the Los Angeles Kings several years ago:
I'm the boss [of my mental TV].
A little adrenaline and some breathing are like jet fuel.
I am attack and smooth.
I am quick and strong like a cat.
I have great jump.
I am an accurate shot.
I have a great goal-scoring reflex.
I love to score goals.
I am a tough, aggressive checker.
I am unbeatable when I play the body.
The more I hit, the sharper I get.
I enjoy a challenge. I enjoy checking the great ones.
I am a winner. We are winners.
I am mentally tough.
I get stronger, tougher, and sharper with each shift.
These are powerful statements which when done in repetition begins to reprogram the brain. So, if you are looking for some tips and tricks for creating this type of winning mindset, here are five key areas to put into practice with affirmations:
Focus on the Here and Now
A growth or winning mindset can be achieved by focusing on the present moment. Affirmations are not an exercise in which you examine past mistakes or failures. You should also not worry or focus on the future. What matters is right now. So, as you begin to craft your affirmations keep them centered on this moment in time. For example, you will want to say:
"I am an amazing hockey player right now."
As compared to...
"I played amazing last night."
Last night was yesterday. What are you going to accomplish today? Focus on that present reality.
Use Positive Language
Hockey affirmations should always be stated in positive language. Period. Just like you need to remove a historic perspective, you also need to remove any signs or resemblance of negative thinking. If the word has apostrophe like "Don't" or "Can't" or "Won't," you need to kill it from your vocabulary and especially your affirmations.
Personal and Specific
Up above I shared 15 affirmations provided to the Los Angeles Kings. Some of them resonated with you while others did not and that is perfectly fine. Your main objective is to construct 6-8 affirmations that work for you and your style of play and thinking. Perhaps, you like to imagine yourself as a big cat out there ready to pounce on the competition. If that is the case, an affirmation like this might better suit your personal and specific needs:
"I am like a tiger - always hunting for the next big play or opportunity."
The choice is yours - just make your sure your affirmatiosn are your own.
Repeat, and then Repeat Again
Repetition is absolutely paramount when it comes to affirmations. Stand in front of a mirror each morning and say your 6-8 affirmations outloud to yourself. Then do it again. And, again. You need to believe every phrase and every single word. All of it needs to become part of your DNA. The more, the better because your goal is automation. You need to think and feel these words with no hesitation or self-doubt.
Visualization is the Way
I remember when I competed in the sport of Ironman triathlons. I would show up days in advance of race day and drive the course. I would take in the sounds, the smells, the wind and create a visual roadmap the night before of what race day would look like as I competed. I would imagine friends and family cheering me on. I would visualize myself feeling strong and vibrant. I would walk myself through the feelings which would erupt from crossing the finish line. This same practice needs to happen in the sport of hockey. You need to visualize game day and let those thoughts and emotions fuel your affirmations. Perhaps it is scoring a hat trick or making 50 saves. The flow, the pace, the forechecks - all of it needs to played on your mental TV alongside your affirmations. So, before your skates hit the ice, ensure a proper winning mindset on gameday by visualizing with your affirmations.
Parting Advice
Hockey affirmations are a simple yet powerful exercise which will help you develop a winning mindset. By practicing and implementing the five recommendations we discussed above you can train your mind to be more confident, focused, and resilient. If you perfect this practice, it will transform your mind and your game.
