Finding Your Flow in the Sport of Hockey: Tips for Peak Performance

It was on a cold and sunny Valentine's Day in 2004 outside of Seattle, Washington where I found my "flow" as a runner. It was a magical day where my legs did not hurt as much as usual. My lungs felt stronger. My mind felt sharper. All the stars seemed align that day.

I was competing in a local half marathon race where I came in third place with a time of 1:24:15. If you are not familiar with the sport of running, this means I was able to maintain a 6:26/mile pace for an entire 13.1 miles. That time and moment was unfathomable to me. My body was not a stranger to those speeds but I never expected to achieve it for that distance or for that length of time. It was an amazing accomplishment for me personally, and I was never able to duplicate the performance.

But, what if my time could have been matched or even improved?

Enter the concept of "flow." The idea of "flow" was first introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his 1990 book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience." His work was based on years of research into how people experience happiness and fulfillment in their lives, and he identified the state of "flow" as a key factor in these experiences.

So, what is "flow" exactly?

According to Csikszentmihalyi, "flow" is a state of complete immersion and focus in an activity, where the person is fully engaged and energized by the task at hand. This state is characterized by a sense of timelessness, a loss of self-consciousness, and a feeling of control and mastery over the activity. In the context of sports, achieving a state of flow can be a game-changer, as athletes who are in "flow" are able to perform at their best and reach their full potential.

This is particularly true in the sport of hockey, where Csikszentmihalyi's ideas have been embraced by coaches and players alike as a way to enhance performance and maximize the enjoyment of the game.

Are you curious about how you can create it for yourself? Here are some tips for finding your "flow" in the sport of hockey:

Focus on Muscle Memory

You are probably familiar with the old saying: "It's like riding a bike" because our muscles have memory. If you want to find your flow in hockey, you need to focus on building muscle memory and that only comes from practicing. This means working on your skating, stickhandling, shooting, and other skills every day. The more you do it, the better. By practicing regularly, you will build muscle memory and develop the skills you need to perform well in games. You can look at it this way: practice equals skills and skills equals confidence and confidence allows you to get into a state of flow more easily.

Think about the world of gaming. You always have two components to a game: micro and macro. Micro is your skill with a champion. Macro is your ability to read the map or playing field. You must master the micro components of your hero so you can focus on the strategy of the game which involves macro awareness.

In the sport of hockey, practice is equivalent to micro mastery. Your "flow" will be found at the macro stage where you are not thinking about your individual skill sets but the game as a whole unit.

Trust Your Instincts

One of the most underrated killers of progress is overthinking. Have you ever found yourself suffering from a symptom of overthinking which is paralysis by analysis? Perhaps you are shopping for two hockey sticks in the same price range. Hockey stick number one offers X, Y, with a very compelling Z. Hockey stick number two also provides X, Y, and Z but Y is a really standout upgrade. You are stuck. You do not know which one to purchase. This is paralysis by analysis, and this is overthinking. Both hockey sticks are equally great and the small differentiators will not make or break your gameplay.

When you are in the "flow" out there on the ice, you are not overthinking your actions – you are acting on instinct. You are trusting your gut. You are leaning into your past experiences. Trusting your instincts means playing with confidence and not second-guessing yourself.

In order to develop this level of trust in yourself, practice making quick decisions on the ice and taking risks when the opportunity arises. Do not hesitate. Do not overthink. Do not wait. Over time, you will learn to trust your instincts and make decisions that will help you find your "flow" in the game faster and easier.

Have Fun

Finally, it is important to remember that hockey is a game and that it is supposed to be fun. Think about the aspects of the is game which brought you into it. Perhaps it is the smell of the arena, the feel of ice under your skates, the sensation of a receiving a great pass, the peace and calmness which emerge when taping your stick, and so forth. When you can center your heart and mind on the components which attracted you to the game, it will put you in a better mental state. In other words, be intentional about taking the time to enjoy the game, connect with your teammates, and celebrate your successes. Hockey should be fun and anything which is fun usually has a "flow" state within it.

Parting Advice

Finding your "flow" in hockey can be a game-changer for your performance and enjoyment of the sport. You will feel faster. You will feel more efficient. You will block more shots. You will score more goals. The game will feel as if it were in a slow motion where you can read and see where the puck will be. How you achieve this mental state is up to you. My suggestion: start by practicing the three recommendations above to get there easier and faster the next time you lace up.