When it comes to a hockey game, being prepared is key. Once game day rolls around, each player must be ready both physically, mentally, and emotionally in order to play their best. A lack of preparation can lead to slower reaction times, lackadaisical plays, and an inability to catch up to a faster, more prepared team. For many, preparation begins days before the game and lasts right up until the time the puck drops. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the big game, no matter what league you are playing in.
Physical Fitness: Leading up to Game Day
You want to be in peak physical shape before a hockey game. This means that you are strong yet flexible, ready to dole out big hits but able to skate nimbly across the ice. For this, you must keep up with a strong workout regimen and time it correctly. While you should have a steady weight routine, you want to avoid lifting anything the day before the game or on game day. This allows your muscles time to recover so that they can be ready to go when the game comes along.
Stretching is highly important before the game, and you should be sure to stretch all of your muscles and even use a foam roller the day before the game. Work on your stickhandling, shooting and skill routines to get your mind and body in tune. You can also focus on quickness and agility, doing sprints and mobility exercises.
Physical Fitness: On Game Day
When game day finally rolls around, you want to treat it like a relatively normal day. Go to bed on time the night before and get plenty of sleep, but don’t sleep in, as that can make you groggier. Start your day with some light exercise such as a jog or bike ride. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast that has a good balance of carbs and protein, but don’t overdo it.
Several hours before the game, you should get some practice in. Work on your off-ice stickhandling as well as shooting so that you can get locked in. Get some rest after this and eat a light but satisfying meal about 30 minutes before you head to the rink.
Once you get to the rink, take some time to do some warmup drills and skate around the ice. Get a feel for the rink and start practicing warm ups with some of your teammates. If you have any other pre-game rituals, now is the time get them out. You can also take a shower before the game to get the blood flowing and give yourself a boost of energy. It can be beneficial to switch between cold and hot water as this helps to improve circulation which can give you extra stamina throughout the game.
Mental Preparation: Before Game Day
Physical preparation is just part of the puzzle – you must be mentally prepared as well if you want to play to your highest ability. You don’t want to stress yourself out too much leading up to the game, but you still need to take some time to go over strategies and get yourself focused. Do some of this on your own time so that you can get your own personal feel for the game. However, you should also collaborate with coaches teammates in order to come up with sound, cohesive strategy.
You can prepare by watching video of yourself or other hockey players. If you have tape of the other team, this is a great way to get an idea of their style of play. Read up on different strategies and decide if they work with your skills and abilities. Come up with a solid game plan that you can stick to, but one that is flexible so that you can adjust if the other team starts to figure you out. It is important to have a plan, but it’s more important to be open to change in the face of adversity.
Mental Preparation: On Game Day
This is when you really need to get yourself into a zone. However, you don’t want to wear yourself out before you even begin playing. Go throughout your day as you normally would, letting your mind drift in and out of hockey. Don’t dwell on the game, as this can lead to anxiety that will make things worse. Just let your mind work in the way it normally does, staying focused on your other tasks until it is time to start playing. Don’t worry about thinking too hard at this point. You have several hours before you need to lock in your focus.
Once you get to the rink, however, everything changes. Now it is time to get into your zone and get your brain into hockey mode. The best way to do this is to start with visualization. Step out on the ice and paint a picture in your mind of how you want this game to go. Think about each corner of the ice and what moves you can make to overcome the other team. Try to visualize as many different scenarios as possible and come up with solutions for each and every one of them. Doing so not only gives you a solid strategy, but also keeps your mind off of some of the stress that comes from external factors.
Because you allowed yourself to think about other things throughout the day, you can now focus specifically on hockey. In the next few hours, hockey should be the only thing on your mind. If you find your mind wandering during the game, think back to your visualization exercise and try to recall all of the scenarios that might happen. You can help yourself get locked in by developing an on-ice character and going through all the pre-game rituals with your teammates. Just remember that the game is all that matters at this particular time.
𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝, 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 & 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨!
