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1. Know
your weaknesses and do something about them. Individually it maybe your fitness, dribbling, hitting or you never listen, understand or believe what others say
about your game. If you are not progressing ask yourself or more importantly a good player in your team;
in confidence; what is the weakest point of your game and then do something about it. The best hockey players are not necessarily
good at one aspect of their game they are good at all parts. Most of us tend to just do what we are good
at, because that’s what we find easy doing. What’s more important is to find out what we are
not good at and redress the balance! What’s yours? Fitness, reverse, aerials, mentally, do you argue with
the umpire or fellow team mates……find out and do something about it.
2. Take your chances. If you get called up into the higher teams, don’t start doing things differently by trying to impress, after
all you have been called up because you were doing those things well in the first place. When the opportunity
comes, grab it with both hands. Do the simple things well and don’t get cocky. Often
the difference between a good player and an average, is their decision making, not their skill or fitness level.
3.
Be Prepared.
That can mean anything from not forgetting your Astro shoes to being prepared for the
short corner routine. Write a list of all the realistic things that could possibly go wrong.
That might seem negative, but then what would happen if your stick broke just before a game, the solution would be
to carry a spare. Turn up early, check venue and meet times are correct and carry spares, stick, laces,
shin pads, exact money for match fee etc.
4. Pressure can be your friend
People tend to view pressure as a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be. In
training you might do an agility test in 15 seconds, but add some adrenalin and pre-match pressure you might do that same
test in 13 seconds. Be positive and use those nerves positively and you will get to the ball first and
dribble quicker and hit the ball harder. Let the nerves get the better of you and you could be slower and
freeze on the ball. If that is happening try telling your self that this is an ordinary training match
down at your local pitch, do the simple things well and you can progress through the match. When
you are nervous your brain can complicate the most simple of tasks. So stop the ball, bring it under control
and do the simplest pass to one of your players, get that right and your confidence will grow.
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5. Have
a goal
This sounds simple, but it’s the first part of any journey –
decide where you’re going to. Only then do you think about how you’re going to get there?
6.
One mans sacrifice is another mans dream
The common perception
of top sportsmen / women is that they have to make huge sacrifices. Instead of going down to the pub on
a Friday all night try an orange juice or a shandy and get home early, it’s not a sacrifice, if it’s
what you want, plus you will feel better for it.
7. Believe
in yourself
All good sportsmen have three things in common. Firstly they all believe in themselves even on a bad day. Secondly, they are highly motivated; they are always pushing for the next
level. Third, they are naturally talented. The third isn’t always the most important.
8. Success
and failure are not black and white
If you can put everything
into a game and still not win, don’t feel you have failed. There will always be some good aspects
to draw on for the next game and if you can find out what went wrong, change it for the next game. All
good athletes have lost and they come back stronger next season.
9. Keep changing weather you win or lose
Successful sports people keep re-inventing themselves. If you are always doing the same thing
it gets boring and to go up another level you need to be enthusiastic. Get advice from other people, train
in the gym, go sprint training, do a summer sport, other than hockey. Try a new and wonderful new
training method, keep an open mind.
10.
Keep fit and don’t get injured.
Playing when you are
not fit or overweight, is asking for trouble. If you have a niggle don’t ignore it, go
and see a sports therapist, who you have been recommended and take their advice. It might be to stretch,
strengthen, rest, lose weight or ice but take the advice.
Adapted for Hockey from an article by
Steve Backley (3 x Olympic medalist)
Neston South Wirral Hockey Club, Station Road, NESTON, South Wirral,
Cheshire, CH64 6QJ. Tel No: 0151 336 4199.
Club Manager Andy Woolley
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