Starting to "stress" about playoffs?
Recent studies have shown that with many things on your mind it is important to organize and understand the causes of your personal anxiety.
According to a University of Chicago study, published in the journal Science, students have the ability to combat test anxiety and improve their performance by writing about their worries before the exam begins.
The researchers conducted various tests, including two experiments involving ninth-grade biology students taking the first final exam of their high school career .They tested the students for text anxiety six weeks before the final exam by asking students to rate items such as "During tests, I find myself thinking about the consequences of failing."
With the writing exercise introduced during the year students were able to unload their anxieties before taking the test, helping them free up brainpower needed to complete the test successfully, rather than being occupied by worry and doubt. The study's senior author, Sian Beilock, an associate professor in psychology at the University, explained that pressure-filled situations can deplete a part of the brain's processing power known as working memory, which is critical to many everyday activities.
Now, after creating an understanding for the causes of failure and change in performance, take a second to picture two different in-game scenarios:
1) You have a rough start to a game as you allow a goal on a shot that is normally considered routine. Your body is tight as you feel agitated set in your stance throughout the game. You continue to play poorly heading into the next period being nervous and worried as the opposition approaches on each scoring chance.
2) You begin the first period by feeling comfortable and excited. Each period is intense. Your play is relaxed but mentally you are competitive, aware, and ready. Every shot feels like it was meant to be stopped.
A goaltender goes through many situations throughout their playing career. What is important to understand is that heading into every new situation in the future there will always be a new result different from the past. No two games are the exact same. Entering every new game you have the ability to change the saying "Your only as good as your last game" depending on positive or negative future results.
Now, relate back thinking of two of your past games. One where you felt you had played to the best of your ability, displaying a confident demeanor. And another of a past performance where you played poorly.For several minutes, visually picture playing in each game and view each period frame by frame. What are the differences between the two. Write them down.
Besides the games end decision, how did you feel while you were playing in each? How did your edges feel while executing your movements, how did the puck feel as you accepted it into your body? Take time to understand your states and how you felt in each game. Gradually switch to focusing on strictly the positive aspects of how you feel when you are playing your best. For example - As you made a blocker save in the second period it felt natural as if you have executed the same controlled stop in the past. Write down a long list describing how you feel at your best and what you can do when you are at your best.
Know how you feel during your best past performance, write it down, relive and picture it. Now, go out and achieve success. By resolving the feelings of unease early before competition this will have a positive result to your in game focus being open and in the moment, like a laser beam strictly attentive on the action of the game.
A confident and mentally prepared goaltender will rise above and take control of their future.
Before playoffs begin - Start to prepare, continue to prepare, and get your mind and body on a positive track. Don't leave room to make excuses or leave backdoors open. Perform at your best under pressure. We can help.
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