Mental Training: Character

Shaun Smith is the founder of Absolute Mental Training and provides The Goalie Guild with a column every week. If you have any questions or comments, contact him at ssmith@absolutementaltraining.com

After the Boston Bruins finally put away the Tampa Bay Lightning and clinched the Eastern Conference, Tim Thomas attributed his team’s success to character. Yet how many people truly understand what it means to be a goaltender of character?

Character has become one of those overused words by the media in recent years and this has caused some confusion within goaltenders if they possess the appropriate character or not.

Being a goaltender of character means that the goalie has the combination of qualities or features that distinguish them from another goalie. The problem with this definition of character is that being a goaltender of character over another goalie may not mean that you have the most desired attributes but that you are better than the goaltender you are facing.

Goalies can also be quickly deceived into believing that they have the character to be an elite goalie when in fact they don’t have the necessary qualities. These athletes become self-deceived by experiencing success through the mastery of techniques and skills apart from the development of character. It is not until they enter higher levels of competition that they realize that they do not have the necessary character to be a winner at the next level.

Character is hard to measure for the everyday goaltender and during a recent group presentation for GDI Alberta on character and I broke character down into the following characteristics that I hope better defines character for you:

• Respect: A goaltender of character respects their coaches, can take correction as a compliment and consistently is seeking new information. When your coach is talking you should be listening carefully to what your coach is teaching you and how it can be applied to specific game situations.
  
  
• Work Ethic: A goaltender of character has a strong work ethic and commits to continuous improvement and demonstrates an ability to keep focused on improving their overall game through dedication and perseverance.
  
  
• Confidence: A goaltender of character believes in their abilities to perform at their best based on their preparedness to compete. These goalies are not cocky or arrogant but believe that when the game is on the line they can compete with the best.
  
  
• Pride: A goaltender of character is proud of the work that they put in and their accomplishments as a team. These goalies don’t need any extra attention from the team or coaching staff and go about their work because they want to be their best (versus working hard to get the approval of others).
  
  
• Responsibility: A goaltender of character shows responsibility for both their sport and their school or work. I am always amazed by how many goaltenders fail to understand the importance of school in measuring their character as an athlete. Getting good grades shows that the athlete is accountable and disciplined on the task at hand.
  
  
• Consistency: A goaltender of character is dependable and someone that the team can trust. The players and coaching staff will always have confidence in a goalie with confidence and know that their goaltender can be counted on by teammates and coaches.
  
  
• Competitive: A goaltender of character is one who is competitive and can demonstrate the will to win. These goaltenders can quickly recover from mistakes or bad luck and never quits on a play or game.
  
  
• Mental Toughness: A goaltender of character has the inner strength to be able to control their emotions and remain focused when the game is on the line. They always stay positive and nothing breaks their spirit to compete.
  
  
• Integrity: A goaltender of character will act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold. They are consistent in all situations and fulfill expectations with appropriate actions.
  
  
• Leadership: A goaltender of character is a team player and serves the greater good of the team. They are selfless in their actions and accept their role on the team. They display a love for the game to the rest of the team which motivates everybody to do their best.
  
  
• Sportsmanship: A goaltender of character respects their teammates, coaches, officials, opponents and themselves. They respect the rules of the game and play within them.

A goaltender of character is and will always be a necessary component of elite level goaltenders. It is not enough to focus on your physical and technical skills because when the game is on the line your true character will be revealed.

Character can be improved and should be a lifelong development. If you are committed to being the best athlete you can be then you should spend some time working improving your character.

Shaun Smith is the founder of Absolute Mental Training and provides The Goalie Guild with a column every week. If you have any questions or comments, contact him at ssmith@absolutementaltraining.com!

Mental Training: Character