Mental Training: Focus on Your Own Game

Following Game 5 in Vancouver, Roberto Luongo was asked to describe how the goal was scored on Tim Thomas, and how hard the goal was for a goaltender. Luongo responded, cutting off the media personnel that asked the question and put down Thomas by saying, “It’s not hard when you’re playing in the paint, so it’s an easy save for me. But if you’re wandering out and aggressive like he is, then that’s going to happen. So he might make some saves that I won’t, but in cases like that we want to make sure we’re in good positions and bury those.”

Luongo’s response was one of a goaltender who is struggling to understand how he has been outplayed by the other goaltender thus far in the series. This is clear in his body language and his inability to look up while speaking to the media. Thomas has been the better goaltender and Luongo knows this.

My first thought of this situation was the typical, “Well there goes Luongo again, giving the other team some bulletin board material.” When he struggled through Games 3 and 4, Thomas smartly and discreetly deferred from answering any questions. He didn’t want to give the other team any extra motivation to perform at their best, but Thomas has played great through the entire series and has the confidence to do this.

Instead, Luongo felt the need to put down Thomas for how he played the situation and in his voice expressed frustrations in how Thomas plays. The advice which Luongo gives to Thomas would not be effective for Thomas, and Luongo knows this.

Each goalie is completely different. Luongo is the bigger of the two goalies, but while Thomas is smaller in size, he makes up for his size through his athletic ability and stop the puck at all-expenses style. It would be crazy to think that Thomas should play deep in his net like Luongo, as he would open up holes and vice versa. But each goalie plays within their size restraints and athletics ability.

Why we compare ourselves to the

other goaltender can vary, but we’ll all do it from time to time. I can personally remember playing against goaltenders that were revolutionizing goaltending through what is now referred to as the blocking style. In one instance, I was not playing great. I had allowed a couple of early goals and the other goaltender was standing on his head. Trying to replicate what the other goaltender was doing, I slid over with my shoulders high gloves above my pads and watched the puck fly right in the net. This was not a technique that at the time I had been taught. So instead of making an athletic save, I watched the puck go right into the net.

The cause of why we compare ourselves to the other goaltender can vary from the above example where the other goaltender was having a big game to media influences. Some of us worry about the other goaltender because they worry too much about other people’s opinions of their performances. For example, you

may worry too much about what your team thinks about your technique when the other goaltender is getting the job done and you’re not consistently.

Others may become caught up in the other goaltender’s play because of a lack in confidence. With little confidence in your own ability and game you may even abandon your game plan to begin to play like the other goaltender. No matter why we are focused on comparing our game to the other goaltenders the results are seldom to ever be positive for the goaltender.

When you become overcome by th

oughts about the opposing goaltender what should you do? Should you be respectful and take your licking or should you try to take your game up a notch and make some big saves? Neither. Remember that goaltending is a game of percentages. There are no guarantees, only probabilities. You have to put yourself in a position to have the best odds. That won’t happen if you are preoccupied with your opponent’s game. Concentrate on your game plan and believe it will be good enough. If it’s not working, then make small adjustments. But these adjustments need to be within the realm o

f your abilities. Don’t try new techniques you don’t own.

From the mental side look at this as a challenge, a chance to really test your skills against the opposing goaltender. He or she may be good but you’re good too! Don’t short-change yourself. So-called lesser goaltenders defeat so-called better goalies all the time. This will only happen if the lesser goalie truly believes he or she has a chance, puts themselves in a position to win and then follows through for the victory.

Luongo should have respectfully declined to answer the question or said that it was a great play by his team instead of putting down the other goaltender. To learn more about how a mental training program works and how it can help you to perform at your best when it counts, contact me at any time.

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: Focus on Your Own Game