One of the most important lessons hockey teaches players has nothing to do with skating, shooting, passing, or scoring.
It teaches them where to focus their energy.
Every game presents players with situations they cannot control.
The score.
The referee.
The bounce of the puck.
The decisions of coaches.
The actions of opponents.
The opinions of spectators.
The mistakes of teammates.
The weather.
The schedule.
The rankings.
The reality is that hockey is full of uncertainty.
Players who spend their time worrying about things they cannot control often become frustrated, distracted, and discouraged.
Players who focus on what they can control often become more confident, more consistent, and more successful.
The difference is not talent.
The difference is perspective.
Every player controls certain things every day.
Effort.
Attitude.
Preparation.
Work ethic.
Focus.
Response.
These are powerful choices.
A player cannot always control the outcome of a game.
They can control how hard they compete.
A player cannot control whether they score.
They can control whether they create opportunities.
A player cannot control a coach’s decision.
They can control how they respond to it.
A player cannot control mistakes.
They can control how quickly they recover from them.
This mindset becomes especially important during difficult periods.
Every athlete experiences adversity.
A losing streak.
Reduced ice time.
A poor game.
A difficult practice.
A missed opportunity.
A tough tryout.
When these situations occur, successful players ask a different question.
Instead of asking:
“Why is this happening to me?”
They ask:
“What can I do next?”
That small shift changes everything.
The first question creates frustration.
The second creates action.
Action creates progress.
Progress creates confidence.
Confidence creates growth.
Many elite athletes have learned that success is often determined by how they respond when things are not going their way.
Anyone can stay positive when everything is working.
The true test comes when circumstances become difficult.
That is where character is built.
That is where resilience is developed.
That is where leadership begins.
The players who consistently improve are rarely the players with perfect circumstances.
They are the players who focus on controllable actions regardless of circumstances.
They prepare.
They compete.
They learn.
They adjust.
They move forward.
One shift at a time.
One practice at a time.
One game at a time.
The beauty of this mindset is that it applies far beyond hockey.
School.
Work.
Relationships.
Life.
The same principle remains true.
You cannot control everything that happens.
You can control how you respond.
That response often determines the outcome more than the situation itself.
Player Positive™ exists to remind athletes that their greatest power lies in the choices they make every day.
Control your effort.
Control your attitude.
Control your preparation.
Control your response.
Control your focus.
Let go of the things you cannot control.
Invest your energy in the things you can.
That is where confidence grows.
That is where improvement happens.
That is where players perform at their best.
Player Positive™ Takeaway
You can’t control the score.
You can’t control the referee.
You can’t control what others do.
But you can control your effort, attitude, preparation, response, and focus.
Control what you can.
Let go of what you can’t.
That’s how you play your best.
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SEE MY INTERVIEW WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ACADEMY https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824112/episodes/13519482
SEE MY INTERVIEW ON PODCAST WITH CONSTANT SPORTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8VJUTfAGp
The most remarkable speech in Hockey History https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y6GiyAkTZzQ
Actor Jeff Daniels on being interviewed about being a Hockey Father https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e51d9xCz3eU
CHILLS!!!
Little Laslo is worth the watch, LOL. https://www.facebook.com/reel/3577382982556655
Mark Hetherman
Executive Director
The Hockey Resource
mark@thehockeyresource.com
thehockeyresource.com
thehockeytournamentresource.com
