Blog

The Offseason - Get Better or Get Left Behind

Posted: Wednesday, April 6th Filed in: General

By: Coach Dan Lichterman       Position: Former Women's Head Coach - Maine Black Bears    League: Hockey East

The Offseason

So the season is over.  You are either basking in the glow of your championship or sitting in the dark wondering where you and your team went wrong.  Either way, the offseason provides us with a great opportunity, the opportunity to improve ourselves for next season.

The first step in your recovery from hockey withdrawal is to reflect on this past year.  What went well?  What areas didn’t?  How can you maintain what you did well, and how can you improve what didn’t?

Make sure your reflection is on the season as whole and not just your last game.  Don’t be afraid to include your coach in the dialog (or coach and parents for younger players).  That way everyone can be on the same page for an offseason plan.

Make sure to include all categories in you recap, not just your stats.  Keep in mind your last season’s summer training.  Did it help?  Did you do enough?  Did you do too much? 

How about your game day preparation during the season?  Did you find a routine (superstition) you liked or did you feel scrambled before games?  What about your practice habits?  Did you work hard all the time?  Did you give yourself enough time to get mentally ready for practice?  Did you mentally engage in practice or just go through the motions?  Did you let outside factors affect your game?

What about your nutrition during the season?  Did you eat right to fuel your body for the level you play?  Did you take in enough calories for the work load you put forth?  Did you use any recovery drinks or food post game or practice?  Did you stay hydrated during down times, during practice and games?

Finally, make the offseason about you.  It is a great time to work on YOUR game.  Individual skills, mental preparation, strength training – all of the things that you can control to be a better player for your team when next season starts.  Keep in mind that the offseason is also a time to get away from the rink enjoy some other activities and friends that you may not have time for during the season. 

The key is to come up with a plan that is best suited for your own personal development for what you need out of the summer at the stage that your career is at.  Everyone is different and should take a different approach to preparing for next year.  Remember, you are either moving forward or being left behind as a player.

See you at the rink,

Coach Dan

* Dan currently resides in Toronto, Canada and is available to work with teams regarding leadership training and team building. For more info on how to get in touch with Dan, contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)