confidence

[zrez 0]

I'v always had a problem with confidence and being shy. I noticed it a lot when I played hockey, I would always pass the puck or i wouldnt do things with it that I knew i could. Besides hockey, it never really bothered me. Now iam all grown up and Iam a cop, and I still notice that i lack confidence and get intimidated by certain kinds of people, but i hide it very well and pretend that iam a hot shot.

Iam going to be trying out for the SWAT team eventualy. Iam very gifted with my physical and mental attributes. I score well on my shooting ect. My only worry is that when I meet these guys on the team they're going to be full of themselves and all that jazz, just like the movies. I dont want to be intimidated by them and I want to feel like I can be one of them. Has anyone here ever had a confidence problem and really fixed it? (i dont mean just one time when u spoke infront of ur grade 12 class) Have you read any good books that help? Is this just the way I am and have to live with it?

thanks.

[Chadd 916]

The more comfortable you are with who you are, the easier it is to be confident. There is no need to try and be something, or someone, that you are not.

[sickwilly 37]

Therapy can be very helpful with this kind of issue, if that's something you'd consider.

[Jarick 5]

Not much help, but my confidence increased tenfold after I lost weight and got in shape in college. Better self image is key. Somewhere along the line I also turned "I don't care what other people think" from being a negative attitude to a positive outgoing one.

[thejackal 46]

I was somewhat like that at one point also. getting into better shape helped, but what also really helped my inner game was talking more to women and dating more. somehow this whole process really got me more focused and mentally tough in sports also. hard to explain, but having a good solid "frame of mind" transfers well to whatever you do in life.

[iceholes 0]

"Hockey Tough" was a book I read... by Saul L. Miller

talked a lot about the Mind/Body balance in preparing your own style... Good hockey and good life attributes in this book... worth a read anyhow...

Ling to Amazon where Hockey Tough can be reviewed

[Trooper 8]

My brother in law is full-time SWAT and a firearms instructor for his department, which is very large. I've met a lot of those guys and they aren't hotshots like you would see portrayed on TV. What they are is VERY driven. They have two guys on the team over 40 that could bury most 20-somethings in the gym, running, whatever. My brother does triathalons in his spare time. Here's the deal, most cops can't shoot and it's just a job to them. Those are the guys that are looked down upon. My BIL considers running the range during qualification more dangerous than raids or other SWAT stuff they do because so many cops can't even manage to be safe with their firearms. I'm sure the politics are different at each department but he was tight with the SWAT guys before ever trying out for the team. Work on your shooting, which is more than the simple qualification you have to do. Get in shape, those guys are all in shape. Not all of them are giants, but they are for the most part pretty big. Not all teams are the same depending on the funding and whether they are full or part time, but just passing on what I know. Competence builds confidence.

[shotty 7]

i think the key is discovering where your insecurities lie, and facing them. no book in the world is going to make you feel more comfortable speaking in front of a large group of strangers, or get you into those size 32 jeans. it all comes with work.

i have a few friends who are on the ERT (RCMP's SWAT) and they went through the same process to get where they ended up... so you'll have tons in common with these guys. once you're on the team, i think you'll set these anxieties aside.

[zrez 0]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really appreciate all of the advice. And thanks to trooper and shotty for the swat specific advice. In response to shotty, I am actualy going to be going for ERT. I just said SWAT for our american friends here.

[Aussie Joe 0]

This is something very close to me, also something I have just started creating coaching tools around as allot of the time mental prep and mental strength is something missing from allot of player's skill set.

Essentially confidence is a form of currency. You can store it, spend it and earn it yourself. The most beneficial thing you can do is learn how to save confidence just like money. it takes time and here's a simple exercise...

Think about something you are having difficulty with (for Eg: Missing allot of shots), think about some moments when you have been successful (ie: hitting top shelf after making a nice dangle around the D one time) then store that image and emotion up, next time you are struggling with this remember that positive feeling from when you last succeeded, know you can do it again and keep trying even if you fail the first time at the re-attempt.

Look for the positive things in your life that make you happy/you are proud about and remember them in times of need. A bad day is only a smile away from being turned into a good one.

If you need help on something specific Zrez, feel free to PM.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Zrez, I don't think there is anything wrong with being quiet or shy. Just go in there, show them guys that you can shoot or handle situations competently and swiftly and they will respect you for that. Let the others run their mouths, and then you can bail them out when it gets them in trouble. I tend to shy away with the type of people that talk real big or have alot of swagger, but it doesn't mean anything. Good luck with your training and tests, be yourself and be true to yourself and you'll be fine.