Taking the next step

[Orange&Black12 1]

Hi Guys.

Maybe some of you can give me some advice or tips.

So thats the story: I played from age 7 till 13 regular League Hockey then began again at the age of 18. So now i`m just playing Beer League Hockey since a few years but i´m always looking for improvement in my game. Yesterday i talked to somebody who lives in my hometown now and played in the DEL (Best Professional Ice Hockey League in germany) a few years back. He runs a team of former pro´s and friends of him. They practice/play once a week and sometimes i´m on the ice with them also trying to learn from them/at least try to keep up you know. So i wanted to know what he thinks of my game overall. So he told me that he really likes what he see´s from me. He said i´ve got all the tools to be really good. He told me i`ve got the body (6-4 235) the speed the skill the vision the technique all that you need BUT he said i don´t have the ability to bring it all together in some kind of way. I´m just not quite able to take the next step. So i thought about that and my opinion is: i need to be more calm on the ice at first. Sometimes when i´m on the ice with them i´m always nervous cause i´m kind of afraid of failing or making any mistakes cause they don´t. When i´m on the ice with my team i don´t feel that way at all. I´m calm and confident almost anytime. But aside from the calm and confident thing what else could you tell me that could help me take the next step in my Game. Anything like Training tips, Mental, physical just tell me please.

Thanks for reading everybody.

And especially for any advice.

See ya

[nittanypucker 1]

Hi "Orange",

I read your question twice. I've played at a high level myself and have been playing since I was four years old. Even though I had the ability, I struggled with the confidence and staying calm and controlled. My advice is this: continue training and playing with those guys as much as possible. The more you play with them, the more you will feel comfortable with them and maybe even feel like you belong. Also, something that helped me is breathing techniques. I learned to surf when I was nine and one year I saw a yoga for surfers dvd and thought it might be cool to try. Well, it helped me to learn breathing techniques that I use to focus and concentrate. Might be something to think about. A few NHLers even do it; Havlat, Horcoff, Komisarek, etc. Whatever you do, don't give up! Good luck!

[Orange&Black12 1]

thanks @nitty so far. I checked some websites and i found some good stuff so far. Maybe some you can give also an advise. I would really appreciate it. Thanks

[Chadd 916]

You're going to make mistakes when you get on the ice, but so are those former pros. Stop worrying and just play the game. You'll enjoy it more and you will do better.

[Orange&Black12 1]

hey chadd thanks. I really enjoy my time on the ice even if i make mistakes but i'm just looking for a way or training methods to take my game to a higher level so i can enjoy it even more you know.