How can I get motivated

[Fire0nIce228 1]

We have a tournament game tonight and two games this weekend. Problem is my team isn't very good and I'm basically "burnt out" of playing for this team because people are so lazy and stuff. We havent had a game since February, and had 7 people at our last practice yesterday. We hardly had people showing up for all the practices between seasons end and this tournament, and its got me upset and not really feeling like I should give 100 percent when half our team isn't. I have a feeling we're going to get crushed since some of the kids havent been on the ice since our last game more than likely, while the other half (the good half) has been having HS playoff games and stuff. Me, I just had a highschool tournament and hockey 6 days last week so I'm in shape to play, but I have no motivation. I dont know what to do, and to make matters worse I'm captain and supposed to be motivating everyone else. :(

[mack 44]

Do it for personal pride. Take the challenge of figuring out a way to get your team playing and actually giving a shit as a captain. If not for this year then for experience for later teams.

[mik3 1]

Personally, any tournament I've ever played where I've fealt forced or I was doing a favor I ended up getting hurt. But that's usually because I wasn't playing at 100%. I say just do it for yourself, it seems your team doesn't want to pick up the slack, so just take pride in your own play.

[the_game 452]

imagine there are scouts in the stands, my dads used you to say, you never whos watching.

[LkptTiger 1]

you never whos watching.

Exactly. I've never really had a problem getting myself up for a game, but that always makes the fire burn a little hotter. After a game earlier this season I was approached by a coach from an area Junior team; he and I had a nice little chat for awhile. I had no idea he was at the game, but he was there and he was watching...You just never know.

[Chadd 916]

"Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence. Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness, but it is greatness."

Go out, play hard and lead. Someone has to do it. You have to decide if you really want to be a leader and set an example or just be "one of the guys".

[Drewhunz 3]

I can't play hockey right now (waiting for my skates to be made), so if all else fails, play for me.

[rausch27 1]

play for the love of the game, if your not having fun playing hockey then you shouldnt be playing.

[Adam91 0]

be creative try things that you usually don't

[biff44 0]

Just go out there, find the biggest opponent, and check him hard. You'll spend the rest of the game skating all over the place trying to avoid him that the time will fly by.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

New plan: If there's anyone who looks like a scout there, dangle. If not, fight.

[J-Shera 0]

Play to impress, be the leading scorer in the tournament, sets some goals for yourself and strive to accomplish them.

[blues_91 0]

I felt the same way because I was pretty sure I was going to make AAA but I found out the coach didn't like me and he cut me. I played hard in my first B tounament this year and amazed all the coaches, but the rest of the season I've been half ass. When I want to play good I just drown out my thoughts an hour before the game with some loud ACDC and Metallica and I almost forget I'm on B and I play good. Try to forget your team isn't trying and just focus on yourself. Besides you're probably on the first line with the other players who want to win right?

[kosydar 0]

Sounds a lot like my season this year. I basically hated everyone minus four or five guys. Besides those handful of guys, nobody gave a shit about hockey. I didn't understand why they would play at all. In the end, I did what Mack suggested. Being captain of a team full of kids who don't care sucks, I feel your pain.

[Hacker24 0]

Cherry pick and try to score some goals, that'll make it fun.

[TCsnipes9 0]

pop some G-notes for the girl friend!

really tho, if you still have trouble watch something to get you inspired. for me when ever i watch youngblood i always want to play right then. maybe a good game you have on tape or something.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Watch some of the Herb Brooks speeches from Miracle.

[TCsnipes9 0]

Watch some of the Herb Brooks speeches from Miracle.

i was going to say that but didnt look to see if he was canadien ;)

[RadioGaGa 162]

Canadian or American those are motivational speeches....

[hockeypunk3 0]

I know exactly how you feel blues, 2 years ago i was playign tier 7 in peewee i was the captain of a team that thought that hockey was sitting on a bench watching another team shoot at your goalie. We had our year end tournement and we werent able to get into our tier for it, so we moved up to tier 5 and i had the best few games of my early career two hattricks in my first 2 games, went on to score 9 goals in 4 games. well enough of the old days but now i play Bantam AA. Point is i didnt want to play for my team but i did it to show up and play every game hockey is all about pride and hard work, hard work will beat talent any night as my coach once said so go out and work hard for yourself.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Well we lost 3-1. We had one goal allowed, then disallowed, then after the game the tourny director overruled that. I thought I had scored a nice deflection goal but after the shot and before my deflection someone did a penalty so my deflection was the touch for the ref to blow the whistle. I wasn't too motivated but the team we played came out real physical so that ended up pumping me up pretty good. Plus we were tied 0-0 after the first period so I did get some motivation in that. I was doing what some of you said and trying to play for myself. There won't be any scouts, no awards for leading the scoring or nothing like that, but I like scoring goals (who doesn't) so I'm just using that as my motivation. Plus its my last 3 (2 now) games this season.. Thanks all

[blues_91 0]

I know exactly how you feel blues, 2 years ago i was playign tier 7 in peewee i was the captain of a team that thought that hockey was sitting on a bench watching another team shoot at your goalie. We had our year end tournement and we werent able to get into our tier for it, so we moved up to tier 5 and i had the best few games of my early career two hattricks in my first 2 games, went on to score 9 goals in 4 games. well enough of the old days but now i play Bantam AA. Point is i didnt want to play for my team but i did it to show up and play every game hockey is all about pride and hard work, hard work will beat talent any night as my coach once said so go out and work hard for yourself.

My coach has been great to me this season. He told me I definatley deserved a spot on AAA, and I feel that even though I didn't learn squat this season and played terrible, I will have a great spring tournament (I have to build off this and get back to a face paced game because I'm playing 3on3 this spring with all my buddies from AAA), and I owe my coach my full potential for the tournament. Gotta get back into my pre-game ritual(ACDC,water,muffin, then more water).