Having played goalie for 20 years, then watching and coaching a son in the net for another 15, I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of hockey, not only as a coach both for players and goalies at all levels, but also as a professional photographer.

Sports, primarily hockey, is so much more fun to capture through the lens than other sports because I could tell a story most never saw … or even realized was happening. There’s an emotion in hockey you don’t find in any other sport. Maybe it’s because they’re adorned in gladiator-like equipment, which in turn makes them somewhat unrecognizable. Frankly, it’s hard to see the emotion on a players face, but give me a zoom lens and I’ll find it. Any photographer worth his salt will tell you, the story of anything is in the eyes – happiness, grit, sadness and dismay are all portrayed through the eyes. As we approach the 2017-18 season, the emotions are starting to rise, it’s tryout season!

You know the feeling – you’re about to board an airplane for spring break to a sunny, crystal blue water destination, sun, sand, ahh … the bliss! It’s a combination of nervous, anxious and excitement that makes your stomach rumble … am I hungry, or do I need to throw up? Nope, you’re just anxious! The night before tryouts can be very similar. Kids of all ages are wondering where they will land. Will they make their first team, the team with their friends, or make the team period. It’s that raw emotion behind the scenes I caught many a time through my lens, and frankly, it made for some of the most memorable moments I ever captured. Managing these emotions is tough, very tough, not only for the kids, but parents and especially coaches. Believe me, as a coach, it’s excruciating!

To help fend off some of the negative emotions, following is a guide on managing tryouts and savoring the tryout experience.

1. Preparation
It’s now October and you have played out your summer hockey and now are in prep mode for the regular season, or at least I hope you are. What have you done to separate yourself from others? Wait, you don’t know or maybe you aren’t confident you have actually accomplished what you set out to do? There’s good news – you still have time, not much, but there is time. It’s never too late to immerse yourself in some last-minute cramming to get ready. 

How’s that flexibility and mobility? Find a foam roller or softball and get to work. Google Maria Mountain; she’s amazing! 

How’s your fitness? Grab the workout shoes, a sand bag and start squatting or lunging or just try to walk up some steps. 
Have you addressed any of your weaknesses? If you remember anything from this episode, remember this: GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE! In other words, identify what might hold you back and attack as if your life depended on it! Own it, get creative and make the choice to be better, which cannot be taught. 

Lastly, where’s your head at? How aware are you about the reality of your situation?

2. Nightmare vs. reality
Speaking of reality, let’s get real for a moment. Every athlete in every sport has a vision of how things will/should/could go. You have three options here:

The first is dream. What is your dream scenario? Varsity or AA, playing with friends, or maybe you really like Coach X. The dream scenario is how you envision the stars aligning. We’re taught to dream big – dreams motivate us – but you must understand to manage expectations around these dreams. Not everything will go to plan, and that’s OK, but we need to go into tryouts knowing this.

Then there’s the nightmare scenario. What is the worst case scenario? I won’t make Varsity or AA, or I won’t be playing with Jimmy, or worst yet, getting cut. Did you read No. 1? This generally leads to how No. 2 plays out! Just as a dream doesn’t always work out, neither do nightmares. The problem with getting stuck in the nightmare thought process is that it can sabotage your performance – it can literally paralyze you. Most often this can be avoided with great preparation!

Then there’s reality, which falls in between the best and worst case scenarios, and generally where all situations go. For you as a goaltender going into tryouts, get your head around reality. The awareness of your skills, ability and experience is paramount. This mental mindset will also better prepare you for the outcome. Keep in mind, some things will go very well, and some won’t go very well. The key is to stay away from getting wrapped up in the highs and lows. As the saying goes, “Don’t let the waves wash away your hopes”!

3. Mindset
I just mentioned getting your head around reality. Well, it all starts with your mindset. There are numerous books on this, and if you haven’t read one, may I suggest you sprint to the bookstore and get your nose in one (“Mind Gym” by Gary Mack is a good one to start with). Trust me on this, it will open your eyes and serve you well in the future regardless of what that means! 

For those younger goalies out there, this might be a bit much, but if you’re at or above the PeeWee level, start reading! I’m not suggesting any book on mindset will immediately make you ready for the show, but your mindset can and will help you grow as a person, an athlete and a teammate. Your mindset plays into how you will move past a bad goal, a bad game or other nightmare/adverse situations. 

Mindset is 100 percent mental. If you aren’t strong mentally in tryouts, it shows. Don’t be that guy! We all know a goalie who slams his stick on the post after a bad goal, or hangs his head and mopes around like Humpty Dumpty after his great fall. A word of advice: Don’t do it! Be mentally strong. Coaches love it when a goalie hangs in there, battles through it and makes the best of a not-so-great situation! Or better yet, turns around a bad situation!

4. Work hard and be a passionate student of the position
What does it mean to work hard and be passionate about the position? By definition, “hard-working” means “someone that is diligent in laboring and puts effort into doing and completing tasks.” Or in a more blunt way, per Tim Grover who wrote, “Relentless – From Good to Great to Unstoppable” put it: “Crave the result so intensely that the work is irrelevant.”

Are you the first on the ice and the last one off? Do you pick up pucks, follow rebounds and finish drills fully? Do you go first? I think you get the idea! Working hard can oftentimes simply mean DO THE WORK! 

Being passionate doesn’t mean you will say yes to every opportunity to get on the ice, but it does mean you will work to be better while you are on the ice. This could be playing another sport, studying the concepts and learning to “self-coach.” As much as I love to coach goalies, I can’t always be there with each of them. I can’t get on the ice and do it for them. Be a student, learn all you can and increase your net IQ. It’s important you learn to work through things on your own, ask questions, challenge your coach, heck, surprise him/her with a new drill idea or off-ice competition with them.

5. Savor the experience
Earlier on I mentioned I’ve been to the rink a few times, OK, a few thousand times. I’ve seen some amazing things, not only with my own eyes, but through my lens. I’ve seen simple things like Oliver Judd’s sportsmanship (see “Lessons from a 12 year-old leftie”), to the minus-30 degree Hockey Day Minnesota game on Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids, which I actually shot and didn’t kill my camera! 

As a parent, I got to see the last of many things, including the last game … ever. I still remember leaving Braemar Arena that Saturday afternoon, arm around my wife, maybe a tear or two in our eyes, closing a chapter on what was the most amazing ride any parent can ask for! 

No matter your age, remember this, the game is full of emotion and memorable experiences. Take a moment and remember those you’ve already made, and use that as motivation to continue to make more! This all goes way too fast. Savor the experience, which includes tryouts! Don’t fret it, look forward to it, just as if you’re leaving on a jet plane to crystal blue water bliss! Remember, this is just a sport … fun is part of it!

In closing, tryouts can bring out the best in some, the worst in others. Whether we like the seemingly endless process of youth hockey team selection, or the lightning fast process at the high school level – doesn’t matter – it’s a process that needs to be played out. The only ones who can dictate any of it is YOU. I challenge you to make that decision difficult for coaches, make them notice you! Now, go find that sandbag and get to work!

Oh, and good luck to everyone!