The Mental Component: Another Approach to Hockey Training

As if all of our guest writers aren't on the cutting edge when it comes to the science of training, let me tell you that our friend, Craig Shaw, is into some stuff that is really "out there" (in the nicest sense, I mean). Personally, I love the high-tech electronic gadgets. But, wait until you read about what Craig's into. Also, you'll have to read my later notes to discover why this article found it's way into the From The MOTION Lab category. Oh, and although they're not obvious, there are links to two awesome video down below...

-- Dennis Chighisola

The Mental Component: Another Approach to Hockey Training By Craig Shaw The mechanical, physical and nutritional components of training get the most focus from coaches and athletic trainers. These are obviously very important, but up to a certain level of technical ability, athleticism and then the emotional and mental components become at least if not more important. To paraphrase Coach Chic, “It is the smart hockey player who will get the ice time once the tryouts are over and the season is in full-swing.” As Saul Miller points out in his book Hockey Tough, “once a player reaches a certain level, 90% of his success is related to the mental/emotional side of the game.” Although these statements are debatable, very few would argue that they don’t have a lot of truth to them. Are there ways to improve this aspect of a player’s underlying capacity? Visualization, positive self talk, deep breathing and the like are quite well known and very useful. Here is another approach which attempts to make the brain a more efficient mechanism:

Neuro-scientists have found that by improving the underlying capacity of timing and rhythm, one can, in fact, ‘fine tune’ the neuro-pathways of the brain. One program that has been used to do this is the Interactive Metronome program. This program has been around for about ten years and has been used by elite athletic programs around the world, including in all the major professional sports leagues in North America. Through three to four weeks of training, athletes use this computer program for about twelve hours in total and often make lasting improvements to their processing speed, focus/concentration, balance, reaction time and timing. For example, professional golfers make significant gains to their golf shot accuracy.

This summer I put two elite hockey players through the program and improvements in the above capacities were noticed by these athletes, their peers and athletic trainers. In fact, the improvements were so significant that there are plans to drastically expand this part of the training program for many of the hockey players in the Victoria (British Columbia, Canada) area. The downside is that training usually costs about $80 a session. But again, the results are lasting: once the pathways are established, they tend to be more-or-less permanent. Further, reading fluency and other academic gains are common as well. Parents and teachers report that the athletes seem more mature and emotionally grounded. Therefore, it can be considered an investment in the future. A less-expensive approach which may give some similar benefits: the Dance, Dance Revolution video game may be an option. I am the last person to promote video games, but this one is the exception. Learning to skip rope and play the drums may also be helpful in this regard. In short, want to move forward in a part of your game that is usually overlooked by other players? Consider the mental/emotional aspect. Those viewing the Interactive Metronome website (www.interactivemetronome.com) will notice that their focus is on helping those with significant physical or developmental issues, but the applications for athletes and students without these kinds of difficulties are also worth noting.

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Want to see a demonstration video about the Interactive Metronome? Click here! And if you'll Click here, you'll see another YouTube video featuring a goalie training with a similar device.

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Man, talk about cutting edge. Yet, Craig has provided us some ideas we can use to "fine tune the neuro-pathways of the brain" at home if we don't have access to expensive devices. (And yes, I did say "we" and "us", because I'm going to see about implementing some of those things myself, most likely in The MOTION Lab.)

Then, this side note... Years ago, figure skaters used to be required to perform "compulsory figures" in order to move-up in test levels. Perhaps you used to see them at the rinks, using a huge compass (or "scribe") to inscribe large circles on the ice. And with those, an individual skater would practice and aim for absolutely perfect skate edge control, tracing the circles, doing pivots, etc. At the higher levels of testing, I would see judges actually get down on their knees, use a mitten to dust away the snow, and then inspect the ice for a slightest wobble or loss of edge control. My point here, is that practice sessions required unbelievable concentration or focus leading-up to the tests. And I DO mean unbelievable. I tell this story because -- similar to what Craig mentioned above, compulsory figures students were known to jump a full grade in their school work after a season of intense on-ice practice at concentration.

By the way... I'm going to end by teasing my friend here a bit, suggesting to Craig that he rethink his feelings on computer games. For, while I also once felt they were mind numbing (LOL), I'm going to soon do a post on some very positive things I've seen in that area.

-- Dennis Chighisola

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