netMINDer April 2022 Issue7
Tournament Essentials
Easter weekend marks the start of hockey tournaments and championships right across North America. This issue is dedicated to helping you prepare.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Just as if you are going on vacation, when getting ready for the hockey tournament, it’s important to have a checklist of what you are going to need – essentials and optional items. The checklist comes in handy on the days leading up the tournament and also afterwards, when you are packing up and getting ready to leave the tournament to head home. We all know that player that gets to the road rink with one glove or one skate!
Create your own hockey tournament checklist for both pre-tournament preparations and packing. Don’t forget to include:
Pre-Tournament Preparation List Ideas:
-
Skate sharpening – to ensure the best chance of the perfect sharpness for your entire tournament, get your skates sharpened right before the tournament by your go-to skate sharpener.
-
Any piece of hockey equipment you think you could possibly need - double check your hockey bag by mentally dressing yourself before the game;
-
Water bottle, staying hydrated while player one or two games everyday will keep you sharp and give you the edge;
-
Lots of clothes - Remember that clothes and socks will be wet and smelly after each game and therefore not re-wearable. Also, bring a plastic laundry garbage bag for sealing up those dirty clothes;
-
Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, backup deodorant, etc. These may seem obvious but are the most likely to be overlooked in the mad rush out of the house on the way to the tournament.
-
If you are lucky to have a pool in your hotel - During the tournament, the players are going to have much needed, but limited, downtime. Take your trunks, flip flops, goggles and a towel!
-
Take a deck of cards, headphone, ear buds and your copy of The 59 Laws of Goaltending.
-
BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks) – For before/after the game and back at the hotel room in the evenings, you want to bring a ton of snacks and drinks;
-
BYOB (Bring Your Own Breakfast) – If there are a lot of hockey families staying at your hotel, expect breakfast to be a zoo. So, avoid the lines and pack breakfast: cereal, cereal bars, fruit, oatmeal, milk, juice, bagels and cream cheese, etc. Try to eat right, at least some of the time – When you are running around all weekend, it’s easy to let eating right fall by the wayside. But, it’s important to try to eat some proper meals throughout the tournament – so try to work it into the schedule. Nutrition is especially important for your hockey player on tournament weekend; they need the energy and stamina to play multiple games all weekend. So, plan out meals and snacks.
6 Ingredients Common to Successful Teams
So why is it that some teams achieve far greater results than other teams with more resources, investment, and time?
It really comes down to the effectiveness of the team and how the team members work together. The cohesiveness, the environment, and the combined effort of all of the individuals are critical, is everyone contributing and rowing in the same direction.
Being part of a high-performing team is a special experience. But teams don’t just become effective or engaged overnight, it’s a consistent effort from the leader and everyone on the team.
So what are some of these ingredients?
1) Trust - Trust that everyone knows their role and can execute every shift. Your role as the goaltender is most important. Be prepared when you get the nod. Be supportive when you are on the bench.
2) Kaizen - the Japanese term meaning change for the better or continuous improvement. Teams that get better every shift and every game can carry that momentum as the tournament progresses.
3) Celebrate Success - there are going to be ups and downs. Weather the storms and celebrate the small and big wins as a team. Small wins build momentum. Small wins build belief. Small wins make progress.
4) Support - they support one another. Great teams make everyone feel important, valued and that their contribution matters. The environment is positive - in the dressing room and on the ice.
5) Enjoyment - they make the games and hard work fun. Great teams enjoy what they do because they have a sense of enjoyment and camaraderie with their fellow team members. There is positive energy, no one takes themselves too seriously.
6) Leadership - the leader is responsible for nurturing and creating an environment where the team can thrive. It’s about enlisting the team and empowering them to make decisions and contribute to the goals.
Best of luck & keep kicking them out!
