First and Lasting Impressions

Nico Wieser in net with coach Markus Kerschbaumer and Lukas Herzog

As we gear up for the new season, I want to talk about first impressions and establishing trust with your new team. It’s not instant that a player gets acclimated to a new coach and his/her tendencies, style, and systems. This is something that must be felt out and learned. Just as a new coach makes a first impression on players, a player must recognize that their first impression is even more important.

-What kind of player are you? How will you show that to your new coach?

-How can you establish trust with your new team?

-What can you do to help your coaches learn how to push you as an individual?

Whatever the answers may be to these questions, those are your guidelines to create a game plan for your first impression and build a system of reciprocated trust and communication with your new team.

Tips to Establish a Positive First Impression:

1. Arrive early, but get to work. Simply arriving early isn’t the goal. The goal is to show your coach that you’re willing to put in the extra work to be the best goaltender possible for your team. Extra rehab, stretching, and mobility is a great way to not only improve your game and the way your body feels, but creates a habit of hard work that your coach will notice.
2. Team first attitude. As a goalie, it can be hard to shelf emotions when you feel as if you are playing better than your stats show. But being part of a team means putting those worries on the back burner for the betterment of the group. The focus should be winning games (after a certain age) and always improving. When you are mentally in-tune with those two things, the stats will generally improve along with them.
3. Reputation away from the rink. One of the best compliments a coach can receive is how respectful and kind one of his/her players is away from the rink. The way you conduct yourself speaks volumes about the teammate and player you are on the ice. Give people a genuine reason to tell your coach what a positive influence you are to the community around you.

4. Dependability. When the chips are down, the team needs someone mentally tough and confident to lean on. As a goalie, you see the entire sheet of ice. One could say that great goalies have the ability to see the big picture as well. That’s why it’s important to show good body language when mistakes happen on the ice and in the locker room before, during, and after games. Be the one on the team that when the score is against you in the second intermission, your confident body language bands the team together and motivates everyone to finish strong.

These four things are qualities of veteran leaders, and if you learn to foster these habits at a young age, it will set you up for greatness in and away from the rink. Not to mention that when a coach witnesses one of his/her players doing these things, it builds a great deal of confidence and trust that his/her goalie is “all in” for the common goal. However, having an “all in” attitude shouldn’t just be portrayed for whomever is watching (a coach, parent, or teacher). This is something that is in the core of every elite athlete and motivated person. The drive to be dependable and hard working must be intrinsic in order to last.

The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching.

-John Wooden

From Within

What does it mean to have intrinsic motivation? It can mean different things for everyone but, most importantly, it should stem from personal enjoyment. Simply having fun playing the game, enjoying your team, basking in the hard work, and facing the challenges head on.

For example: I’ve been a goaltender for over 23 years. It is my identity and I’ve had success, but these reasons aren’t the ones that make me stick with it. I am still playing because it is genuinely fun going to the rink day after day even after all this time. I revel in the process of putting in the hard work and seeing the results materialize on the ice.

As the season starts, make a mental effort to do things in your routine to the best of your ability, even when you may not feel like it. When you are able to execute your preparation well, you will see yourself improve. When you see yourself improve, that’s a huge leap towards enjoyment and creating a lasting impression of positivity and dependability with those around you.

-JP-