5 intense days of competition…

5 full games per team…

5 intense practices per player…

5 days of complete focus…

The Under-18 team tryouts have been going on all week and I have watched each of the 86 girls at camp push themselves to the absolute limit every day.

We started with fitness testing on Wednesday afternoon and will end with the final games on Sunday night.

Every single player desperately wants to perform their best and have been doing everything they possibly can to impress the coaches.

But I am going to let you in on a little secret…

It’s NOT only how good they are that counts.

It’s how TOUGH they are that will make the difference.

These elite girls hockey players are being judged on how they PERFORM.

But they are also being judged on how they REACT.

In order to make the team, a great physical performance is important.

But the mental approach to the whole grueling tryout process is critical.

As coaches, we need to know how players are going to perform when it is all on the line.

They have 5 days to make an impression and as the intensity of camp starts to take its toll, the true mental strength of the players will come shining through.

Do they rise up to the challenge or do they fall behind?

Do they have what it takes to be the next great female hockey player?

Until next time,

Kim