Congratulations to the winners of the “Goal Getting” Challenge in the Total Female Hockey “Take Your Game To The Next Level” Contest. These two players did an awesome job of setting their weekly goals, taking action towards them each and every day, and then reporting back on their success every week for the last month. Their daily dedication to becoming the best player they can be is what allowed them to win this part of the contest and will help them get to the next level. To see why they won the “Goal Getting” Challenge…

Our first winner of the “Goal Getting” Challenge is Andrea.

Andrea’s BIG goal is to overcome all the little injuries that have been plaguing her this season and eventually get her shot at getting a scholarship and making the national team. She has been doing a terrific job every week of setting goals that will keep her focused on her goals on and off the ice, and has been working hard to reach those goals and move closer to her dreams.

Here are some examples of her awesome goal setting and goal setting and the success story that she wrote as a result of working hard and dreaming big.

Weekly Goal:
My goal this week is to continue to strengthen my upper and core muscles even more than last week. I will also prepare mentally before every practice and game. I will also continue to look in to universities and start putting together everything I need to get ready for next year’s processes.

Action Steps:
1. Each night, I will do 80% of my maximum number of push-ups and sit-ups.
2. I will do my core exercises like the plank and side plank
3. I will look on university websites, and get letters of recommendations.
I will stretch every night for 15 minutes.

This will allow me to get my shots harder, stay stronger on the puck against my opponents and closer to trying for a scholarship or playing university hockey.

Weekly Success Story:
This week I wanted to be really focused on every simple task whether it was cleaning my room or working out. I started looking in to universities with hockey programs and I started to put together my hockey profile. Overall this week was pretty good - we ended up winning our last game of the regular season and I got my first penalty for stopping a girl from scoring (a needed penalty).

Our second winner of the “Goal Getting” Challenge is Riley.

Riley’s BIG goal for the rest of the season is to help her team make the Atom AAA playoffs. She has been consistently setting her weekly goals and taking her daily action steps to get there. Not only is she working hard to achieve her goals, but she recognizes the importance of re-adjusting those goals when things aren’t going perfectly.

Here is an example of how she was able to readjust her goals to move a few steps closer to her hockey dreams.

Weekly Goal:
Since I feel that I didn’t completely achieve my goal last week, I want to repeat my goal for this week - to get better at getting the puck - but I am going to modify my action steps.

Actions Steps:
1. To focus on my weekly goal before I go out onto the ice. I also need to refocus before every drill.
2. I need to get better at forechecking. Skate hard to the puck. Stop slowing down as I approach the player with the puck.
3. Work on using my body along the boards to block the puck.

Weekly Success Story:
I worked hard this week to achieve my weekly goal. I had 6 practices and no games this week so it gave me a lot of opportunity to get better at getting the puck. My focus was better this week so I got more out of my ice times. My team is also benefitting from the practice and we are starting to come together. We have a big tournament next week so hopefully we will play well.

As winners of the “Goal Getting” Challenge, Andrea and Riley will both receive a copy of the In-Season Strength Program and your very own Total Female Hockey T-Shirt.

Setting BIG goals and putting together an action plan of how you are going to achieve them can be the difference between a long playoff run and an early exit. It is never too late to get started with your goal setting and goal getting.

Share your weekly goals and daily actions steps in the comment section below and then get started on working hard to achieve them.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

~ Coach Kim