I don’t care if you a girls hockey player or not, anyone who considers themselves a hockey fan was watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final on Friday night. And while I am still upset about the result (I am not very popular here in Toronto as a Wings fan), it was a great game with an even better ending. I wanted to share with you 7 things I learned in Game 7 (other than the fact that Osgood clearly showed way to much glove side on that second Pittsburgh goal).
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Do you ever had a bad day when you can’t do a single thing right out on the ice? Lose a game against a weaker team that you really should beat? Ever been in a slump?

How do you get self-motivated when nothing is going your way?

The path to girls hockey success is simple…it all comes down to how you prepare.
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So you’re ready to fitter, faster and stronger, eat better and improve the mental side of your game. You are going to train off the ice on a regular basis, work on your flexibility and warm-up before every ice session.

It’s great that you have these goals.  But, I have to warn you about something…
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On your journey to success on and off the rink, you are bound to fall down along the way. And there are going to be times when you don’t feel like you have the strength to get back up.

If you are struggling with your motivation, then please watch this inspirational video. This story is absolutely amazing and I guarantee that you will have no problem finding that extra kick in the butt you need to get through those days when you just don’t want to workout or practice. I was having one of “those” days yesterday - then a friend sent me this video and my day completely turned around.

The key to success is finding the strength to get back up.

Have an amazing day and share this video with any players, parents or coaches who you think might need a little extra inspiration today.

~ Coach Kim

It’s October 16th and that means there are exactly 12 weeks left until January 1st, 2009. And I am going to make someone’s New Year’s a great one by rewarding them with the Total Female Hockey “Ultimate Training Package”. The winner will be selected for the amount of passion and drive that they show toward achieving their hockey goals. And there is no better way to determine how serious you are about taking your game to the next level, than by writing out your mission statement.

The most successful players I’ve played with, and the most successful coaches I’ve played for, have all written out their mission statements. If you have never used this powerful motivation & performance strategy, the Total Female Hockey Transformation Contest will give you the kick in the butt to finally take your game to the next level.

To enter the Total Female Hockey Transformation Contest, all you have to do is share your mission statement with me in the comment box below. But I don’t want it to be some broad mission statement like, “I want to get better” - I want to hear what your EXACT mission is in the next 12 weeks.

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Do you ever feel like all of the time, effort and hard work you’re putting into taking your game to the next level is just not worth it?

If you’re like most people, I’m sure you answered “Yes” and can admit to often feeling that it’s just too hard and that you’ll never achieve your goals.

The next time that thought enters your mind, I want you to watch this video.

‘Superdad’ Dick Hoyt and his son Rick have completed 85 full length marathons and 8 Ironman triathlons.

That’s is just amazing - pure and simple.

Dick Hoyt, age 65, has spent the last 25 years pushing his son in a wheelchair though marathon after marathon with their best time of a stunning 2 hours 40 minutes.
He’s towed Rick for the 2.4 mile swim phase in a rubber dinghy and cycled the 1123 mile bike phase with his son in a specially adapted bicycle chair.

How have they been able to achieve so much when so many of us fall by the wayside?

–> They stick with it.

Not exactly rocket science is it?

Most of us fail to achieve our goals simply because we do not stick to it until it’s done.

We give up early.

We stop paying the price.

But if you just stick with it…

Amazing things can happen.

And if you ever find yourself doubting that they can, watch this video again.

Until next time,

~ Coach Kim

One of the up-and-coming young hockey stars that I work with wrote me an email today that really made me stop and think.

“This is why I do what I do.”

I started working with her back in May and I asked her what her goals were for the upcoming season.

She said she wanted to make her provincial team and maybe try out for the brand new super-elite team that was starting up in her area.

I stopped her before she could get any further.

I asked, “Why is trying out for this team just a ‘maybe’?”

And she said, “Well, I am not sure whether I will make it, and if I do, I will be playing a long way from home. I am just not sure whether I am ready.”

Fair enough.

But how often are you really completely ready to try something that is out of your comfort zone?

So I asked her,

“What’s the worst that can happen if you just try?”

There was a silence on the other end as she thought about it.

And after 5 seconds she said, “Nothing really. I might get cut, but that’s no big deal.’

At that exact moment, I knew she was ready to take her game to the next level.

To become the best player you can be, you have to take risks.

You need to get outside of your comfort zone.

And that’s exactly what this young player did.

She went to the tryout, competed against players 3 or 4 years older than her, and pushed herself harder than she ever had before.

And just like another other good “Disney” story with a happy ending, she made the team.

Amazing things can happen when you push yourself beyond your limits and entertain the possibility that you can take your game to the next level and become the next great female hockey player.

You’ll never know until you try.

- Coach Kim