How Can I Be Consistent with Pre-Game Confidence?

Hockey Player:

I am a goaltender for a very competitive level of ice hockey. I have recognized my talent and have set certain goals for myself. I plan one day to play at the professional level. Before every game, I visualize what I am going to do once I get on the ice. I see myself making great saves and all that other good stuff. But the thing is, certain things that get me focused and bring out the confidence inside me before one game, won\'t do anything for me the next. This problem brings a lot of inconsistency to my game. Another problem that I face is that I\'m not having fun. I love the game of hockey more than anything and I truly have a strong desire to see how far my God given talent will take me. But at the same time, I haven\'t been playing well and I think in turn, I\'m not having fun. I hope you can shed some light on these mysteries that seem to give so much trouble.

Dr. Cohn’s Answer:

On the first issue on mental preparation, I would ask you if you are doing the same pre-game routine prior to each game. Consistent mental preparation will lead to consistent performance. The other idea to explore is to look at what may be affecting your confidence level. Certain situations may be deflating your confidence such as the condition of the ice, the rink, or your opponent for example. On the issue of having fun, it sounds like you are only happy when you are playing well. This indicates that you may be have high expectations for your performance and when you don’t reach those expectations, you become upset. It could be that you are even attaching your self-worth to your performance.

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