Solving the
Riddle of Yourself;
not an easy
task for any person
This was
written while, "Sitting around one day thinking of draft picks
that are a part of my life whether they want to be or don't want
to be." They were drafted because they are smart, talented and
they "had it all" as a high school or junior player. I do a lot
of thinking about campers, potential draft picks and free agents
that I care about. Build on what you have, keep reaching and
climbing. Success is "right around the corner".
One
person sees a player as a finesse player or numbers guy in his
position and another sees him as a power forward, stay @ home
defenseman, grinder or support player. We have goalies with all
different styles. The player ends up saying, "I don't know who I
am." Bottom line; it's good when you can play multiple
positions, multiple styles and fit in for the good of the team.
The search for "who you are" has a better chance of being
solved when you have a backup game or "game within your game"
that buys you time. This is usually a game that makes you hard
to play against and mistake free, a game that will always
support your "A" game during your development years. Training
beyond imagination brings you closer to solving who you are
because you gain that psychological edge against your opponent
in life knowing you worked harder than they did to be who you
are.
Some coaches/scouts/managers learn from their experiences as
players. Triumphs, trials and tribulations as young players have
given more than one coach/scout/manager a different, and very
healthy, perspective in the way they approach and handle young
players. The majority of those who faced more than their share
of adversity and confusion lean toward the approach of no
expectations, dry erase board with some guidelines, and the
freedom to play and express their unique skills. They recognize
the unique skills of a player, they develop a relationship, and
reward them properly.
Most young people are naïve, some have too much too soon, and
some develop relationships that take away from their game. The
best relationships in life are when two people empower each
other to be what they can be. Relationships should enhance
careers. Some players party often, and too hard, while success
steers their subconscious mind toward sophistication and
complacency. Some are misled as to what it takes to "be a pro; a
professional person and player". Some go through a divorce
setting with their parents. Some use the divorce setting as a
crutch to cover mistakes and underachieving, while the divorce
really this has nothing to do with it. The stable ones look @
divorce as a situation where, even though a divorce can get
ugly, they have a chance to have two sets of supporting parents
down the road. "Old wounds rarely heal, but success helps you
to forget."
Most players face very
little adversity coming through the system. They move on to
junior, college and pro where people make a living picking their
personal makeup and game apart. Scrutiny becomes more intense
during a player's draft year and the years after they are
drafting. If a player feels tired, he is no doubt suffering from
all the scrutiny and adversity. Players fail to solve the
"riddle of themselves" when they fail to see the importance of
"just being yourself, competing and playing hard with composure
and confidence". My son, Dino, says it best in these
situations. His best answer to a bad situation is "just play
and everything will fall in place". Players are fortunate to
have gone through some of this scrutiny during their early years
to prepare them for what is coming @ some point in your career.
Hopefully they go through enough during their early years to
recognize that the scrutiny, adversity and confusion they went
through will serve them well in future years. Most players have
yet to experience what it is like to have their game and
personal make up "picked apart". They would have to do
something “out of the ordinary” first so there is a higher level
of expectation and accountability.
One of the biggest mistakes players, mentors and managers make
is not taking a risk to avoid making a mistake;
however, learning the consequences of each risk is paramount.
The bottom line is there are very few successful people in life
who are not risk takers. You don't play/coach/manage/ mentor to
not get second guessed, you don't play not to lose. You train,
practice and play to win. Most players don't see the difference
in their conditioning level until they get themselves in better
shape than the year before or they are in a setting where they
can readily see others doing a certain exercise far better than
they do that same exercise. This can be on ice or in an off
ice. Awareness and exposure are necessary components to
development. Reaction levels to exposure and awareness are
different for every player. The bottom line is "what are you
doing about your deficiencies that will enhance your assets"?
Any athlete, coach or mentor is @ their best when they are like
the joyous, carefree little guy playing on an outdoor rink who
doesn't worry about making a mistake. Don't ever lose that
vibrant “ninth grade personality” where everything was new, fun,
vibrant and an adventure in to the unknown.
Put mistakes behind you and recognize where you are today in the
game knowing that your real game will come if you keep working
hard while waiting for your physical growth to meet your
coordination. Get in to goal setting, etiquette, communication
skills and developing a support system that you can build on as
your career and life evolves. I've learned through the years
that one conversation, email or letter to a young person @ the
right time can transform a life. This is why I keep writing and
talking to young people. I do it with the sincere wish that
young people buy in to what it takes to be a "real person".
Pro players who work with young kids, and develop charitable
foundations before they are established, put themselves on the
line to be even more accountable. Try to find some time to work
with kids in the youth program. You will find that your sub
conscious mind will copy most every thing you tell them and you
will start performing @ a higher level. Working with young
people teaches you to "give back" and you learn early on that
there is more to life than hockey. This will enhance your game.
Once your life is on display everywhere (internet, media, TV)
it's going to have its effects. You have to watch what you do,
what you say, what you wear and you can't necessarily have the
best time. There are situations when you want to let loose and
have fun, but you can't. So you suppress it. Eventually it
creates an alter ego and you'll have situations where guys end
up doing something stupid or out of the ordinary. You have to
guard against this.
It is great to have players who bring their own edge to the
team. Do this and you will find that edge will start to appear
on your teammates. You are @ your best when you play with an
"edge"; a little "dirt" in your game. Players, who study the
game, define their role and develop a game within their game,
have more success in any team setting. The good ones learn to
separate offense from defense knowing they have to be good @
both. They learn that when one is not going good the other can
support their career.
In the end, it's the players who are "real people" who end up
creating the fiber of the team; not just the player. The same
goes for new buildings, locker rooms and uniforms. It's not the
building, locker room or new jersey that makes the program; it's
the people; the people that administrate, manage, coach, support
staff and play the game. We were put on this earth to "anoint
ourselves" by maximizing our unique skills and managing our
liabilities. There is no room for mediocrity.
Have a great year, and
send me an update by text, email, call or all of the above. Keep
working hard; stay intense and you will see a lot of good things
happen in your life. The strong survive in this game.
I enjoyed typing this
because I know deep down the good that can come out of
communication. That gives me a special feeling inside; just
knowing I took the time to do something out of the ordinary for
a young person I care for. It's an easy way for me to build my
"net worth".
–ole gringo-
chuck@mnhockeycamps.com
