Report 1: ICE       Report 2: Stretching       Taf's Bio       New Playing Roles       Being One of Many       MidSeason Burnout       Parental Motivation       Be Humble       Adversity       Negativity       Concussions       Weight Gain       Tip of the Week       Strength Interview       Strength Interview 2       Leading Into Summer       Warm-Up       Train with Intent       Training for Hockey       8-Week Program       Groin Strains in Hcky       Speed-Agility Program       Training for Quickness       Off-Season Cardio       Combination Lifts       Strength Training       20 & Down       Flexibility       Off-Season Rest       Muscle Soreness       Injury       Injury Rehab       Overview       Hydration       Meal Planning       Food Groups       Meal Plan       Meal Timing       Alcohol       Score More Goals       Stop at the Net!       The Slap Shot       Stretching for Goalies       PIG       Rebound       Survivor Rebound       Bet for Skate       Breaking It In       Stick With What...
	Once a player leaves minor hockey and enters Junior, mid season burnout is a phenomena that will occur. It may arise because of a nagging injury or because you just haven't been playing well. Regardless of how it comes about, experiencing mid season burnout is something that the majority of competitive hockey players will encounter.       Why do we feel that it is important to address this topic? It's simple. These burnouts can drastically affect your performance, which in the long run, can affect your goals. Just imagine, you're feeling like you want to be anywhere but on the ice. It's not a hugely important game, so what does it matter? You play the game with this outlook, and you do ok. You do nothing special, but you get by. About a week later you hear a rumor that the Assistant Coach from the University of North Dakota was in attendance. You can never be sure of who is in the stands so don't let your outlook affect how you play. Not to mention, approaching any game like this is not only letting yourself down, but as importantly, letting your teammates down as well.       Lets face it. It's tough to play at the top of your game night in and night out for the duration of an entire season. It's equally as tough to be mentally prepared to play for an entire season. However, the sooner a player recognizes that they are getting to the point of burnout, the quicker they can address the problem and get back to playing at the level that they are accustomed to.       We wish there was some magic word or special routine that we could tell you that would fix your problem immediately. Unfortunately, there isn't. Recovering from burnout is a personal matter that only you the player can deal with. What we can do is offer you some advice that we and others like us have used to combat the nagging feeling of being burnt out. "It may sound simple but" Remember that it's a game and that you play it because you love it. If you're injured, take the steps to get healthy. If there is one thing that brings out mid season burnout, it's a nagging injury. The sooner you get back on the road to recovery the sooner you'll get back to loving the game. Recognize when you're experiencing it. The sooner you pinpoint why you're not enjoying playing, the quicker you can get back on track. Learn to relax. Although this may not sound like a cure for burnout, the ability to relax under pressure will help you perform your best. Feeling burned out can make you worry. Relaxation techniques will help you calm your thoughts and focus. There is nothing better for burnout than playing a great game. Prioritize your life. Often burnout on the ice will come hand-in-hand with stress from other aspects in your life, from school to family. Taking the time to prioritize your schedule will help you get a handle on all of the stresses that you are facing. Think Positive. It is too easy to let negative thoughts consume you. Overcoming burnout starts with changing your frame of mind. The glass is always half full! We all know that a full hockey season can be both mentally and physically draining. With that said, we encourage you to always keep in mind that no one can play forever. Enjoy every minute of every game and of every practice, because there will come a time when every ounce of you would give everything you have for the chance to go back and to play one more minute of competitive hockey. Remember that, and your burnouts won't last as long. Enjoy the game while you can, you may never know when you could've played your last game, or shift.
a project © 1999 DavidSport Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer