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       Young Athletes: Part I       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...
	PlayYourGame.com is excited to bring this article to our users' attention. We caution you that this article is not specific only to hockey but life as well. We truly hope that after reading this article you will come to realize that negativity in anything you do, if left untreated, is a cancer, and one that has to be caught and cured quickly. Why do we play the game of hockey? Why do we make the daily sacrifices that we do in order to succeed in our chosen sport? Is it the possibility of one day playing in the show? For many, that's tied to it. Is it for the chance of playing Junior or College? For some, that's tied to it as well. Dig deeper, and we know you'll agree that for the vast majority of us, it's simply because from a very young age, we love to do it. We compete because we want to, and we play because there is nothing that we'd rather do. Somehow and somewhere along the way, for extended periods of time, we tend to forget the reasons that we have chosen to play the game. This article is meant to help you recognize when you may have forgotten, because in forgetting the reason why we play, we play without emotion. We play because we feel we have to, and not because we want and love to. It is when we as players play without emotion that we play below our capacity, and playing below your best because of a negative outlook is simply unacceptable. For many of our younger users, this article may be a bit premature, and we're glad that it is. For our older players, we're sure that you not only understand what we're getting at, but many of you may have personal experience with the topic of this article. Within the game of hockey, as you get older and the levels get higher and more competitive, you see and experience first hand the effects of the negativity that often finds it's way into the dressing room. Many of you can attest to the statement that "negativity breeds negativity". Negativity within a line can and will hamper that line's effectiveness. Negativity within a team can and will stunt that team's growth and overall success. We're here to encourage you to recognize negativity for the cancer that it is, and to put an abrupt end to it. When you find yourself getting down and giving in to negative thoughts, one thing that we would like you to try to remember is this, "One day before you expect it or are even prepared for it, you're not going to be playing the game of hockey at the competitive level." It may be when you're13 or 20. It could be 25 or 35. Regardless of age or reason, the game of hockey, the thrill of competition, and the camaraderie that only 20 players pulling in the same direction are able to understand will be gone as you know it today. The fact that the water wasn't cold, or you're not playing well, or you had a long bus trip, or your gear is wet when it should have been dried really won't matter in the big scheme of things. Wasting your energy on things that shouldn't be worried about amounts to nothing but lost time that you can never get back. When you play, just play. Your passion and enjoyment for the game will allow you to achieve your goals and, as importantly, to fully enjoy the time you have in hockey. Play with a chip on your shoulder or play uninspired because of a persistent negative outlook and your time in hockey will never amount to what it could have or what it should have been. We don't pretend to know it all, nor are we trying to impose our beliefs on you, our users, but here's the thing: It's truly a sad sight to see players who still play the game but who have, at the same time, lost the passion and love they once had for it. Many of these players question why it is they haven't accomplished what they had hoped, and they tend to blame others for their career's shortcomings. It is our experience that these players are far too prevalent within the game. We strongly encourage you to focus on not allowing this trait to become part of your character, because it is a trait that you can do without. Remember to have fun and to give everything you've got while you still can. By doing so, you'll play the game of hockey and you'll leave the game of hockey without any regrets. In the end, that's all you can ask of yourself.
a project © 1999 DavidSport Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer