What to do When You’re in a Scoring Slump
Sometimes, scoring a goal in hockey seems impossible…
Every period that you are shutout seems to ingrain your scoring drought further in your mind.
It can really mess with a player’s head…
Soon, you are so desperate to score a goal that you force play or hurry shots rather than being patient and working for scoring opportunities.
For example, when your team is going through a scoring slump, you might feel so much pressure to score a goal that you try to do too much or force shots.
Instead of settling into the zone, many players might try to crank out a shot or make a fancy pass to a teammate who isn’t in position to really do anything with it.
Sometimes, you need the patience to walk the puck in or pass it back to the blue line.
Take, for example, the recent lack of scoring by the Colorado Avalanche…
Over a five-game losing streak in early March, the Avalanche were only able to muster up three goals and were outscored by a total of 18-3.
If you can’t score, you can’t win and it usually takes three or more goals a game to get a win in the NHL.
Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie admitted the team was frustrated due to their lack of production.
BARRIE: “Obviously we were having some difficulties, two goals in four games and we were getting frustrated. It didn’t seem like we were ever going to score.”
Focusing on a scoring slump can be overwhelming and keeps your mind in the past. The only effective method for scoring is to focus one shift or one play at a time.
Letting go of your scoring slump and focusing on task helps you be patient and see the opportunities in front of you.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar reminded the team in a meeting that scoring requires “taking care of the little things and focusing on a shift-by-shift basis.”
What is a scoring mindset?
The scoring mindset has several characteristics:
- It requires that you focus forward looking for opportunities.
- It requires patience instead of trying to score every time you pass the blue line.
- It requires persistence getting the puck towards the net where rebounds and tips increase your chances to score.
- It requires you to leave missed scoring attempts in the past.
Of course, when you can’t seem to even buy a goal, your focus may be to end the slump but that only serves to keep your mind in that slump.
To end scoring droughts, you need to look for opportunities (a positive focus) rather than looking to end the slump (a focus on the problem itself).
Tips For Breaking Out of a Scoring Funk:
Think about the difference in mindset when you are in the offensive end on the ice and when you are in a pregame shoot-around.
In a shoot-around, your mind is focused on just shooting (the present) and in game situations you are over-focused on scoring (the future).
If you immerse yourself in the present and play by feel, you let your natural ability take over.
If you keep knocking at the door, eventually a shot will find the back of the net.
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As a seasoned sports psychology expert with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field, I can confidently dissect the intricacies of the article, shedding light on the concepts related to overcoming scoring slumps in hockey.
The article primarily addresses the psychological challenges that hockey players face when going through a scoring slump. It emphasizes the detrimental impact on a player's performance when they succumb to the pressure of scoring goals, leading to forced plays and hurried shots. Drawing on concrete evidence from the Colorado Avalanche's five-game losing streak, during which they managed only three goals, the article underscores the frustration and desperation that players experience in such situations.
One key concept highlighted in the article is the importance of a "scoring mindset." This mindset involves focusing forward, being patient, persistently getting the puck towards the net, and letting go of missed scoring attempts. The article suggests that a player needs to concentrate on the present moment, taking one shift or one play at a time, rather than dwelling on the scoring drought.
The role of a coach in managing the team's mentality is also emphasized. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar's advice to the team underscores the significance of focusing on the little things and taking a shift-by-shift approach to scoring. This coaching strategy aims to redirect the players' attention from the overall scoring slump to immediate, manageable tasks.
Moreover, the article introduces practical tips for breaking out of a scoring funk, drawing a distinction between the mindset during offensive play on the ice and pregame shoot-arounds. It encourages players to immerse themselves in the present moment, play by feel, and trust in their natural abilities. The analogy of "knocking at the door" suggests that persistent efforts will eventually lead to successful scoring opportunities.
Towards the end, the article introduces a resource called "The Confident Athlete CD program," which presumably offers further insights and techniques for proactive confidence in sports performance. This ties back to the overarching theme of the mental aspect of the game and how it can impact a player's ability to break out of a scoring slump.
In summary, the article delves into the psychological challenges of scoring slumps in hockey, offering evidence from real-game scenarios, insights into the scoring mindset, coaching strategies, and practical tips for players. The inclusion of a mental training program suggests a holistic approach to addressing performance issues beyond the scope of the article.
