First, thanks for the compliments on the thread; it is an interesting topic.
I think the thing that both leaferguy and bguminey address is the realization for a routine and the need to keep goaltending at an instinctual level. Unfortunately, there are often too many things that work against us and the need to recognize and replace negative thoughts and reactions is key no matter the game situation.
The following comment made me realize something...
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Coming back to reality, when the thoughts do start to creep in, I have a weird thing where I force my mind to visualize something pretty complex. When I do that, it makes it hard for me to think because I really have to bring the image to life in my head.
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As a teacher I must always be aware of which of the three types of learners each student is; visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. Your comment, leaferguy, makes me think that the definition of self-talk needs to be altered to include a visual image that could be either negative or positive as well as a possible auditory cue that can affect a goalie positively or negatively. I think this is where we were unclear. you have recognized a negative thought and replaced it with a picture. The key is that you recognized the problem and do something to remedy it.
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I try to explain this to the players and they all just look at me like im crazy but it works for me and I keep pucks out of the net and we win games so they say do whatever you want as long as we win.
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Forwards are...well...idiots. Don't get me wrong, I like'em, I need'em but they make life more complex. I find the majority of forwards I have played with do not seem to get that they can control their own game through mental preparation and training. I see so many guys who take Sudafed or drink Red Bull to get their energy up but the fact is you can control your energy levels for the one hour of the day that hockey is being played. This season, I really bought into Dr. Saul Miller's idea of the Five Pointed Star, in regards to breathing and energy regulation this year and it works phenomenally. Goalies understand the need to control their own destinies. Ask a forward how he feels during a game usually if they say "crappy", they play crappy. Goalies really are the smarter and better looking hockey players.
**In the next couple of weeks I will be posting an article called "Developing and Managing a Product Mental Game" that outlines the Five Pointed Star in more detail or you can find it at Mind The Net - Articles**