First Shotitis

[Oilerslave]

No longer on board.

[Shu]

maybe more warmup and stretching???? or more focus

[alex65]

you should have your head in the game before the game. Maybe get more focused before your game so you are mentally prepared.

[junior1cats]

Gotta change your thinking....it's playing on you off the ice now....learn to focus and relax....and remember you supposed to be having fun....

[Bryan]

The biggest problem is you are thinking about that first shot too much. Confidance is such a bizarre thing. Whatever you fear, you become. Concentrate not on which shot you're letting in, but how many you are stopping.

Make it a game. Think about how many saves you make in an average game, and dwell on that. You know you can stop, say, 9 out of ten shots (or 8 out of ten, or 19 out of 20, or whatEVER). So, keep THAT first and foremost in your mind to start the game. Instead of fearing that first shot, anticipate about it like you WANT it, so that you can deliberately count off those first 10 shots minimum before the other team is 'allowed' to get one by you.

[Keeps33]

I have that happen to me way to often some of it has to do with fearing th puck for me. In warm ups i just try and let as many pucks hit me as possible take a bunch off the arms/chest etc, try and get all that thinkin' outta yer head and buildup a real good feel for the puck. This will usually get my mental game going, the rest is concentration.

[lougio]

Make sure you get a good warmup in is what advice I would give. Try and get a routine of taking some shots then stepping out and let the guys fire away and then step back in and let them put some more shots on you. I try and time it so that I get at least two rounds of shots on me and then the last minute I let the guys fire at the empty net until the whistle blows to start the game.

[vanniek]

I used to have a bit of focus problem, now right before we start I have my defenseman either slash me in the gut or give me a good spear, pisses me off and I translate that to better focus against the other seam.


A few months ago one of my teamates shot when I wasn't looking and tagged me over the ear hole hard...man I was pissed. Turned it in to a 47 save shutout, so maybe I need to have that happen more often lol.

[xethicx]

My first shot depends on the shot but typically my 2nd half or 3rd period normally goes all to hell. I have to learn how to keep my focus. But I do know how crappy letting in the first shot feels, in fact I know how letting in the first 4 shots feels, I had a game where I let in the first 4 shots and then went the rest of the game only letting in 2 more.

[Bengal34]

Same thing used to happen to me all the time. Not the first shot, but early in the first.

I found what works for me is to work as hard as you can in warmups and to get your adrenaline pumping as much as possible before the game. If you have an mp3 player, listen to some music or just get a fast paced rythm into your head to pump yourself up. Also, when the game starts stay square, centered, and in your stance at the beginning to matter where the puck is. Keep tracking it even when it is outside your zone until you feel like your nice limber and focused.

[WI_stinger39]

i always dread the first shot, normally if i make a save on the first shot of the game it will be a good game, and i don't, it usually goes to hell.

so i understand where your coming from, i get so nervous about the first shot of the game that i almost completely panic when i see someone coming with the puck. i've gotten a lot better on that, it's just about staying focused and anticipating the first shot and making sure that you're first save you're completely lined up, in the best possible position to make the save.

as keeps said, it's about getting a feel for the puck, even an easy save is a save, and the feeling of the puck hitting your equipement is a reassurance for me. once reassured i can play a good game

edit: and i disagree about the warmups, i warmups i track the puck and make the saves, but once your in the game it's completely different than a player standing between the hash marks and blue line and shooting at you.

[rbrownie]

Originally Posted by WI_stinger39

edit: and i disagree about the warmups, i warmups i track the puck and make the saves, but once your in the game it's completely different than a player standing between the hash marks and blue line and shooting at you.

Is that like elephantitus??

Anywho, I completely agree with stinger. Warmups are warmups. A game is a game. In warmups I hardly ever butterfly or attempt any crazy saves. I am more just looking for positioning and getting the feel for the puck. If your team is of any help, they will pretty much hit you in warmups ( not all the time but not picking corners).

Usually at the very end of warmups I will go into game mode and on the last few shots actually act like its a game. Seems to work for me.

[Toivonenfan33]

Are you starting or back-up? I know from former personal expierience and watching other back-ups now that most give up a goal first shot, probably due to being thrown in the net cold, which essentially proves...warmups are crucial, get as many shots as you can, and a few up high will only help the mental game.

[JediGoalie30]

For me, warmups get the blood moving, but don't seem to help me out much as far as being in focus or not to start the game. This week, I got the best warmup that I've had all season, and I managed to let three consecutive shots in early in the first period. After that, I got my head in the game and shut it down the rest of the way, and we won 11-3. That wan't the first time I've started off rough in the first period and played much stronger in the 2nd and 3rd periods, but it was the most blaring example. I think part of it is that my whole team seems to start slowly and get better as the game goes on (that game, we scored 8 of our 11 goals in the third period, and in October, we almost won a game that we were losing 5-1 to start the 3rd period). Something for me to focus on this week while I can actually play some pick-up hockey for a change while I'm in WI for Christmas.

[Shu]

Originally Posted by JediGoalie30

For me, warmups get the blood moving, but don't seem to help me out much as far as being in focus or not to start the game. This week, I got the best warmup that I've had all season, and I managed to let three consecutive shots in early in the first period. After that, I got my head in the game and shut it down the rest of the way, and we won 11-3. That wan't the first time I've started off rough in the first period and played much stronger in the 2nd and 3rd periods, but it was the most blaring example. I think part of it is that my whole team seems to start slowly and get better as the game goes on (that game, we scored 8 of our 11 goals in the third period, and in October, we almost won a game that we were losing 5-1 to start the 3rd period). Something for me to focus on this week while I can actually play some pick-up hockey for a change while I'm in WI for Christmas.

I sometimes fool around and laugh in the lockerroom before going out onto the ice. I find that 5 min before you go on just shut down and start imagining the saves and what your gonna do. Just tell yourself, "I'm not gonna lose this". and just think about the game and the saves your gonna make. Keep it positive, try not to think about being scored on.

**** This is from a certified shrink- i read in a hockey book called - Hockey Tough, that you should try to think as the puck as a single pathway. Like a beam, so the puck is traveling through a funnel. and all you have to do is stick your pad infront of it. Its not that easy, obviously, but i found it makes things seem simple and you get relaxed...... watch out for those deflections . they have some bent funnels