“You make up your mind, you choose the chance you take
You ride to where the highway ends and the desert breaks
Out on to an open road you ride until the day
You learn to sleep at night with the price you pay”
The Price You Pay-Bruce Springsteen

Probably one of the most uses cliches in all of sport. “Pay the price.”

Everyone has their own price they will pay and are capable of paying to be successful. Have you thought long and hard what yours is? What you are willing to sacrifice for the game?

Parents of young hockey players certainly know about paying an ‘actual price’. Just ask them about that…..:) Players, I dare you to go up to them and say, “Hey guys, just curious…..do you think you have paid the price for my hockey???” When you do, I suggest you leave the room.

But let’s leave the caretakers out of this for now.  What I am talking about is your awareness of sacrifice and what you give up for the game of hockey and what you will continue to give up as you progress. I want to be clear that although I am talking about sacrificing things,I am in no way saying that it is a bad thing. Quite the opposite. It is an amazing thing. The game gives you some incredible things. Friends,, travel, learning and growth experiences, phenomenal memories, success, a feeling of worth and belonging to something great. A family……

But there is a price to pay……there always is for worthwhile things.

So if you are committed to becoming a very good player, which I know that most of you who read this blog are, here are some of the certainties. It may not be the popular thing to do in pointing them out, but they are facts. Here goes.

There are things that some other people will get to do that you won’t be able to. There are things your ‘school friends’ will do that you can’t. There are social events you will miss. There are family events you will miss.You will miss school and have to get caught up. You will make mistakes in front of many people. You will get embarrassed. You will get knocked down. You will work harder than you thought possible. You will work out so hard you will puke. You will play for coaches you don’t like. You will play for coaches who don’t like you. You will be criticized.  You will feel like quitting. You will get physically beat up. You will get mentally beat up.

You will get hurt.

You will pay a price.

And it will all be worth it ………

 “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”
Booker T. Washington

Paying the price means prioritizing.  Here are just a few areas that are good to mention concerning this followed by a fun video on ‘Paying the Price’.

Training
I know I have written many prior posts dealing with this topic. Go back and look at them. It goes without saying that there is a price to pay in the gym.

Making Good Decisions
Pay the price. Ask yourself, “What is the right thing to do at this moment that will make me a better player and person?” Let that simple question be your compass. Be honest with yourself and if something will not help you accomplish those two things……then don’t do it.

Friends
Who do you associate with?
Do you pay a price if you don’t associate with the right people? I think we all agree that you do. Pay the price and be selective in the people you surround yourself with. Pick good people to be part of your life.

There is a great story about an old farmer who took his beat up mule to the Kentucky Derby and wanted to enter him in the race. The elite horsemen at the derby said, “Sir, you can’t have have that old mule run with these exceptional thoroughbreds and expect him to beat them…..” to which the farmer replied, “No, I know. I just thought it would do him good to be associated with them….”
Pick people and friends that will raise you up to higher levels not lower you down to theirs. Pay the price and choose wisely.

“Success is like anything worthwhile. It has a price. You have to pay the price to win and you have to pay the price to get to the point where success is possible. Most important, you must pay the price to stay there.” Vince Lombardi

I told you before it was worth it. It is. One of the great things about being an old washed up player is running into other old washed up players. The amazing thing is that when you hear old players talk, they don’t complain about the price they paid……..they only talk about the great things the game has given them.
Playing hockey at any high level requires you to pay a price. But the reward from paying that price is knowing that you now have something special to take with you forever. In life, you can apply the same dedication, the ability to pay the price and accomplish anything you commit to.
That is the secret of ‘The Price You Pay’.

(you knew the Springsteen video was coming. This one is special because it was taken at the old Philadelphia Spectrum….where many a price was paid.:) )

I know that I have been focusing a lot in recent blogs about summer training. That is because I feel strongly that young players need to focus not so much on ‘showcase’ and ‘exposure’ events but on developing as players and people. So here is one more!

“It’s a sad man my friend who’s living in his own skin and can’t stand the company….”
Bruce Springsteen-Better Days

One of the best techniques that many pro athletes cite when asked what makes them successful is one of ‘focused daily improvement’.
Sounds simple enough.
But think about it. If it were so simple wouldn’t more people demonstrate it? If you were to ask yourself at the end of every day, “Did I do something today to become a better hockey player and person today?”  what would you answer? If you can answer yes, then I bet you are comfortable in your own skin. I bet you feel successful.

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden is famous for his quote, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

The thing that a lot of people miss is that every day is a training day. You may not be scheduled for a physical workout or you may be tired and your body needs rest. But there are always things you can do to improve.  Thie internet is a fantastic resource to get content and self improvement information…. for free. Read. Read about sports greats. Read about great people. Learn. Visualize.  Watch game footage of some great players from the past. Watch highlights from NHL GameCenter. Set goals…….Do something to get better.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Will Rogers, Actor & humorist

You can even be hurt and not able to do anything physically and still get better. There is a link to an article posted below that features Sydney Crosby and his battle with injuries. The amazing thing that I took away from that article is that every time he has been hurt and missed significant time, he has come back a better player……His points per game improve every time he is out for a while. He is not playing but he manages to get better. Crosby is one of the greatest players in the game because he pushes to make himself better…..even when he is not playing.  Check out the link when you have a chance.

There are approximately 166 days until September 15th, 2014. Think about if you improve on something, anything, each and every day…….The result will be one improved player and person, without question.

“When I’d get tired and want to stop, I’d wonder what my next opponent was doing. I’d wonder if he was still working out. I’d tried to visualize him. When I could see him working, I’d start pushing myself. When I could see him in the shower, I’d push myself harder.”

Dan Gable, Olympic Gold medal wrestler and NCAA champion wrestling coach from Iowa. The Edge, Howard Ferguson.

 It is no secret that Tiger Woods has an insane work ethic. He is known to stay on the range for hours after everyone else has gone home hitting balls. But one thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that Tiger also studies the game and history of golf like no one else. When he is not physically training, he is mentally training. He has said in interviews that he knows the exact spot from where Jack Nicklaus hit every shot from during the 1986 Masters that Jack won. He also knows what club he hit…….Tiger was 9 years old in 1986. He said he watched every piece of video footage he could find of the winners of the Masters and when he got to Augusta as a pro at age 21, he won the tournament by a record 12 shots. He said he knew exactly how to win there because of what he had seen already.

Tiger studied greatness.

“Make each day your Masterpiece.” Coach Wooden

You cannot change yesterday, and a better tomorrow will be the result of what you do today.

 Great Video on Michael Jordan and his focus when training.

 

Perfection is a goal that can never be reached but that is what you have to pursue. Work tirelessly to improve. Remember, the uphill climb is slow; the downhill road is fast. The quality of your effort counts most.

Make it a goal that for the next 166 days  you are going to ask yourself what you did to get better before you go to sleep each night and most importantly……what are you going to do to

Strive for ‘Better Days’……

(you knew I couldn’t finish without a Springsteen reference. The young guys will get it….someday. 🙂 )

Link To Sydney Crosby Article-Click Here

I posted this last summer for the Dman Club.
Thought it was a good one as you start to think about your summer training.


Guys,

This week’s topic has nothing to do with technique, positioning or skill. 

It is just about will……

Hope it helps when summer training starts to get tough.

Enjoy!

• Don’t think you know it all. See yourself as a life-long learner who is always seeking ways to learn, grow and improve.
• See everyone as a teacher and learn from everyone you meet.
• Be open to new ideas and strategies to take your life, school and work to the next level.
• When people tell you that you are great don’t let it go to your head. And when they tell you that you stink, don’t let it go to your head.
• Be kind to everyone and let people know that they matter.
• Live with humility because the minute you think you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut in your face.
• Humility doesn’t mean you think less of yourself. It just means you think of yourself less.

• Follow your passion, continuously improve, and continue to dream.
• Seek out new ideas, new strategies and new ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
• Invest the time, energy, sweat and dedication to be your best and let God do the rest.
• Be willing to pay the price that greatness requires. Don’t be average. Strive to be great.
• Become the hardest worker you know.
• Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces.
• Decide to leave a legacy. Even at a young age it’s important to think about what legacy you want to leave because knowing how you want to be remembered helps you decide how to live today.
• Don’t focus on where you’ve been. Focus on where you are and where you are going.
• Make your life and work a quest for excellence. Every day ask how I can be better today than I was yesterday?
• Make your next work your best work.

Just some random things that I came across and felt like sharing. No specific reason. Just like them both. 
Where else can you get a hockey blog that references a native american warlord and Springsteen in the same post??? 🙂  
Hope it gets you thinking and you enjoy!

Tecumseh was the courageous, legendary leader of the Shawnee tribe who inspired one of the largest Native American armies in the Great Lakes region and was killed in battle on October 5th, 1813. This is the poem that was featured in the motion picture Act of Valor.

And remember, we are in it together!!! Always moving ahead…..and never looking back.

Most hockey seasons have finished or are close to coming to an end. This is the time of year when everyone is making plans for spring and summer showcases, tournaments, training and things to do hockey related over the summer.
Here is a small piece of advice that I know can help you and will cost you nothing but some thought. 
Set a goal. 
Simple as that. 
With all the planning, exploring and running around chasing ideas and theories on what players ‘have’ to do over the summer, sometimes something as simple as setting a simple improvement goal gets lost. 
Players talk about working hard over the summer and doing this camp or that showcase, but how many actually take some time and identify what they really want to accomplish or should develop over the course of the summer? 
Here is what I suggest. Take an honest look at yourself as a player and identify something specific that you have to improve on over the summer.
Maybe you need to improve your shot. Improve your passing. Become a stronger skater. Get stronger. Get bigger. Improve footspeed. Develop better mental toughness……. The list is endless. 
But you won’t improve on anything if you do not consciously focus on it and have an end goal. 
Whatever the goal is, write it down. 
The process of writing your goal down helps you to clarify what you intend to do, understand the importance of your goal, and commit yourself to making it happen. Writing it down makes you more accountable.

Goals help you determine your priorities and your priorities determine whether you’ll reach your goals. The goal has to be your goal though. Not your parents goal. Not your coaches goal. Your goal.

The key to reaching your potential lies in your ability to continually improve. Activity is not enough, but if you set the right, specific goals and work to reach them, improvement is not only obtainable- it’s inevitable.

The great thing is that once you simply identify and commit to a goal, you get moving towards it. It becomes hard to stop. Much like a train, getting it moving is the hardest part. A train standing still can be prevented from moving forward with one inch blocks of wood under each of it’s drive wheels. Once the train is moving though, a concrete wall can’t stop it.

Get your train moving. 

Set a summer improvement goal.

I recently read some great material on The Navy Seals. Thought I would share some of the passages from the writings of David Rutherford. Not exactly about hockey but if an attitude like this is good for the SEALS then it is good enough for us.

David Rutherford is a Navy Seal and Behavior Training Specialist who served as an operator and instructor during his time with the Seals and participated in clandestine operations in the Middle East,  South Asia and Southeast Asia. Getting a brief glimpse into the minds of people that can and have operated at that high a level can shed some light on how to face any challenge. 

• “Making it through Hellweek was one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. The experience radically altered my perspective on the importance of having a positive attitude. In case you aren’t familiar with the details of Hellweek, allow me to explain. Hellweek is a 5 day ultra-evolution in Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training that lasts from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. During this ultra-evolution, trainees sleep for about 4 hours total, burn 7000 calories a day, run 4 mile timed beach runs, swim 2 mile timed ocean swims, conduct surf passage in giant surf and complete timed obstacle courses. Plus, they receive a constant hammering of mental and physical abuse from sadistic instructors…Imagine not sleeping for 5 straight days, suffering from complete sleep deprivation, hydrophobia and hallucinations, while trying to complete the normal and physical test of regular training while having to cognitively solve problems that have no real solutions from instructors who are trying to make you quit…..This seemingly insane gut-check is the ultimate gateway for the SEAL community.”
• “….For 5 days we were beaten down and forced to test our intestinal fortitude. The instructors had to strip us of any previously learned cognitive or emotional limitations. It is critical to the success of the SEALS to filter out those individuals who lack the Self-Confidence to endure Hellweek…….”

• “Our camaraderie and ability to convert a potentially debilitating situation into a positive one by simply using laughter and maintaining a positive attitude was just what we all needed to endure the next 24 hours of training ….”
• “By Friday we entered the SEAL Zone. Our individual Self-Confidence was completely redefined and our commitment to each other made unbreakable. When we finally reached the infamous Demo Pit, our new attributes had been forged. There was nothing we couldn’t do, alone or as a team. Hellweek SECURED!”
• “I truly understood that I could accomplish anything I wanted as long as I put the full force of my heart and mind behind my effort. Unbreakable Self-Confidence and an impenetrable positive attitude were the essential tools I used to finish Hellweek. This was quite a discovery because once you truly understand you have these abilities; there are no more excuses in your life.”
• “When I was secured from Hellweek, that childlike ability to recognize my potential possibility was reignited in my soul. I knew that whatever I set my mind too was possible if I wholly committed myself to the task and accepted the fact that hard work is part of reaching any dream. I also realized that I was capable of so much more than I had ever imagined. My mind’s inhibition was causing fear that overwhelmed my heart’s desire. I made it through Hellweek because I anchored my heart to my mind.”
• “Find your passion or dream and anchor it to your understanding of the incredible effort it is going to take to achieve mission success. This pure rational emotion will fuel your positive attitude like you have never felt before. This burning feeling will lift you out of the abyss of negativity you’re drowning in and set you on a course to achieving total mission success.”

Guys,
I just wanted to say thank you for the season. I wish work and family commitments hadn’t restricted the time I was able to be there at times. Looking back I feel fortunate and blessed that I got to work with you all and know you not just as hockey players but as people.
Through the ups and down of any season there are always great memories and things to take away as lessons learned. That is the way I like to look at the game. I think that no matter how long your season lasts or what goes on during the season, there are things you learn about yourself and your team that will apply to all parts of your life. I know as a coach this season, that goes for me as well. 
The main thing I hope you learned was that when we played as a together as a team we were very good individual players, and when we played as individuals we were not a very good team…..that is a lesson that will apply to any team or business you are a part of in the future.
There are two other things I hope you can ask yourself and have the answers for now that some time has passed. They are:
“Am I a better player and person than I was at the start of the season?”
“Do I know more about myself, strengths and weaknesses, than I did at the start of the season?” These two questions apply not just on the ice but off of it as well.
I hope you can answer yes to them both. If so, then your season was a success.
I already miss you guys and hope you keep in touch. My email and cell are below and you better use them! (That’s my last coach’s order of the season!) If there is ever anything I can do for you please let me know.
I wish you success in hockey but more importantly wish you success in life.
Cheers!
Coach Huff

khuffman5@gmail.com