Dealing with Distractions

Article is from the Website - The Hockey Source!

Distractions cause you to turn away from your original focus of interest. If your attention is drawn away from your game, even for a second, then you are distracted. Distractions can test your focus and ability to continue with your current thought. Unwanted noises or interruptions can make a player fan on his shot or lose sight of the puck. Natural distractions such as poor ice quality or ill-fitting equipment can also be distracting.

Distractions are different for players in different age groups. For example, 

5-8 years old:	A small bird flies in the rink and flutters from one rafter to another.
9-10 years old:	A player with new equipment thinks about how it does not feel right.
12-13 years old:	A player is told by his grandparent that if he scores or gets a
	shutout, he will receive a gift or money.
14-16 years old:	A player has his new girlfriend watching him for the first time.

With time, players learn to block out these distractions and stay focused on their game. Most adults would ignore the distractions mentioned in the examples above but to a young player, these can affect how they think and react in a game. 

A great way to handle distractions is to deal with them in advance. For example, coaches could play loud music in a practice while drills are going on or they could invite parents and friends in the stands to scream and yell during a practice. After a while, this will eventually aid the players to block out the distractions. Deal with the potential distractions before a game. That way you can focus on what you want in a game and not be preoccupied by what you don't want.