As a consultant coach for players of all ages and ability levels, I occasionally work with athletes who find themselves playing lower in the lineup than they think they should.
In fact, it is more the rule than the exception that skilled players find themselves starting on the fourth line when transitioning between minor hockey and juniors, or juniors to college, or minor pro to the major league.
How one reacts to an unfavourable situation and how quickly they can move up will determine the course of a career.
Aside from identifying weaknesses and extending strengths from a skills perspective, here are three quick tips on maintaining confidence (in self) and building trust (with coaches) that’ll give a player the best odds of grabbing a larger role on their team.
Tip 1: Control ALL the Controllables
Tip 2: Focus on Yourself On the Bench
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