You know that feeling you had in school when you didn’t properly prepare for a test? You’re anxious about what might happen and a bit angry you didn’t plan ahead. There’s no question that cramming for the exam is never fun, and tryouts are a lot like that.
When you don’t feel prepared, tryouts can stir up a whirlwind of emotions for young hockey players and their families. The pressure to secure a spot on the team can feel daunting, but don’t worry, we can help!
At Gary Roberts Performance, we've cultivated a winning formula designed to set you up with the tools and confidence needed to feel confident at tryouts. Our time-tested approach – Fuel, Train, Recover – is the cornerstone of our training philosophy.
We created to FTR Method because it’s not enough to just show up physically prepared but well-fuelled and mentally primed to showcase your skills on the ice. Let's dive into how the FTR approach can elevate your performance and help alleviate some of the stress associated with tryouts.
FUEL
- Optimize your Nutrition: Proper nutrition is the fuel that powers peak performance. Pay special attention to your energy levels during this period and make sure you’re eating enough food to support your training! Our team of sports nutritionists has worked with hundreds of players, and one of the biggest issues we see is under-eating!
- Hydrate: Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining optimal performance on the ice. In fact, dehydration is the number one cause of decreased performance. Always keep a water bottle on you and sip it throughout the day. You don’t want to play catch up with your hydration. Feeling thirsty is a sign you’ve gone too long.
TRAIN
- Consistent Workouts: Although you might feel tired from the season the 4-6 weeks between the end of the season and tryouts isn’t time to take your foot off the gas. Stay consistent with your workouts – 2-4 per week – and focus on shoring up weak points or nagging injuries that occurred during the season.
- Stay on the Ice: We often talk about the value of taking a break from skating but being in hockey shape requires you to skate. You don’t want to show up to tryouts and feel tired and sluggish on the ice so keep skating. It’s okay to reduce the number of sessions but don’t get off the ice completely just yet!
RECOVER
- Get Treated: The season is long, and chances are you have an injury or two that needs to be addressed. Use this time to see a sports therapist – if you’re in our area, our team would love to see you – and prioritize recovery! In addition to working with a professional, we’ll have our players follow soft tissue, dynamic stretching, and mobility routines on their own. By incorporating these practices into your routine, we help accelerate muscle repair and reduce the risk of injury.
- Rest and Revitalize: Quality sleep and stress management are crucial components of the recovery process. The season can throw your schedule out of whack, so spend this time re-establishing healthy sleep habits and managing stress to ensure that you're mentally and physically ready for each tryout session.
We hope you take those tips to heart and put yourself in the best position to succeed this year at tryouts. Over the last decade, our team has worked with hundreds of athletes to reach their full potential. You often see the elite players we work with like Connor McDavid and Steven Stamkos, but they make up a small percentage of the players we work with daily and watching a young player crack a roster gets us just as excited as an NHL player finding success.
Ready to take the first step towards tryout success? Visit our Get Started page to schedule your complimentary consultation and discover how we can help you reach your goals on and off the ice.
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