The Big Game or Try Out

Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Eat dinner as normal, go to bed at your regular bedtime, get up at your regular time, same old breakfast that works for you. Business as usual. Once during my pro career, the night before a final game, my coach decided to take the team to an army barracks for a night of team bonding. We all slept in one room in bunk beds, itchy wool blankets. None of us slept. We lost the game. Bad idea.

The night before a big game is not the time to experiment. Your body and mind have a routine that works. Stick to it. Changing your sleep schedule, your food, or your environment introduces variables you don't need. Control what you can control and leave everything else alone.

Focus on Process, Not Outcome

Focusing on the outcome can sabotage your performance. Focus on the process and the now. Don't think about scoring a goal, winning, impressing a coach or scout who will be watching. Focus on your job in the game and the try out. Read your LIST that I always talk about, your responsibilities in the game as a forward, D, or goalie.

The players who perform best under pressure are the ones who shrink the moment down to one task. What is my job on this next shift? That is the only question that matters. Scouts and coaches are watching how you execute your role, not whether you score. Do your job the right way and the results will follow.

Keep Your Mind Distracted

In the days or minutes before the big day, watch a movie, listen to music, do homework, engage in conversation with friends, family, and teammates that are not about the game or try out. Don't hyper focus on the big event. It will make you stressed. Learn to distract your mind. Parents can be good at helping with this on the car ride over. Ask your son or daughter what may be a good place for the next family vacation. Talk about something lighthearted and fun. Talk about the summer and fun family plans. Change the subject from the big game or big try out.

This is not about ignoring the moment. It is about managing your energy leading into it. Anxiety grows when you feed it. A relaxed mind performs better than a tense one. Parents, your job on that car ride is more important than you think. Keep it light, keep it easy, and let your kid walk into that rink with a clear head.

Stay Present During Competition

Keep your focus during the game on the NOW, the next shift. When on the bench, watch your teammates. Stay in the moment play by play and shift by shift. Focus on your job for the next shift.

Bad shifts happen. Turnovers happen. The players who bounce back fastest are the ones who move on immediately. You cannot fix what already happened, but you can control what you do next. Flush the bad shift, get your head up, and be ready to go when your number is called again.

Play Your Game

Don't try to do too much. Play your game, but REMEMBER to play up your strengths and play down your weaknesses. If your skating is your strength, skate like the wind. My strengths were my hard shot, quick skating, moving the puck with hard passes, and my physical game. Not stick handling and not trying to beat guys one on one. Play up your strengths. Those are what will help your team or help you make the team.

Tom Brady is not a runner. He doesn't run the ball. He throws it. Business as usual. I was not the best stick handler. If I tried to over handle the puck, things would go south in my own game. Keep it simple. Do your job.

A tryout is not the place to add new moves to your game. It is the place to show coaches the best version of what you already do well. Know your strengths cold and lean on them hard. That is what separates the players who make the team from the ones who try to be something they are not.

Preparation Eliminates Stress

Check your bag the night before. Get there early. Don't leave any room for error in rushing or causing any added stress. You are prepared. Preparation takes away nervousness. You did your job in the days and months prior to this big game or try out. Be calm and confident. Let the chips fall as they may. You did your best.

The work was done long before you stepped in that rink. The big game is just the test. If you put in the time during practice, during training, and in your own development, you have nothing to prove to anyone except yourself. Walk in ready and trust what you have built.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How should a hockey player eat before a big game or tryout?

Eat what you normally eat. This is not the time to try a new pre-game meal because someone told you it works for them. Stick with foods your body knows and digests well. Eat at your normal time, keep portions reasonable, and hydrate consistently throughout the day before.

How can parents help their child before a big hockey tryout?

Keep the environment calm and normal. Avoid putting extra pressure on your kid by talking about the tryout constantly in the days leading up to it. On the car ride over, steer the conversation somewhere light. Ask about a vacation, a movie, anything that takes the focus off the event. A relaxed kid skates better than a stressed one.

What should a youth hockey player focus on during a tryout?

Focus on your role and your responsibilities, not the scoreboard. Coaches are evaluating how well you execute your position, how you compete, and how you respond after mistakes. Know your strengths and lean on them. Play your game, not someone else's version of what you think a coach wants to see.

Is it normal to feel nervous before a big game or tryout?

Yes, and it means you care. The goal is not to eliminate nerves but to manage them. Stick to your routine, distract your mind in the hours before, and keep your focus on the process once the puck drops. Preparation is the best cure for nerves. When you know you have done the work, confidence takes over.