Discovering the Value Of Camps

Competition is not what it used to be in regards to intercollegiate recruiting. With all the media outlets available to high school athletes, a talented player may be overlooked for someone who can edit a YouTube video and throw some music behind it. Unfortunately, for high school athletes raw talent may not be enough to get the kind of exposure to potential college programs that you are looking for. This isn’t to say you need to create a social media campaign, but high school athletes with a desire to take his or her athletic career to the next level should always look for an advantage. Competitive athletic camps like our EXACT National Player Development Camps give dedicated soccer, baseball, and hockey players that edge.

Attending intensive camps is not a revolutionary idea. For example, in ancient Greek society parents often sent their children to military based recreation camps to give them a leg up on other future Spartan soldiers. The problem is; athletic intensive camps are occasionally overlooked resources.

Like I stated before; it is all too common for an athlete with Division I talent to not get the exposure he or she deserves, and slips through the cracks. This could cause the loss of a better education, missed scholarships, and missed opportunities to develop your game at the highest level. If you are serious player or you are the parent of a serious player looking to play at the next level, you owe yourself these opportunities. 

So what do all competitive athletic camps have to offer?

All of them provide the opportunity to learn and practice new skills to transform your game.  Like any other student, many would argue that you are never done learning. That is the same for sports. For example; even Tiger Woods gets coached. Also, some camps offer a unique opportunity for exposure that a lot of athletes may not get otherwise.

So what does EXACT National College Development Clinic (NCDC)?

In short: All of the above and more. Not only does EXACT NCDC offer you all the physical training you need to take your game to the next level, but it also offers unique MENTAL training too. Being a sports psychology based company, EXACT provides training with the same psychological tools that the pros use. Imagine the difference that anxiety management, improved confidence, goal setting, unparalleled motivation can bring to your game. These are things scouts look for apart from physical talent.

You also get another valuable resource: exposure. This doesn’t just mean exposure for scouting purposes, but rather a unique exposure to college-level methods of development. EXACT Sports works with the top athletic programs at the Division I, II, and III levels. The coaches we work with are the coaches at the camp, giving you direct exposure and the ability to learn directly from the people recruiting you. Here’s an abbreviated list of the Soccer, Baseball, and Hockey programs who coach our camps:

                University of North Carolina

                University of Texas

                University of Miami

                Oklahoma State University

                Marquette University

                University of Arizona

                University of Utah

                University of Wisconsin

                Indiana University

                And many more…

Where else are you going to experience this type of exposure AT THE SAME TIME? Now let me clearly state these are not recruiting events. However, in the EXACT Sports network, coaches talk, and players looking for more exposure may open a valuable doorway to the future.

But what does the research say? Well, in a recent study by Georgia Hinman PhD she found out just how valuable these camps are.

“46% of D1 athletes attended exposure camps and 88% found it useful.  Same thing at the D3 level as well with 32% attending and 94% finding it useful.   While it is very important to attend camps, there are a options that need to be considered when selecting camps including coach to player ratio, quality of the instructors, mission & quality of the training, costs involved and other factors.  With approximately 64% of D1 players attending 4 or more youth camps, it could possibly be attributed to the amount of training and exposure the athletes were given (28% attended 10 or more)”

 The EXACT goal is to provide not only a well-structured training experience, but to also provide a strong ‘value’ from unique mental development and exposure to many programs at once.

The key for all players looking to play intercollegiate sports and beyond is to give yourself as much of an advantage as possible. EXACT Sports NCDC provides an unbelievable ‘bang for your buck.’ Take it from a former player; even if you are unable to attend our camp do not overlook other competitive exposure camps that will give you that leg up. They may just be the most valuable resource available.

~ Eric @ Exact

*If you have any questions about our upcoming events please feel free to email myself or my colleague Jared @ eric.rancke@exactsports.org or jared.blitz@exactsports.org *

The Life of a College Hockey Player – A conversation with Cornell’s Hayley Hughes

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Hayley Hughes, a junior forward for the Cornell Big Red Women’s Hockey team. Hayley, a psychology major, managed EXACT’s Neurocognitive Testing Station at the recent NHL Draft Combines in Toronto.  Cornell Big Red women’s team had a tremendous season this year, losing the NCAA Championship game in Triple OT to the UMN-Duluth Bulldogs. I asked Hayley a number of questions regarding life as a college student athlete.

Mentally, how challenging is the college hockey season?

There is so much more that goes into hockey than just playing the games. You have to be prepared in every aspect of the game. Whether it is nutrition, skills, or fitness, your mentality is what drives you to do well in all of these areas. Therefore, mentally, the college hockey season is very tough considering you spend so much time preparing for a limited amount of games. You have to be ready for each one, and that means being ready for every game and practice and dealing with the distractions of the college life.

How do you balance academics, hockey, training, and friends?

In college hockey, you have to learn to make sacrifices. As NCAA athletes, we do not get to have the typical college experience. Primarily, I am going to college to get a good education. As much as I love hockey, my academics are very important to me. It took some time, but it was mainly through experience that I have learned the proper way to manage my time. I am able to stay caught up in school in order for me to truly focus on training and hockey when the time comes. Unfortunately, this sometimes means I am sacrificing some of my social life. However, the team knows that we are all here because we love the game, and if that means sacrificing a few nights out, we are willing to put that aside to play.

Describe your team last season, and what were the key qualities of your team that allowed you to defy the odds and make it to the NCAA Championship game?

I think one of the most important things about our team last year is that even though no one expected us to be a challenge, we had no doubt in our minds that we could be the team to beat. Right from the start, my coach set goals for our team that involved winning everything possible. It’s hard to explain, but when I looked around the dressing room I could see it. I could see a team that was willing to do anything to win. Besides believing in ourselves, another very important quality I felt we had was team cohesion. We were a small team and we knew we needed everybody to bring their best game in order to succeed. In that sense, we were hard on each other, pushing each other to be better. Negativity was not tolerated. You cannot have one single player who doesn’t want to be there, who doesn’t want to put forth every effort possible, because if you do the whole system breaks down.

How would you describe the experience of the frozen four, and in particular going into 3 OTs for the final game?

The frozen four was such an amazing experience. For me, it felt like it was our Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s hard to explain a feeling like that. Everyone was ecstatic and energetic because we knew we deserved to be there. Nothing else mattered that weekend. It was like hockey was our life and our only job, which we all agreed was one of the best feelings we had ever felt. I think one of the biggest differences at the frozen four compared to regular season was the advertisement and promotion of the weekend. I think it’s great that we had conferences, media coverage, and things like custom-made shirts and posters because it really helps the promotion of women’s sports. Again, that ties in with the feeling that we were part of something really spectacular and I am very thankful my team was able to experience it.

What did that final game bring about physically, mentally and emotionally for the team?

My team was definitely pushed to the max physically, mentally and emotionally. In a game that lasts 3 overtimes, it is obviously physically strenuous. Playing two games of hockey back-to-back would be strenuous for anyone. Although we were a physically prepared team, I think we all knew that we had run out of gas, as had the other team. In my opinion it really hurt our team because we aren’t the most skilled team in the league. We do have a lot of skill, but most of our successes have come from second efforts and out-working the other team. Mentally and emotionally, our team was tested. When you are physically exhausted, you become irritated and agitated. However, instead of doing that, from what I heard in the dressing room the team was doing their best to keep their cool. Again, we had focused on positivity all year as we had a small roster and we knew we needed everyone. I think all of these combined things made the loss that much more disappointing. We had given everything and were strained in all aspects, and we felt like we were left with nothing. But despite the loss, we had lost together. We can honestly say that this team stuck together all year, and what we accomplished really made history at Cornell.

You mentioned being injured over the last games, how hard was it to sit there and watch your teammates and not be able to help them out on the ice?

I think the feelings experience while playing during a game, and the feelings experience while watching your team play is entirely different. In a game you are nervous, but it allows you to find motivation to get excited for the game and pushes you to want to affect the game somehow, whether it be pumping up your teammates or making a great play. However, from the stands it’s an entirely different feeling. The lack of control is really the worst part of it. You’re nervousness just keeps growing and growing and you have no way of getting rid of it because you cannot go out there and do what you think needs to be done. Also, not being able to play in the most important games of our season was just heart-wrenching. I had done my best to help the team all year to make it where we were, and I couldn’t help them finish the job. They did so well though and I am extremely proud of every one of them.

What are your summer plans to help you get ready for next season?

As I said before, playing hockey at an elite level really requires some level of sacrifice. This means sacrificing some of the relaxing and social areas of my summer. I currently work 9-5 Monday through Friday at a gym, where I also workout five days of the week. With the help of a summer program provided by my team’s trainer, I am focusing on weight training, cardio, and agility to get as prepared as possible for pre-season training and practices. The atmosphere at the gym I go to is great because it consists of mainly hockey players and other athletes which really helps me push myself to become better and stronger. Although I do plan on getting on the ice, it will not nearly be as often as my off-ice training. Also, individually I like to focus on things I think need improving. For example, for me I really would like to be more of an offensive threat next year. Therefore, I want to work on my supper body strength to make myself a more dangerous shooter, and my core strength to make myself harder to push off the puck, and my agility in order to be able to move quickly out of the corners and into the slot. Although it is hard work, I love how it makes me feel. Finally, nutrition is so important. In order to get the most benefit out of my training, I have to be eating the proper meals. I get as much advice as I can from my trainer at school and at home, and also from other athletes, in order to try and tailor my diet specifically to me. A successful season starts in the summer.

Describe your experience at the NHL Combines.

Being able to witness the 2010 NHL combine was a great experience. Although young, the players at the combine had been preparing a long time for these tests and it really showed that weekend. Each player went through a series of tests, some more strenuous than others, but I felt they were all mentally challenging as there was a lot of media and scouts keeping a close eye on all of them. After tests that measured their strength, explosiveness, agility, and balance, each player was pushed to the max in Wingate test and the VO2 test. In my opinion this is where the players were really tested for their physical preparation and mental toughness. As part of the EXACT Sports team that weekend, I assisted with the psychological testing station as an intern. After a very tough VO2 test, the players came to my station, where I administered to them a spatial orientation awareness test, to test their ability to focus during exhaustion. The professional and exciting atmosphere that I worked in that weekend really made for an amazing couple of days and also helped me to gain experience in the professional field. It really combined my love of sports and my interest in psychology. Furthermore, it enabled me to apply my knowledge while also gaining some from the professionals in the business. I truly gained insight into the hockey world and the field of sports psychology and I have EXACT Sports and the people running the 2010 NHL combine to thank for that.

Mental and emotional preparation, time management, and understanding the importance of balancing hockey, academics, and friends are essential qualities for becoming a capable student athlete at the college level.

Of note, Edith Zimmering, one of Hayley’s assistant coaches at Cornell University, will be instructing at the upcoming National College Development Clinic in Montreal over the July 3-4 weekend. Coach Zimmering brings a wealth of goaltending expertise and will work one-on-one with the goalies over the course of the camp. Any hockey players that have an interest in working with some of the top Division I and Division III coaches, should check out the EXACT Hockey website.

First Impressions – Make them count

As we prep for Day 1 of testing at the NHL Combines, many of the players have already undergone several interviews with prospective teams.  These interviews are opportunities for GMs and Player Directors to get to know the players on a personal level.  Teams have had plenty of opportunities to evaluate a prospects playing ability, yet most have not had a chance to meet with players in a 1-on-1 setting.  Thus, creating a great first impression is paramount and could be a key factor in getting drafted.

The ability to create a good first impression is something that everyone should aspire to do. You want to be yourself, present yourself appropriately, be polite, smile, and be confident.

As many of you will be attending summer college camps, showcases, tournaments, and visiting colleges this summer, it is essential that you carry yourself appropriately. The college hockey coaching world is small and coaches talk to each other about prospects all the time. So its important to work hard, compete, and be on your best behavior at all times – you never know who might be watching. You only have one chance to make a good first impression and whether or not people admit it, they are judging you and forming an opinion of you the moment you first enter their lives.

Mental Training for Hockey

Start your hockey mental training today. Here is a follow-up on yesterday’s blog post with some simple techniques to begin training your brain.

At the elite levels of most sports, the competition is usually pretty tight, with most participants having a similar level of fitness and skill, and thus, the margin for victory is small.  Coaches and players are beginning to realize that in order to stay one step ahead of their competition, they need to practice more than just skill and technique, they need to train the mental aspect of their game. So when faced with similarly skilled competition, it is the team that is more mentally prepared, more poised, and more confident that will emerge the victor.

Concentration, confidence, composure and commitment are considered the primary mental qualities that are essential for successful performance in sports.  Collectively, these are known as the the 4C’s.

• Concentration: the ability to maintain focus
• Confidence: the belief in one’s abilities
• Composure: the ability to maintain emotional control
• Commitment: the ability to set and work towards pre-defined goals

The techniques of mental imagery, goal-setting, and focus can help athletes achieve the 4C’s.

With mental imagery, players imagine performing a specific movement or skill.  This technique helps activate the same neural pathways from the brain to the muscles that are used to perform the actual movement.  There is a plethora of scientific evidence that demonstrates the concept of mental rehearsal leading to an improvement in performance.

Goal-setting is a motivating technique that simply involves setting short-term and long-term goals for yourself. Think about an ideal future and then set incremental goals to turn your vision of the future into reality. You will learn to effectively use time and resource management to achieve short-term goals, which raises one’s level of confidence and leads to increased levels of motivation.

You can improve your ability to focus much like any other skill (ie. with practice and training). The simplest form of meditation can be used to achieve greater focus through concentrating on an object — study the object, focus completely on that object — what does it look like, its shape and color, how does it smell, what is its texture — learn how to control your breathing and focus your mind and energy on the simplest of tasks.

One of the biggest obstacles with mental training lies in overcoming the perceived “silliness and triviality” of some of the techniques used. But hey, this is something that can be done on your own time, in your own space, with no-one else around. Use this time wisely and correctly, and you will notice an increase in your performance, but like the development of any skill, mental training takes time and patient. Learn these techniques and many others by attending one of our summer college hockey camps.

Playoff Goaltending: Skill vs. Mental

Plenty of critics will tell you that goaltending is 90% mental. Is it really?

Any skilled performance has a mental component. At the elite level in any sport, the difference in skill between Player A and Player B is probably minimal, so what makes Player A more successful? If skill levels are equal, then the mental component can be the pivotal difference, perhaps even enough to overcome a disadvantage in skill.   No better example exists than goaltending in the playoffs. Reporters cling to the teams with the “hot goalie” and every year there seem to be prime examples of goaltenders bringing it in the playoffs (Halak with the Habs and Anderson with the Avalanche are current examples).

In Patrick Roy’s words “For goaltenders everything is playing between your ears. If you can believe it, you can do it. If you’re not confident when you start, it makes a difference.” As a young goaltender, how do you develop this confidence? How do you become mentally tough? How can you put yourself in the zone? These are the types of questions we (at EXACT Sports) continually ask ourselves. Our mental diagnostics are designed to provide a unique portrait of who you are and help you learn more about how to improve the psychological aspect of your game. We designed these tools and they are currently used by the NHL and over 100 NCAA programs (Read about EXACT and the sport psychology done at the NHL combine). EXACT’s new summer college hockey camp program (National College Development Clinic) brings these same tools to high school athletes across the country.  In addition, all camps will be led by current NCAA college coaches. Over 25 different NCAA college hockey programs committed to instruct at our hockey camps this summer, including coaches from programs such as Mercyhurst College, Syracuse University, University of North Dakota, Amherst College, Gustavus Adolphus and many others.

Most players I know spend hours everyday working on their physical skills, but very few (actually none really), give much thought on mental training. The main reason is they probably have never been taught how to develop the mental aspect of their game. Now is the time to start! If you want to surpass the player next to you,  you need to start training your brain too. Start your hockey mental training today.