Change Your Results!

The difference between those who improve and those who stay stuck often comes down to one key question:

What do I need to do differently to train better?

Improvement doesn’t happen by simply repeating the same practice habits over and over. Repetition only works when reps are intentional, adjusted, and aimed at solving the right problem.

Why Preparation and Execution Matter

When goalies hit a plateau, it’s rarely because they lack effort. More often, they’re caught in the same cycle—working hard, but not working differently.

True progress comes from making small, purposeful adjustments in how you prepare and how you execute.

• Maybe it’s learning to engage your core through a transition instead of relying only on your legs.
• Maybe it’s shifting your focus from reacting to the puck to reading the shooter’s release.
• Maybe it’s changing how you prepare mentally and physically before the puck even drops.

Every meaningful improvement starts with identifying the one different action that unlocks the next level of performance.

Constructive Discomfort

Doing things differently—especially when guided by your coach—won’t always feel comfortable. In fact, it will often feel awkward at first, and that’s a good sign.

When your body and mind are challenged to move outside familiar patterns, you begin building stronger, more efficient habits. That discomfort isn’t failure—it’s feedback.

At Team Shutout, we remind our goalies:

If it feels different, it’s working.

When you trust your coach and commit to doing what’s being asked, that constructive discomfort becomes proof that real learning is happening—and that progress is being made.

How to Spot What Needs to Change

Finding what to do differently starts with awareness. Here are three powerful ways to identify it:

• Video Review
  Watch yourself objectively. What stands out? Where do movements look inefficient, rushed, or disconnected?
• Coach Feedback
  Trusted eyes on the ice can see what you can’t. Listen closely to specific cues and corrections—they point directly to opportunity.
• Self-Check
  After every practice, ask yourself:
  Did I actually work on something different today—or did I just do more of the same?

The Takeaway

Improvement doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from doing things differently—from identifying and committing to the small changes that create big results.

So the next time you step on the ice, don’t just ask:
“Did I work hard today?”

Ask instead:
“What did I do differently today that will make me better tomorrow?”