Photo by Maurice DT
In youth ice hockey, emphasis is often placed on winning, which can create a culture that discourages mistakes. However, research has shown that embracing mistakes as a learning tool is critical for skill development and long-term success.
Importance of Embracing Mistakes
Mistakes are often seen as failures, but they are actually a critical component of learning. When athletes make mistakes, they have the opportunity to identify areas for improvement and refine their skills. In fact, research has shown that making mistakes can lead to better performance in the long run (Roemmich, Floyer, & Smith, 2020).
Furthermore, embracing mistakes can help athletes develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that one's abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. When athletes have a growth mindset, they are more likely to persevere through challenges and setbacks, and ultimately achieve their goals (Dweck, 2006).
What can we do?
Many of us struggle at times with the fear of failure, or the fear of making a mistake, which can often lead to harsh self-judgement. Whether it’s as a player who gets at least one tripping penalty every game (often out of desperation as the opponent makes a move around us), or as the goaltender who just let two in back-to-back, these situations—these mistakes—can leave us feeling as though we’re teetering on the edge of a cliff. But they shouldn’t, and here’s what we can do about it:
Be willing to look stupid
One way to overcome the fear of failure is to be willing to look stupid, as reaching, failing, and reaching again is the way the brain grows and forms new connections (Coyle, 2012). It is essential to remember that mistakes are not really mistakes; they are guideposts that players can use to improve their skills. To achieve this, players must catch themselves when they fall into the traps of self-judgment and negative self-talk.
A 2019 study showed that failure-fearing hockey players have a higher chance to be rated as part of the lowest-performance group on their team. On the other hand, players that are goal oriented, self-determined, hope for success, and have a low fear of failure, are likely to be rated by their coaches as belonging to the top-level players on the team (Zuber & Conzelmann, 2019).
In order to free ourselves from this fear of failure, to begin embracing mistakes as the skill-building tools that they are, and to set out on a path towards rapid development, many players will do well to heed the wisdom of ancient yoga philosophy: "You become what you think".
Self judgements usually become self-fulfilling prophecies. The negative self-talk, when repeated enough, will be believed subconsciously.
If you tell yourself enough, "I'm terrible at one-timers", a kind of hypnotic process takes place. The subconscious is being given a role to play—someone who is bad at one-timers—and they will play this role to a tee, suppressing for the time being their true capabilities.
"But if I can't connect with a one-timer, do you expect me to ignore my faults and pretend my game is fine?" No. Letting go of judgements does not mean ignoring errors. It simply means seeing events as they are and not adding anything to them. Nonjudgmental awareness might observe that during practice you miss 50 percent of your one-timers. It doesn't ignore the fact. It may accurately describe your ability to connect with a one-timer on that day as erratic and seek to discover the causes. Judgment begins when the miss is labeled as "bad" and causes interference with one's playing when a reaction of anger, frustration or discouragement follows.
Judgment results in tightness, and tightness interferes with the fluidity required for accurate and rapid movement (Gallwey, 1974).
During a game, if you make a mistake or miss an opportunity, let it go. When you get back to the bench, replay the video in your mind and imagine how it would look (and feel) if executed perfectly. That's it.
During practice, follow the same method. Get back in line, replay the video of perfect execution, and get ready for your next rep.
Coaches' Role in Embracing Mistakes
Coaches play a critical role in creating a culture that embraces mistakes. Coaches should create an environment where athletes feel comfortable making mistakes and understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Coaches can provide immediate feedback that helps athletes correct mistakes and encourage athletes to take risks and push beyond their comfort zone.
Furthermore, coaches should model the behavior they want to see in their athletes. If coaches are open about their own mistakes and demonstrate a growth mindset, athletes are more likely to embrace mistakes themselves.
Thank you for taking a moment to read and support the cause. Remember, every mistake is an opportunity for growth and improvement.
Better every day—on and off the ice.
References
Coyle, D. (2012). The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. Bantam.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
Gallwey, W. T. (1974). The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance. Random House.
Roemmich, R. T., Floyer, J. T., & Smith, R. E. (2020). The Role of Errors in Motor Learning. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 42(5), 297–305. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2019-0259
Zuber, C., & Conzelmann, A. (2019). Fear of failure and self-efficacy in hockey players. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1433. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01433
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