So what is preseason all about anyway??

WWud up wud uppp! So I have survived six days of preseason – woo hoo! Just over two years ago, before going into my freshman year I was freaking out because I had NO idea what to expect.  I remember calling up Tjerk on my drive down to Richmond semi-freaking out.  In this blog I will tell you what a typical D1 preseason looks.  The day before preseason starts, the team arrives, gets situated in their dorms and has meetings (usually pretty boring, going over rules etc, but really exciting being back at school and seeing the team). Probably the team will have a team dinner/activity that night.  Most likely early the next morning is conditioning tests and a pretty intense practice.  Teams usually have two-a-days, which is when you practice in the morning and in the afternoon (ya, pretty crazy) and sometimes teams have an activity/lift/video/meeting in the middle of the day or after the second session. In between sessions is relaxing time and time to eat/sleep/shower/organize dorm room/rehab for injured peeps.

Coming in my freshman year I mainly focused on my conditioning – and while I was in amazing shape and could easily run a sub 6 minute mile, I quickly learned that no matter how much you can lift, how fast you can sprint or if you can or can’t run a marathon, the only thing that will get you on the field is how well you play hockey. The summer going into my sophomore year I made it a goal of mine to completely step up my game, so every day from June 19 to preseason I dribbled a half a mile – no matter the weather or how sick I was – I even came home early from an amusement park with all my friends to do so. This year I needed to work on my vision and passing so this past summer after all the World Camp campers left the field for dinner I would grab a bag of balls and ask other counselors to do small scrimmages with me.

Preseason isn’t that bad if you come in shape (hockey shape and fitness shape) but most importantly with a good attitude (I know it sounds wicked cliche, but it is so true).  Preseason will be awful if you come in not super excited to play and win – it takes a ridiculous amount of energy to stay mentally and physically focused throughout each session during preseason and in order to have a successful one, you have to be in the right spirit (but i guess you wouldn’t join a D1 program if you didn’t have that, would you?). 

Alrighty, well that is my schpeel for now.  How hope you got a little taste of what D1 preaseson is like – and if you have any questions please ask!!! 

Speaking of preseason good luck with all of your preseasons!! One piece of advice: DO NOT COMPLAIN!! it will solve nothing and only irritate other people – be optimistic and encourage your teammates (trust me, you will be rewarded for having a good attitude). 

Peace, love and hockey    

-Tori

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~