Any draft day can be emotional.
Heck, the whole draft year can get the best of athletes.
As an athlete in the midst of climbing the ranks – the draft can become all encompassing.
From where you are sitting as the athlete – it can seem bigger than what it actually is.
Too many athletes get consumed in the unknown, the predictions, and the expectations – this results in 3 common challenges:
- Deterioration of your mindset and performance
Which can be very costly during these crucial years of your career. - Stress & worry about your career
Instead of just enjoying the journey, which is a key to performing at your best. - Slowing down your development
You end up too focused on short-term results and overlook playing the long-game.
We work with a lot of players during draft years for those exact reasons.
Here are the 3 key steps to keep a healthy perspective and handle the “draft”:
STEP 1: Take a Critical Lens to the Draft
Be sure to use a “Critical Lens” when thinking about the draft.
It is not a make or break moment in your career like you might think.
The draft might be important, but the results (positive or negative) DO NOT predict the trajectory of your career.
It’s just a day, it’s just a result, it does not determine your future.
For example, only 60% of OHL first round picks ever get drafted into the NHL.
Positivity Bias
One of the biggest challenges is all the positivity bias players receive about the draft.
Everyone is going to want to tell you how likely you are to get drafted or how you are going to get selected. No one wants to be a “negative Nancy”.
Even the teams drafting you will say things like “yeah for sure we will take you in the third round if you are available” then BAM – change of mind in the midst of it.
So it’s important to take a critical lens to all this positivity bias. This does not mean to put yourself down but rather keep a healthy perspective on the range of results.
The mistake most players make is adopting this positivity bias and then putting all this internal pressure on themselves.
If you start telling yourself “I should get drafted in the top 3 rounds”, well now you will feel the need to meet that, and the reality is you can’t predict when you are going to go and every year many players go later in the draft than they were “predicted”.
STEP 2: Own Your Story & Move Forward
It is important to OWN your story, regardless of what happens.
If you are happy with your selection, don’t get complacent and take your foot off the gas.
Getting the result you wanted doesn’t ensure future success.
Yes, you can celebrate your achievement and own your success, but the work is not over, you need to keep developing.
If you are NOT happy with your selection, don’t get demoralized and lose motivation.
Not getting the results you wanted doesn’t prevent future success.
Turn the result into an advantage. Cultivate your resilience, increase your drive, and develop a “positive” chip on your shoulder.
Proving others wrong should not be your primary motive but it can be like adding rocket fuel to a fire.
It is Just a Result
The bottom line is that the draft is just a result.
It doesn’t predict the future – so don’t give it more weight than it deserves.
There will be players that get drafted very high and not pan out. While others will get drafted very late or not at all, yet go on to have great careers.
So regardless of your result, continue to be the hero of your story and take initiative in writing the next page of your life by staying grounded, centered, and enjoying the game you love.
STEP 3: Stay Connected to the Love of the Game
Remember to stay connected to the love of the game.
As you rise the ranks and your sport becomes more serious, it is very easy to lose sight of why you started playing in the first place.
When you were younger you didn’t start playing to get drafted, make lots of money, and become famous.
You played because it was fun!
But now all the flashy results of the draft, the next level, the fame, and the contracts can consume your focus.
You can have the goals and intentions to achieve those various results, but don’t confuse your goals with your why.
Your goals are changing but why you play remains the same.
The more you block out extrinsic motivators, and stay focused on things such as your love of the game, embracing and enjoying challenges, and having fun – the better you will perform.
Yes the draft might be important, but it is not everything.
Do not let it skew your perception of who you are as an athlete or person!
In summary any draft can be an emotional process, but you can keep a healthy perspective by following these 3 steps:
- Take a Critical Leans to the Draft
- Own Your Story & Move Forward
- Stay Connected to the Love of the Game
By handling the draft, you will be able to enjoy the journey of your career and optimize your performance.
Please share this with anyone you think would benefit.
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Nicholas Santino is a Senior High-Performance Coach, PhD Candidate, and the official Mental Performance Consultant for Elite Prospects. From his specialized psychology research program, to his PhD studies, Nicholas has gained a tremendous foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the human experience. His passion for psychology has accumulated to a commitment to studying and applying positive psychology and stoicism. This commitment has led Nicholas to conduct many research studies focusing on understanding why and how some people thrive and prosper while others do not. His admiration for evidence-based solutions has propelled Nicholas to produce studies revolving around mindfulness, grit (perseverance and passion), performance, quality participation, social relationships, and well-being.
A Native of Quebec, Sara was part of the St. Lawrence University Women’s Ice Hockey team that competed in the NCAA Division 1 hockey league ECAC. During this time, Sara helped her team appear in four ECAC Hockey Tournaments and two NCAA Frozen Fours, and was a four-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad. Following her career at St. Lawrence University, Sara played one year of professional hockey with Lugano, where she truly honed her skills in understanding the intricate connection between mindset and performance.
Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
Natasha Habert draws from her training in sport and performance psychology, personal experiences as a competitive athlete, and deep passion for consistent high performance. She is a lifelong athlete and high performer, excelling in volleyball as both a player and coach.
Luciano’s hockey career is highlighted by his time playing college at the University of Victoria and two professional seasons in Europe. Throughout his career, he struggled with performance anxiety, a lack of consistency, fluctuations in confidence, and being caught in the results trap. This eventually led him to deviate from the main reason why anyone should play sports – for the enjoyment of the game. As a former athlete, Luciano has a unique understanding of the psychological pressures and struggles that athletes experience.
Alexis Woloschuk is a name synonymous with mental fortitude in the world of professional hockey. Throughout her career originating playing boys hockey, going to an academy away from home, playing her four years at Boston University and 7+ years in pro hockey she’s learned the importance of resilience, confidence, and dismissing both fear and other’s opinions. With a blend of relatability, confidence, and an acute understanding of playing to one’s potential, Alexis helps athletes reshape the way they perceive and harness the power of their minds.
Sean Mahoney is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a Master’s candidate in the Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. For as long as he can remember, Sean has been fascinated by human performance and how to gain an edge over the competition. For most of his athletic career, he focused on the physical aspect of performance but neglected the mental. Because of this, he struggled with performance anxiety, focus issues, and limiting beliefs pertaining to confidence and self-doubt. His lack of focus on optimizing his mental game prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Savannah Fitzgerald is earning her M.A. in Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Option at California State University, Fresno. Possessing an internal motor that fires her rage for success, Savannah forged this attribute over five years while competing as an NCAA D-I water polo player and swimmer. Combined with her opportunity to represent and compete for the United States, she feels that sport has significantly impacted her professional development. Due to her personal experience playing at all levels, Savannah’s passion for mental performance began when she struggled to overcome pre-competition nerves and post-competition processing. When she discovered a world out there that people were referring to as ‘sport psychology,’ she felt like a piece of her brain was unlocked. Reality shifted as she stumbled into a space consisting of the most beautiful blend of elite performance, mental well-being, and athletics.
Gabe is currently completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. Although Gabe played several years of high-level baseball, including a stint in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL), he chose hockey as his sport to pursue at the highest level possible. Gabe went on to play four years of junior hockey with the Richmond Sockeyes in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) while also coaching minor hockey. Prior to junior hockey, Gabe played 3 years in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) where he experienced the pressures and expectations of moving on to the next level. During those three years, Gabe constantly compared himself to others and struggled with coping when things did not go his way. Over time, he learned how to focus on his own process and path to the next level, while also developing strategies to improve well-being.
Louie is a mental performance coach from Toronto, Canada with a professional hockey career spanning over 14 years. Being a standout player at the University of Michigan, Louie was a Hobey Baker finalist and a 1st team All-American, which led him to getting drafted by the Ottawa Senators and playing in renowned leagues across the globe, including the DEL, SHL, and AHL.
Mia Landry is a former varsity hockey player at Brock University, where she competed at the USPORT level and was part of the 2021-22 OUA gold medal team. Mia currently represents Canada on the Women’s National Ball Hockey team and is pursuing a Master of Kinesiology Sport Psychology at her alma mater. Her research focuses on areas such as team cohesion, group dynamics, leadership styles, and sports culture.
As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Max is currently attending William James College, where he is earning a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters Degree in Professional Psychology. During his time as an undergraduate student, Max was inducted into the International Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), and played on the Quinnipiac University men’s club ice hockey team.
