Cumulative fatigue is real. Even if you feel like you’re recovering after taking some time off, your reserves might be depleted still. I really struggle to stay focused in the third period of 930pm games. I hope that your sleep schedule improves eventually. It’s something I struggle with too. I have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. And my kid wakes up early too.
I don't think Ive had fresh legs for any games this whole season. Its usually the tailend of back to backs - or after a gym workout. I've definitely underestimated how long it takes to recover. Especially without proper sleep!
Brain fog and physical fatigue add up. I started a new job this year that's deeply rewarding, but is also longer hours and more physically demanding. I'd gotten used to late game brain fog, where it feels like my mind is a step behind the action. Now that work takes more of a physical and mental toll on weekdays, it feels like my body is an extra step behind my brain. It's definitely required some technical adjustment. I'm playing a little deeper to reduce the distance I need to travel on cross-ice passes, because I'm just not mentally and physically sharp enough to anticipate and explode across long distances now. I got rid of the RVH entirely because that's the first thing that got sloppy with a tired body. And the thing that's helped most has been focusing on getting set for shots earlier. It's been amazing how much slower shots look when I sacrifice that last little shuffle to get perfectly on-angle and instead make sure I'm square and set in my stance.
There's an excellent study done by the US airforce about older pilots reaction time and how age and fatigue affects performance. I find a short nap before the game really helps. The over 50 leagues generally don't have anything later than 9pm. All the best to you and your family, Happy Holidays.
We used to have earlier games, but this season everything is past 9pm. But I can totally tell the difference in reaction time when I'm fresh vs tired. Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family as well!
I think I speak for most of us when I say we’ve been right there at some point or another. As a fellow middle-aged new goalie I for sure feel the fatigue even as you’re describing it 😅 The cumulative fatigue is real, man! Thanks for your vids! I picked up playing goalie this season because my 16yo goalie is not only finally able to drive himself to/from practices and whatnot, but he’s also bigger than me for the first time, and I’m the one getting HIS hand-me-downs for a change; I figured that if I make him teach me what his goalie coaches have been teaching him it’ll be a great learning and reinforcement exercise for him, and I get to start playing hockey again for the first time in over a decade ! 😂
Also, getting into lighter gear definitely helped me out. I had a set of TPS leg pads from the 90s I had converted for the roller Leage I also play goalie in. I upgraded my sons leg pads and got his old CCMs that are only a couple of years old and started using those and it made a MASSIVE difference in both my play and how exhausted I was after the game
I'm in the same spot family wise. We have 11:15 games at our rink. It's really tough to make those games solid. Put these games behind you, it happens!
It’s about what finding what works for you but the reality is that life has many demands and we don’t always have the mental and physical coming together when we need it. For me, I find it can be hard to predict - some nights I feel great but go play crap and other nights I feel tired physically and mentally yet somehow manage to focus and play better. 40s are tough physically but, on the bright side, you can get more sleep as the kids get older. Cut yourself some slack - enjoy the good games and flush the rest. Easier said than done when you have to watch/edit video of the bad as well as the good. Not sure I could handle that but appreciate that you do!
I always joke that I "misplace" my camera or "lost footage" when I have a poor game.. But I think it's good to show the ups and downs of a goalie - not many people on social media like to show the bad games - I am looking forward to the day where I can sleep past 4:30..
I feel busy but i don't even have kids but my wife and I are pretty active, I work a desk job in cyber security so it can get stressful and some days I feel like I can't pull myself away from the screen, so I relate to an extent but i totally agree on the burnout.. i actually cut down on Dumbbells and focus more on stretching and riding the bike for 45 mins 3 times a week and it seemed to help. The other part is more about overthinking when you get mentally fatigued, I find when i feel fresh mentally i don't think ir at least it feels that way, but when I'm fatigued i try to force everything and that's when it all comes unraveled. It must be pretty tough in your situation with young kids but for me I find when I start feeling this way, I know I need to start going to bed earlier
I started adding stationary bike to my routine and its helped so much on the ice. Never feel gassed anymore. And yeah there's alot of opportunities for me to sleep earlier - but I am notorious for staying up editing videos etc .. lol
@ovr40goalie it's amazing what the bike will do! Yeah, I'm pretty notorious for that too LOL but I've been getting better at it over the last year or two
I’m a recent goalie (under 1 year), over 40, with 2 small kids and a recent baby… Totally understand your feeling, but for me late games are better as I don’t overload my wife with the kids. For me staying up late is not the problem, but getting up the next day 😂 I’m from the Metro Van area and would love the opportunity to chat with you and get some more tips on how to improve my game.
Funny thing is I started playing more hockey once I had kids .. And yeah feel free to email me (contact should be on the TH-cam site) - More than happy to give you some pointers
This actually just happened to me Thursday night. I tried something different with my pads by not wearing hockey socks to try to get a little bit of a looser fit. The pads were actually too loose. I went to go play a puck in the corner. They got caught up And I took a massive swan dive. Falling at 52 years old wasn’t fun. It was all downhill after that but you know what at the end of the day the love for the game and the position is what drives us to go to a 10:30 PM game after putting in an eight hour day at work. Plus, I played one day prior and honestly, I need more than one day rest between games. We just have to shake it off and remember why we’re playing for the fun of it.
Yeah I totally get ya, we all do it for the love of the game. Which is why it makes it harder to say no to the late games , or back to backs even though the body is say "nooo moreee plz" lol
Easier said than done but, I always take a nap even if its just 30 mins before I head out. This should help you get a small spike in your T leaves, help with your focus ect and If you need some caffeine from time to time hit it before you walk out the door so you can clear your mind on the drive there. ;)
I went down a size on my leg pads and it is like I'm not wearing hardly anything. It feels amazing! Haven't let any more 5 hole than I did previously. Curious to see how it works for you.
So far I've had 2 skates in the smaller fitting gear and its so much better. Just the extra mobility and less clipping of the thigh rise allows me to move around so much quicker. I think the problem with my fancy custom pads is theyre so tall that I by default always have my knees far apart making it really hard to get any power
Yeah, for sure. While my game that I recently posted isn't from December, it's crazy how much a toll playing 3 times a week on an over 40 goalie takes. I love it, but I technically should try and cut back once in a while.
Under double digits is a shutout to me. Lol
Cumulative fatigue is real. Even if you feel like you’re recovering after taking some time off, your reserves might be depleted still.
I really struggle to stay focused in the third period of 930pm games.
I hope that your sleep schedule improves eventually. It’s something I struggle with too. I have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. And my kid wakes up early too.
I don't think Ive had fresh legs for any games this whole season. Its usually the tailend of back to backs - or after a gym workout. I've definitely underestimated how long it takes to recover. Especially without proper sleep!
Brain fog and physical fatigue add up.
I started a new job this year that's deeply rewarding, but is also longer hours and more physically demanding. I'd gotten used to late game brain fog, where it feels like my mind is a step behind the action. Now that work takes more of a physical and mental toll on weekdays, it feels like my body is an extra step behind my brain.
It's definitely required some technical adjustment. I'm playing a little deeper to reduce the distance I need to travel on cross-ice passes, because I'm just not mentally and physically sharp enough to anticipate and explode across long distances now. I got rid of the RVH entirely because that's the first thing that got sloppy with a tired body. And the thing that's helped most has been focusing on getting set for shots earlier. It's been amazing how much slower shots look when I sacrifice that last little shuffle to get perfectly on-angle and instead make sure I'm square and set in my stance.
There's an excellent study done by the US airforce about older pilots reaction time and how age and fatigue affects performance. I find a short nap before the game really helps. The over 50 leagues generally don't have anything later than 9pm. All the best to you and your family, Happy Holidays.
We used to have earlier games, but this season everything is past 9pm. But I can totally tell the difference in reaction time when I'm fresh vs tired. Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family as well!
I think I speak for most of us when I say we’ve been right there at some point or another.
As a fellow middle-aged new goalie I for sure feel the fatigue even as you’re describing it 😅
The cumulative fatigue is real, man!
Thanks for your vids! I picked up playing goalie this season because my 16yo goalie is not only finally able to drive himself to/from practices and whatnot, but he’s also bigger than me for the first time, and I’m the one getting HIS hand-me-downs for a change; I figured that if I make him teach me what his goalie coaches have been teaching him it’ll be a great learning and reinforcement exercise for him, and I get to start playing hockey again for the first time in over a decade ! 😂
Also, getting into lighter gear definitely helped me out. I had a set of TPS leg pads from the 90s I had converted for the roller Leage I also play goalie in. I upgraded my sons leg pads and got his old CCMs that are only a couple of years old and started using those and it made a MASSIVE difference in both my play and how exhausted I was after the game
I'm in the same spot family wise. We have 11:15 games at our rink. It's really tough to make those games solid. Put these games behind you, it happens!
OMG 11:15! I recall doing those in my 20s, but wow yeah... I'd feel like death the next day ..
It’s about what finding what works for you but the reality is that life has many demands and we don’t always have the mental and physical coming together when we need it. For me, I find it can be hard to predict - some nights I feel great but go play crap and other nights I feel tired physically and mentally yet somehow manage to focus and play better. 40s are tough physically but, on the bright side, you can get more sleep as the kids get older. Cut yourself some slack - enjoy the good games and flush the rest. Easier said than done when you have to watch/edit video of the bad as well as the good. Not sure I could handle that but appreciate that you do!
I always joke that I "misplace" my camera or "lost footage" when I have a poor game.. But I think it's good to show the ups and downs of a goalie - not many people on social media like to show the bad games - I am looking forward to the day where I can sleep past 4:30..
You haven't truly had the full Beer League experience until you've played a 10:55 PM game on a Sunday coupled with a 3:30AM wake up call. 🙂
Ouch!! That is truly the full experience
Been there myself .
I feel busy but i don't even have kids but my wife and I are pretty active, I work a desk job in cyber security so it can get stressful and some days I feel like I can't pull myself away from the screen, so I relate to an extent but i totally agree on the burnout.. i actually cut down on Dumbbells and focus more on stretching and riding the bike for 45 mins 3 times a week and it seemed to help. The other part is more about overthinking when you get mentally fatigued, I find when i feel fresh mentally i don't think ir at least it feels that way, but when I'm fatigued i try to force everything and that's when it all comes unraveled.
It must be pretty tough in your situation with young kids but for me I find when I start feeling this way, I know I need to start going to bed earlier
I started adding stationary bike to my routine and its helped so much on the ice. Never feel gassed anymore.
And yeah there's alot of opportunities for me to sleep earlier - but I am notorious for staying up editing videos etc .. lol
@ovr40goalie it's amazing what the bike will do! Yeah, I'm pretty notorious for that too LOL but I've been getting better at it over the last year or two
I’m a recent goalie (under 1 year), over 40, with 2 small kids and a recent baby…
Totally understand your feeling, but for me late games are better as I don’t overload my wife with the kids. For me staying up late is not the problem, but getting up the next day 😂
I’m from the Metro Van area and would love the opportunity to chat with you and get some more tips on how to improve my game.
Funny thing is I started playing more hockey once I had kids .. And yeah feel free to email me (contact should be on the TH-cam site) - More than happy to give you some pointers
This actually just happened to me Thursday night. I tried something different with my pads by not wearing hockey socks to try to get a little bit of a looser fit. The pads were actually too loose. I went to go play a puck in the corner. They got caught up And I took a massive swan dive. Falling at 52 years old wasn’t fun. It was all downhill after that but you know what at the end of the day the love for the game and the position is what drives us to go to a 10:30 PM game after putting in an eight hour day at work. Plus, I played one day prior and honestly, I need more than one day rest between games. We just have to shake it off and remember why we’re playing for the fun of it.
Yeah I totally get ya, we all do it for the love of the game. Which is why it makes it harder to say no to the late games , or back to backs even though the body is say "nooo moreee plz" lol
Easier said than done but, I always take a nap even if its just 30 mins before I head out. This should help you get a small spike in your T leaves, help with your focus ect and If you need some caffeine from time to time hit it before you walk out the door so you can clear your mind on the drive there. ;)
I typically will always have a nap before games as well and I used to do a creatine - black coffee mixture ... That was a couple years back haha
@ and once I get to the rink after stretching, I generally do some jumping jacks and fake jump roping just to get my cardio up before a game 👍🏻
I went down a size on my leg pads and it is like I'm not wearing hardly anything. It feels amazing! Haven't let any more 5 hole than I did previously. Curious to see how it works for you.
So far I've had 2 skates in the smaller fitting gear and its so much better. Just the extra mobility and less clipping of the thigh rise allows me to move around so much quicker. I think the problem with my fancy custom pads is theyre so tall that I by default always have my knees far apart making it really hard to get any power
haha, what's with both of us releasing terrible games. That huge loss was a 11pm game. I love playing but hate the late games.
Hah it must be that time of the year for bad games? I do notice around December as the season goes on and the later games start to take a toll
Yeah, for sure. While my game that I recently posted isn't from December, it's crazy how much a toll playing 3 times a week on an over 40 goalie takes. I love it, but I technically should try and cut back once in a while.
th-cam.com/video/OtVmDvf77Go/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NlWh3O6Ggu-zDyuf