Word Embodiment

Word embodiment is the act of making tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, feeling or thought. 

Try this the next time you hop in the net: think of a specific word that you want to play like, move like or act like. Then do your very best to embody that word for a whole practice. Do your best to have a spectator think that word about you after watching you play in a game. Repeat that word to yourself over and over again before every shot. Feel it! Let it flow through every fiber of your body. By embodying that word you can physically change the way you play both on a micro level and on a macro level. 

Using it on a large scale is like making that word the headline of the article about you. The word is meant to define your game as a whole. I think of words like “competitor, mean, physical or quick.” None of those words by themselves directly describe something small about your game. They are all very general but powerful headlines for who you are as a goalie. 

On a micro level we can use word embodiment to help improve a specific skill. I tried this the other day with one of the goalies I was training. He was having trouble controlling his rebounds. I asked him to try to feel the word “gentle” as it relates to the ball. What I’m looking for is for him to provide more cushion with his hands to help him catch the ball cleanly in his stick. By feeling that word “gentle” it actually helped him with reminding himself to have softer hands which helped keep the ball from popping out of his stick. It also required that he get to the target quicker than normal so that he could then slow down and adjust to the ball with soft hands. Other 

I used to love using the word “Violent” for my own game. I wrote it on the cuff of my game gloves at Loyola. It helped me stay focused on attacking the ball with force and purpose mixed with a little bit of aggression and anger. I really liked the way that I played when I did that because it gave me an extra edge. I have had goalies use words that wouldn’t be outwardly noticeable to others as well. Use a word like “Breath” to help remind yourself to relax and physically take a breath pre-shot. I have goalies say it to themselves pre-shot in their warmups to keep them calm and in control. 

Find a word for yourself. Write down some adjectives or adverbs that you want to try to embody. Focus on them! Write the word somewhere where only you can see it to remind yourself of that word. Make it your own! Lastly, acknowledge when it feels right! If you let that positive feeling slip by after using that word and being successful with it, word loses its purpose. When it feels right, replicate it!