U20 Hockey Champions 2021 & 2022
Mental Performance Coach Mirjam Wallin was part of coaching staff for Rauman Lukko U20 team during their rise to back 2 back Championships in 2021 and 2022. She used her expertize of mental performance and emotional well-being to coach players regularly throughout the season one-on-one. Here’s some of their take on mental performance.
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Kalle Ervasti
“Year after year I believe in mental coaching more and more. It’s easy to understand how much it helps, when you notice the shift after sessions.
I’ve grown as a person and as a player, learned to control and express emotion, endure pressure and maintain confidence, enjoy the present moment and play one game at a time. I think it’s good to have someone to process things with.
Mirjam is a great coach and always an important supporter.
I don’t talk about these things that much to anyone else. The things you say in sessions, stay there. An outside perspective really helps, especially during tough times. A better understanding makes it easier to play and be an athlete.
I recommend giving yourself a chance to learn a new mindset through coaching. It really helps a lot. Talking helps you move forward and become a better player. It’ll all leave you better off in the long run.”
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Iivari Säkkinen
”The mind needs to be taken care of just as the body does, in order to perform well. It helps to release mental blocks, and to work on things outside of hockey too. Often they play a role in mental state, too.
In coaching I’ve worked on things that had been slowing down my progress. I’ve grown in confidence, dealing with and producing under pressure and being able to move past mistakes. I’m performing at a more consistent level now without the ups and downs.
Mirjam is a competent coach and has earned my trust.
I don’t have to keep anything from her. That’s the most important thing for effective coaching, as well as the willingness to work on your own problems and weaknesses. Mirjam guides your thought process and helps you to understand what’s going on. It’s easier to find solutions together. Sometimes you’ll get an instant relief, and sometimes you need to go and apply the things you’ve learnt.
I recommend mental coaching: the more open you are, the more help you get.
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Sami Päivärinta
“I’ve been happy with our three-year coaching process. Looking back at the bigger picture, you can see the value of coaching: how much processing things has helped and how much you’ve used the tools created in sessions.
Through coaching I’ve grown mentally. I’ve improved my performance and gotten more confidence with a leading role. I find it important to process the events of the season properly, so that they don’t take up unnecessary space in your mind. I want to use every opportunity I can, that advances my career in hockey.
Mirjam is positive and pleasant to work with. Trust and openness increases as the coaching progresses. In sessions we take a thorough look at the things I’m dealing with, how I’m feeling and what solutions I’m looking for.
I find the mental aspects of performance to be very interesting. Coaching helps clarify things and promotes confidence, to see what you did well and what to improve on next.”
Lenni Hämäläinen
“Coaching has taught me a lot about myself and about development. I have adopted a new mindset, and had the courage to face and deal with things. It has improved performance and my ability to get out of slumps more quickly. I feel more free now.
Coching has been a very positive experience. Immediately after the first session, I realized that this is really useful and jumped all in. Instead of superficial solutions, you actually deal with things properly, which really helps. Questions help you focus and open up your thinking. I don’t think I could have learned these things without coaching.
In mental coaching, you process the things that help you become a better player. With the tools gained from sessions, I have a more solid foundation going into next season."
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Onni Korkka
“Releasing mental blocks allows you to perform at your best. You won’t be able to use your skills to the fullest, if your head’s not right. I’ve been able to break free from barriers and developed on all fronts as a player, performing more consistently - even beyond expectations - and have rediscovered some of my strengths.
Mirjam has been an objective outside perspective and provided the necessary tools to deal with all the ups and downs. I can talk to her about anything and have been happy with the coaching process. Sometimes we work on processing emotion, game performance or areas of improvement. I’ve learnt how to deal with mistakes and live a more athletic lifestyle.
We’ve been working together for such a long time, that it feels familiar in every way, and I can be myself completely. Getting to unload mentally in sessions helps the mind settle down. It’s different than talking with family, and you deal with things on a more profound level.
I recommend starting coaching, even if you feel nervous at first. I’ve been happy with it and grown as a professional athlete.”
Jesse Ruotsi
“A lot can happen in hockey. Sometimes you’re on a high, sometimes frustrated. You can’t brush off the hard stuff. If left undealt with, they will continue to affect you. Especially during tough times, it’s important to talk and break the bad cycle early on.
In coaching, you get to reflect on the past weeks and unburden your mind. Over time it’s easier to be honest, and Mirjam knows how to get to what’s really on your mind.
There are things you can’t really talk to the other people about. Instead, sometimes it’s better to get confidential, unbiased perspective on issues and properly resolve them.
I have been really pleased with the coaching process. Mirjam knows how to guide my thought process in the right direction. The most important thing is being on the same page and understanding one another.
I highly recommend mental coaching to everyone. There’s nothing to lose, only an advantage to gain. By working on your mental performance you give yourself more means to become a better player. Mind is one of the most important things in hockey and has a big affect on performance, and also your well-being outside the rink.
Many will definitely benefit from coaching, especially if you tend to stress or overthink things. It’s a good tool to help you focus on what’s important.”
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Juuso Helomaa
“Mental coaching has been a great experience. Processing things together makes it easier to understand what to focus on, and what to leave behind. The right questions help you notice what you need to get out.
Mirjam challenges you to process things in a way you wouldn’t be able to alone. I can’t even describe the way I feel after sessions. I couldn’t imagine anyone else as my mental coach. Big thanks to Mirjam.
As a goalie, I’ve understood early on how big of an aspect the mental side is to performance. I think many people don’t understand to magnitude of it before they start coaching. It makes a huge difference when you unpack games, emotions and thoughts regularly and see what’s really behind the results.
I encourage you to find a coach who feels right and who you can trust. I was lucky to have Mirjam at our club. Overall the coaching process and my season was a success, and working together is just as easy on FaceTime.”
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Robert Arrak
“Coaching has helped with everything. I’ve learned to live in the present moment, and it’s easier to focus on the game when you’re not thinking about things too far ahead. Coaching conversations help you understand why something hasn’t been going well, and also find ways to resolve the situation. You get to clarify and organize your thoughts. From the very beginning, sessions have felt easy.
Mirjam is a good, easy-going coach and I’m happy with our work together. It’s worth it to give mental coaching a try. It helps you develop as a player. Especially when there are challenges during the season, coaching helps to find the cause and solution.”