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New York Islanders Girls Program Provides More Than Just A Place To Play In These Trying Times LIFELINE Members of the New York Islanders Girls Elite 19U Team, from left, Karina Laxton, Anya Laxton, Carly Sukiel and Niki Laxton along with their coach and driving force behind the program, Alexis Moed. The following are a series of tips that Jim Winges, a mental conditioning coach, used to help players in the Long Island Girls Elite Hockey Program get through a challenging season. Even if you're not dealing with a pandemic, it's some good advice to help get through trying times. • Have fun! Take some time each day to have fun and forget about the pandemic. Be silly, play and have fun. • Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress since it raises our endorphins that help us feel good. • Learn a new skill. Learning new things can be chal- lenging and taking on that challenge can divert our attention away from the stress of the pandemic. This is a great time to learn new sports skills, life skills — like cooking— and entertainment skills — like playing guitar or some other instrument. • Engage in daily meditation. • Take time to be social with friends in a socially dis- tanced way. Chat, play games online, video call. • Stay informed but don't overly focus on the news … it causes anxiety to increase. • Control the controllables. Don't focus on controlling things outside your direct control…instead focus on what is within your direct control like attitude, communication and effort. You'll find that sport and life are easier. • Get outside … nature helps alleviate stress • Seek help when you need it. There are many pro- fessionals out there ready to help you. • Recognize when you are stressed or anxious and take immediate action to relieve that stress using the things mentioned above. curriculum that includes nutrition, stress management, academic and college advising and player evalua- tion, all under the roof of their home ice at Northwell Ice Health Center. " My h o c ke y b a c kg r o u n d wa s s o fragmented … I knew what the short- comings were and I wanted to adopt a different approach to girls' hockey with a philosophy of building some- thing better that wasn't a burden on families," Moed said " With the help of the New York Islanders and Northwell Health, I had the necessary resources at my disposal to be innovative and create Bonus Tip: Just because hockey is shut down or there are no games doesn't mean that you stop being a hockey player. This is the perfect time to work on the mental side of your game, your hockey IQ and your physical training. It's also a great time to start shooting 200 pucks a day or skating at a local outdoor rink if you have one. APRIL 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 31 TOP 1O Tips To Relieve Stress & Anxiety