Being present does not mean
you let your long-term goals fade
away. It means you are focusing on
the actionable steps in the here and
now to prepare yourself for those big
moments down the line. Rather than
waiting for things to happen, your job
this year is to make them happen.
"Opportunities aren't usually
things that fall into kids' laps," said
Mike Pereira, head coach at Choate
Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
"Opportunities are the product of
preparation and hard work."
Whether you are asking questions
in the classroom or at practice, study-
ing textbooks or game film, or are
doing an extra set of math problems
or exercises in the weightroom, you
are preparing yourself for moments
that might not even exist yet.
"There are a lot of unknowns at
the beginning of a new season,"
Pereira said. "If you only prepare
for the guaranteed moments, then
you are underprepared. Resilience
throughout a season comes from the
discipline to prepare for something
without knowing if it will happen."
This proactive approach doesn't
just apply to the extra work, but also
our recovery process because being
proactive allows your body to be
more prepared for the next day and
more resilient against unexpected
challenges and the long-term toll a
season can take on your body.
"Recovery is a part of training, not
a break from it," Wallack emphasized.
"Take care of your body. Prioritize
quality sleep, proper nutrition, hydra-
tion, and daily mobility or stretching."
LESSON TWO:
Be Be
Proactive Proactive
SEPTEMBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM
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