Win the Game Before It Starts

Win the Game Before It Starts

Visualise. Focus. Execute.

This is the second in a 4-part series on mastering the mental side of hockey — developed in partnership with Felix Denayer, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Cup winner, and long-time captain of the Belgian national team.
 
Every elite player has a secret weapon.

It’s not a new skill or more hours in the gym.

It’s this: they see the play before it happens.

That’s visualisation — the mental practice of walking through moments before they happen.

Whether you’re stepping up for a drag flick, making a last-ditch tackle, or prepping for a high-stakes match, what happens in your head shapes what happens on the pitch.

Here’s how to do it:
  1. Find a quiet moment before a game.
  2. Put on headphones. Choose music that calms your nerves or fires you up — whatever helps you lock in. Here's Felix's Spotify playlist for some inspiration.
  3. Close your eyes and walk yourself through your best moments — clean tackles, perfect passes, goals scored.
  4. Feel it. Hear the crowd, the sounds, the rhythm of play.
  5. Repeat until it feels real.
Music helps create a personal headspace. It blocks out noise and brings focus — just like our gear.

At Naked, we believe less is more.

Visualisation clears the chaos. Music builds the mood. Distraction fades. Focus sharpens.

That’s why we keep it clean — gear that feels right and lets you lock in.

Less noise. More instinct.

See it. Feel it. Then go do it.