New York Rangers Assistant Coach Mike Kelly explains that we should pay attention to our players' competitive mindset.

The most difficult skills to master are those that begin in between the ears.

We can teach young players how to skate. We can teach them how to shoot. We can talk about the focus required to pass the puck efficiently and consistently.

But it’s the athlete who brings an unmatched competitive fire to work every day that will utilize that knowledge most efficiently. That doesn’t mean we’re helpless when it comes to harnessing and encouraging that mindset.

According to New York Rangers Assistant Coach Mike Kelly, the more we pay attention to our players’ competitive mindset, the more we can use that emphasis to drive competition in games and practices.