The Hesitation Trap: Why Great Shooters Stop Shooting

In sports, hesitation changes everything. In hockey, a player known for their lethal shot suddenly becomes a pass-first player. Why? If they’re recognized for their ability to bury pucks, what’s stopping them?

As a behavior analyst, I don’t settle for surface-level explanations like “low confidence” or “lack of self-esteem.”Instead, I look at behavioral patterns—because hesitation isn’t random. And when an elite shooter holds back, it usually boils down to one key issue: they don’t trust their own talent.

The Hesitation Trap

Not every situation lacks an open lane or a clean shot. In fact, those moments are rare. So when a proven scorer consistently opts to pass, there’s a deeper behavioral pattern at play. More often than not, it comes down to self-doubt disguised as decision-making.

The Link Between Trust and Playmaking

How do you know when a player truly trusts their abilities?

? They take risks.

? They rely on their skillset—regardless of external factors.

? They perform consistently, no matter the opponent, the environment, or the stakes.

Self-trust isn’t just about belief—it’s about action. A player who trusts their shot will take it. A player who hesitates? They’re stuck evaluating outcomes instead of executing. Playmaking and self-esteem reinforce each other when a player takes actions that align with their skillset, no matter the circumstances.

Trusting Yourself to Navigate the Unknown

Hesitation isn’t just about avoiding a bad shot; it’s about avoiding failure. But success—on the ice and in life—comes from acting on what you know you’re capable of and trusting yourself to adapt, even when things don’t go as planned.

The lesson? Simple, but not simplistic. Easy? Never. But the best players—and the best people—find ways to push through hesitation, bet on themselves, and take the shot.

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Alicia Naser, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is the founder and CEO of AN Sports Consulting, where she applies behavioral science and neuroscience to help NHL players, coaches, and front office personnel optimize mindset and performance. Dr. Naser earned her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D).

Before working with elite athletes, Dr. Naser spent over a decade in clinical and hospital settings, specializing in the assessment and treatment of individuals with the most complex behavioral diagnoses. She trained and worked at world-renowned institutions, including the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities and severe behavior disorders. Her clinical expertise informs her evidence-based approach to enhancing mental and behavioral performance in high-pressure environments.

Dr. Naser now applies behavior analytic strategies to help NHL players develop resilience, confidence, and the ability to perform under pressure. Through a tailored, evidence-based approach, she integrates applied behavior analysis, organizational behavior management, and mental skills training to optimize both individual and team performance. In addition to her work in the NHL, she also works with Division I and junior hockey players in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the United States Hockey League (USHL), helping them develop the mental and behavioral skills necessary to advance their careers and perform at an elite level.

Beyond working directly with athletes, she collaborates with coaches, coaching staff, and front office personnel to refine coaching strategies, improve team dynamics, and enhance organizational efficiency. By applying behavioral science to leadership, communication, and team structure, she helps organizations cultivate a winning culture and operate at peak performance—on and off the ice.

In addition to her consulting work, Dr. Naser has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations at Wayne State University, where she taught courses in Applied Behavior Analysis. She also held clinical and research positions at Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and Henry Ford Health, gaining extensive experience in behavioral health, data analysis, and intensive intervention strategies.

Dr. Naser’s research explores the intersection of behavioral science and physiology, with a focus on self-monitoring interventions. Her dissertation, Do Changes in Self-Description Correspond to Changes in Heart Rate? A Self-Monitoring Intervention (ProQuest, 2023), examined how self-critical descriptions correspond to heart rate fluctuations and tested the effectiveness of self-monitoring combined with differential reinforcement in reducing self-critical behavior. Her findings extend the application of behavior analytic interventions beyond autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions, offering a novel therapeutic approach for individuals struggling with self-criticism and other psychological challenges.