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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 946734, member: 40"] Practices are [and should be] more physically demanding than games. They are longer, and the focus is on both conditioning and execution. Just like most programs involving training for a marathon actually have you run a few further distances [for both the physical and psychological benefit], practices are designed to over-prepare players to put forth the effort needed to get through a 40 minute game [or longer, given OT considerations]. But there is no way that practices approach the mental stress level that games exact on the players. You can simulate the stress of game pressure through any variety of techniques, but none of them come close--not really. Its one of the reasons I'm so impressed with our team's poise--they have been unflappable all season long. They never panic or get tight when the game is on the line. [/QUOTE]