Developing Routines: More Than Superstition   “We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act but a habit.”-Aristotle   Have you been keeping track of your favourite goalie and witnessed them going through a slump at some point during a season? Have you ever noticed how that goalie usually breaks out of a slump in spectacular fashion? During the post-game interview a sports reporter will often ask the goaltender what they did to get out of the slump and more often than not the goaltender will say that they focused on the fundamentals but otherwise kept the same approach as they had all season. Developing Routines: More Than Superstition

Being a Backup Goaltender Whether it is for a few games or an entire career rarely is there a goalie that has not been a backup goaltender. Since being a backup is a normal part of goaltender development this is an important position. Yes, I just called the backup important. Being a good backup does a lot of good for a hockey team and this was never more evident than in the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Out of the 16-playoff teams, four teams employed their backup goalie for a number of games. One quarter of the playoff teams used backups. Even in the Stanley Cup finals we saw Jussi Markanen, who played excellent, and Conn Smythe winner Cam Ward battle for the silver chalice. The two teams in the finals rode on the shoulders of goaltenders that were not supposed to see a lick of ice time in the playoffs. From this recent example we can direct our discussion about being a good backup.            Being a Backup Goaltender

PLAYING THE BREAKAWAY  Every goaltending coach and every goaltender has their own theory on how to play the breakaway. Regardless of how it is done, the bottom line is to STOP THE PUCK. Certainly, every goalie will play off his strengths. A goaltender who is good on dekes will "come out" of his net a little farther to take away any good shots and force a deke. Any goaltender weak on dekes will stay back a bit and take his chances with a shot. Certain goaltenders' strengths might include use of poke checks or stacking pads. Know your strengths and use them, but also work hard on your weaknesses so they do not bring you down. Playing The Breakaway

Mental Aspect Introduction  To be a successful goaltender at ANY level, you have to be fully committed to learning everything you can about the position and about the game of hockey. You need to spend a great deal of time physically training your body, practicing game situations over and over, and working on your mind. This is the missing ingredient for many goalies in reaching their full potential. Mental Aspect Introduction

Keys to Early or Late Game Success Many times throughout the season a game can be won or lost in the first few minutes of a period or the last few minutes of a period.  Although a goaltender wants a pre-game and in-game routine that is sound there are some tendencies within the game that the goalie must be aware of.  First, we will examine the early period/game tendencies to be aware of then we will look at the late period/game tendencies.  Once the tendencies of the game are discussed we will look at some tips for success in those crucial game situations. Keys to Early or Late Game Success

Imagery and Visualization  If you want to take your game to new heights, you should start to practice visualization. To do this, you need to find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Imagery and Visualization

Goaltending Do's and Don'ts Discipline Do you have the discipline to get enough rest, have a proper fitness plan, eat right, and be prompt for all commitments? Character counts in all aspects of life! The most successful people are not always the most talented. They simply outwork the more talented who assume that world owes them favours. Goaltending Do's and Don'ts

Goalies: Are You Coachable? One of the hardest things to be as a goalie is coachable. In a sport where the majority of players and coaches have no idea about the pressures placed on a goalie it may be hard to take constructive criticism/coaching from people who are not always properly informed. Despite the possible misinformation given to goalies they are still required by elite hockey coaches to be coachable. In order to determine if you are coachable please answer the questions below in an honest manner. Goalies: Are You Coachable?

How Do You Let Go of Goals Against? “Another shutout in the books for illustrious goalie…” exclaims Hockey Night in Canada announcer Jim Hughson.  Just then your alarm goes off.  It was just a dream.  Unfortunately, as much as goalies would love it, no goalie has ever gotten a shutout in every game of a season.  Hockey is a game of mistakes that sometimes includes a goalie’s mistakes.  Since we all know that goals are going to happen we need to discuss ways that we can stop goals from ruining what could be an otherwise good game. How Do You Let Go of Goals Against?

Goaltenders Don’t forget about the brain For way too long a lot of goaltenders (many that were supposed to be the next hotshot/rising star), fail to continue their development and fade into the sunset. Many of the goaltenders that make it as high as the WHL, OHL, CJHL, etc.. are probably going to end their hockey career at the Junior level.  Just because a goaltender is playing at a fairly high level does not mean that they should let their schooling and/or brainpower go to the wayside. Goaltenders Don’t Forget About The Brain

Goaltending Play and Training Philosophies As it has been stated before, each goaltender has a unique set of physical and mental traits that will dictate their own playing style. However there are some goaltending philosophies that can be integrated into all styles. Goaltending Play and Training Philosophies

Playing in the Present   Learn to play your game in the present. What does this mean? When you are playing, it is easy to start thinking about mistakes (I like to call them Learning Experiences) you have made in the past or fears about what might happen in the future. When you do this, you are not playing "in the present" at that time. Playing in the Present

Getting In The Zone Getting into The Zone really means performing automatically- your mind and body are working in total harmony. This happens when you are so confident, completely relaxed, completely free of inhibitions, and so totally free of worries that you perform at your best automatically. Even if you can't get into The Zone, or if you have trouble staying in The Zone, you can train your mind to get closer to The Zone, and significantly improve your performance. Getting In The Zone

Examining a desperate save moment When watching the hockey highlights late at night it is often goaltenders desperate saves that make the highlights, if any saves at all.  Desperate saves are what make the fans “ooh and ahhh” but that does not mean goaltenders should be happy to make those desperate saves.  Examining a desperate save moment

Communication = Leadership  While normally the goaltender cannot be a Captain or Assistant Captain, this does not mean that the goaltender forgoes the responsibilities of being a team leader. In fact being involved in a positive leadership role can assist the goaltender in actually being more effective at their position. To be a good leader a goaltender must have a good understanding of communication skills (Physical and Verbal).  Communication = Leadership

Body Language: Non-verbal Communication Speaks Loudly Have you ever seen Martin Brodeur smile during the national anthem? Have you seen Mikka Kiprusoff calmly take a drink of water after a goal against? Have you seen Ed Belfour take a short skate after he made a difficult play look easy? What do you think these gestures, this body language, do for team confidence or opposition frustration? If you answered something about increased team confidence and increased opposition frustration you are correct. Body Language: Non-verbal Communication Speaks Loudly

Are goalies becoming robots? While watching the NHL and many other levels of hockey we have noticed an increasing problem in the world of goaltending, which needs to be discussed. In the face of the new mobility, compactness and sound recoveries, that are being made, too many goalies have become the same goalie. Young goalies right up to the pros are starting to all play exactly the same pro-fly style. Are goalies becoming robots?

Top 30 Goalie Terms That Really Count There is a very precise language that goalies and goalie coaches use. The list below should help parents, coaches, and goalies understand the terms that intertwine to make a successful goalie. Top 30 Goalie Terms That Really Count

The Psychology Of Goaltending  We hear this a lot, but we don’t always take the time to fully understand everything that goes into the psychology of goaltending. This article is going to attempt to break this down to very simple concepts. Let’s start with confidence. Confidence is the absolute number one priority in playing at your best. You need to believe, at a subconscious level, that you are good and that you have the ability to stop the puck in every situation that you face. The Psychology Of Goaltending

The Proper Way to Practice                              It is very important that you practice the same way that you play in a game-- to the extent that you can. This sounds simple enough, but in reality, many goalies don't do this. It is very easy to become a "practice goalie" during practice. You face shot after shot in practice, and it is easy to slip into a habit of looking up ice at the next shooter before you finish with the shooter you are facing. The Proper Way to Practice

Basic Rebound Control by Steve McKichan Every goaltender from beginner to NHLer, at any level, struggles with rebound control. It is one area of the game that can truly never be perfected but must always be a focal point during any practice session. Every shot in practice needs to be addressed with rebound control in mind. Good practice habits and bitterness towards dangerous rebounds in practice will really help you improve in this area. Basic Rebound Control

BE A VOCAL LEADER It's ironic that, as a goaltender, you can see absolutely everything on the ice except your own net - the thing you're supposed to be guarding. Most goaltenders don't take advantage of this situation as much as they should. Let's consider an example - your right defenseman is coming out from behind your net to your left. At this point, they have several options - carry the puck themselves, pass to any number of locations on the ice, or turn back behind your net. Be a Vocal Leader

Fundamentals - The goaltender's value to team success can be sixty percent or higher! To have consistent success in any sport, the key is to have strong fundamentals. Learn the fundamentals and you will become a better athlete. Greg Maddox, Future Hall of Famer in baseball once stated "Ten percent of the time no matter what happens an athlete will experience success. Ten percent of the time no matter what happens an athlete will experience failure. The other eighty percent of time, success or failure will be determined by the athlete's strength of fundamentals." Fundamentals The goaltender's value to team success

Goalies and "The Blame Game" My 30 years of experience propels me to write this article regarding goaltenders and "the blame game." Goaltending is perhaps the most stressful position in sports. There is immense responsibility and pressure placed on goalies to perform. When adversity a rises, too many goalies relieve themselves of that pressure by placing the blame on others. Everyone knows goalies need to have a positive outlook but playing the blame game is entirely negative. The blame game is not the solution to the problem. Goalies and "The Blame Game"

Goalies - Accept Your Responsibility  Being a goaltender means lots of responsibility, some pressure, and the need for a "tough skin." Goalies often receive a lot of undo blame for goals. As a result, goalies and their parents often spend too much time displacing the blame onto "the defense" or "the forward that made a bad play." Don't because that makes the goalie and their parents just as guilty. No team ever won when the players and parents spend time pointing fingers. That creates a negative atmosphere. Goalies - Accept Your Responsibility

Your Stick is your most important tool! One of the biggest if not THE biggest problem I have seen with young goaltenders is an incorrect stance. When your stance is not right, it is not possible to execute your basic saves and moves correctly either. Coaches spend a lot time trying to correct stances when often the problem lies with the stick. Goalies are trying to adapt their stance to a stick that can be too tall or too short or have an incorrect lie. Start your corrections always by checking the stick first. Your Stick is your most important tool!

Buying Goalie Equipment VERY IMPORTANT:  Goalie equipment SHOULD NOT be bought to grow into, it should fit now! Buying Goalie Equipment

Sharpening Your Skates to a Radius Every goalie gets their skates sharpened to a certain radius so that they know the feel of what skating is going to be like every time they step on the ice. Even the ones that just get them sharpened by the team equipment manager still get the same every time even if they don't know what it is. Sharpening Your Skates to a Radius

The Off Season is a Great Time for Goal Setting    Are you ready to reach your goals and experience success? Are you incorporating your attitude, ability and talent so that they are serving you to their maximum? Although the road to success has many detours the goaltender that has a plan and the perseverance to follow it, will have more chance for success.  Goal Setting