Goalie Training and the Need for Speed

Although being extremely quick with explosive power is imperative, the goaltender isn’t exactly known for having a need for speed on the ice like that of the roles of their teammates.  During our goalie schools, and various goalie training sessions, we have the privilege to work with some young individuals who are so passionate about their responsibility of stopping pucks with quickness.  Although passion for this aspect of the game is essential for a competitive goalie, being too aggressive may become counterproductive for goaltenders during their training.

Gear Down Big Truck

No matter what age group, or calibre that I work with, it’s a guarantee that at some point during every goalie training session I will say something along the lines of, “Slow it down and make sure that technique is coming first” to my student(s).  For some (especially in a fast paced game such as hockey), it may seem odd to have a coach telling them that they need to slow down.  After all, their team coaches consistently tell them that they need to pick up the pace in practices, and goalies are told regularly that they need to be more aggressive.  Unfortunately, some goaltenders are taking the requests of their team coaches too far, and applying it to everything that they do on the ice.

As one of the most highly technical positions in sport, becoming an elite goaltender in hockey requires patience combined with a desire to expand one’s knowledge and overall understanding of game situation theory (among many other aspects).  However, some goaltenders at the minor hockey levels are having difficulties with                                                                                     distinguishing what the best path to take is during their goalie                                                                                         training sessions.

Extra Ice Isn’t Always Good Ice

Partly to blame are some goalie clinics or hockey schools which ensure that children are receiving a workout, “getting extra ice time”, and being mere targets rather than educating goalies and aiding in their on-ice development.

Goalies that participate in typical goalie clinic-style training where goalies work in a crease for a period of time of more than 5 minutes before they reach a rest station, may be receiving training which is counterproductive to their technical advancement.  Instead, goalies are losing out on the essentials of their training which allows them to progressively build speed and power while ensuring proper technical development from their goalie coaches.

Plain and simple, timed goalie training is an ineffective method for goaltender development, and costly to parents.  Goalies who participate in this kind of training are receiving a workout comparable to training at the local gym (not as costly as ice time), or going for a run (absolutely free).  Period.  By training goalies in this manner, coaches unknowingly set the expectation for goaltenders to abandon the session’s lessons in order to stop the puck.  Not only is this method of goalie training counterproductive, but it also increases the potential of injury, and lowers the goalie’s self confidence in his or her abilities.

Train Smart

Goalie Army Academy provides elite goalie training to students via our goalie school, goalie clinic training and working with teams and associations in the Ottawa area that ensure that technique always comes before speed.  This practice applies the teachings from the R3E System, created by Rick Besharah, Goalie Army Academy’s Lead Instructor, in order to ensure that goaltenders of all ages and calibres continue to develop and progress efficiently.

Efficiency should be at the core of everything goaltenders do in order to ensure proper positioning, timing, and reacting to shots effectively during their games.  Therefore, all Goalie Army Academy goalie training sessions ensure that goalies are taking proper rest times between sets of each exercise.  Each session is formatted to ensure that all goaltenders train as hard as they can for every single repetition during each exercise through utilizing game situations and mimicking a game’s pace.  Doing so allows goaltenders to give their very best for every repetition, therefore allowing them to train with proper technique consistently throughout each session.  Training this way allows goaltenders to build speed and power naturally while maintaining proper technique, and apply it to their games more effectively.  Goalie Army Academy believes that a student’s training shines through during their games.  This means that if students are training with bad habits regularly, these bad habits will become exposed during competition.  However, if efficiency is at the core of their training, then it will positively impact their game when it matters most.

Slowing down in order to ensure that something is done properly isn’t a new concept to anyone.  Instead it’s a priceless life lesson that should be taught as early as possible when it comes to hockey.  Come to expect more for your money, and from your child’s coaches.

 

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