Need advice, don't be afraid to ask us...

[leaferguy]

I'm no fiveholegoalie, but I'd say if you really want to get mentally right, prepare like you're playing a game at home. It's not ideal, but spend the time to visualize situations. Glue them into your memory and keep walking through them. Get used to the snap of a save rather than falling into it. Doing so will give you that extra fraction of a second to keep position.

Disregard at will, as I know you're looking for a pro's help. I figured I'd just chime in with what I do. Visualization is everything. Playing beer leagues, you spend probably more than 90% of your time off the ice. Getting your body right is good, but your mind is the difference maker when it comes to goaltending.

[foodsample]

Hey, I am going to be playing Juniors, and have been seeing a goalie coach to improve my technique. My main concern now has become my reaction time. I find that I can see the puck, but Its frustrating for me to be able to see it and not react to the shot? I have been doing things like playing FPS games, throwing tennis balls on the wall, and of course getting as much ice time as I can .. what do you suggest I do about this?

[Temple]

Originally Posted by leaferguy

Eating!



Sorry, feel free to delete if too stupid

Of course you're only kidding, but whether a goalie is 150 or 350 pounds, he'll drop at the same speed. Remember gravity's not only a good idea, it's the law.

Now if you are only using gravity, instead of thrusting your knees down, about the only thing that will speed your trip is if you shorten your lower leg bones. Of course that's impractical, because you'd have to get new pads.

Craig

[maximum31]

Regarding the breakaway strategies you listed, the 2nd one is clearly superior at the higher levels. The reason for this is that, one against faster shooters, waiting 2 feet out of the crease totally static until the shooter hits the bottom hashmark puts you in no position to respond to a deke from a shooter with speed. I think its fair to say the vast majority if not all NHL goalies use some form of the 2nd strategy. That being said, I think the first strategy is better for younger goalies and lower level goalies as it does teach good basic breakaway disciplen and reinforces the idea of timing and will work untill the skaters reach a higher level and can execute dekes at full speed well and consistently.
P.S. I understand your giving both strategies for the completion and giving the goalie options, but for the sake of discussion I wrote this post.

[fiveholegoalie]

Originally Posted by foodsample

Hey, I am going to be playing Juniors, and have been seeing a goalie coach to improve my technique. My main concern now has become my reaction time. I find that I can see the puck, but Its frustrating for me to be able to see it and not react to the shot? I have been doing things like playing FPS games, throwing tennis balls on the wall, and of course getting as much ice time as I can .. what do you suggest I do about this?

FS:

Increasing your reaction time is no easy task. Please refer to this thread in which some discussion was gathered about using different techniques to increase hand eye coordination and reaction time.

Link: Question: Over Use of Hand to Eye Cordination Drills

Let me know your thoughts.

Good Luck!

[CubanPuckstoppr]

Hey fiveholegoalie,

I hope you do not mind that I have cross posted this thread, post #14 on the breakaway with the thread linked below.

Keeping square to the puck on fast breaks

Your advice seems appropriate for that member, and this way your replies are grouped together here.

Please let me know if the referral of others to this thread/forum is ok?

[fiveholegoalie]

Originally Posted by CubanPuckstoppr

Hey fiveholegoalie,

I hope you do not mind that I have cross posted this thread, post #14 on the breakaway with the thread linked below.

Keeping square to the puck on fast breaks

Your advice seems appropriate for that member, and this way your replies are grouped together here.

Please let me know if the referral of others to this thread/forum is ok?

Sounds good. I was on vacation for a few days and wasn't able to get to the forum. If you need anything else let me know!

Talk to you soon.

[shutout_9999]

Hey 5-hole,

For the longest time my confidence seems to be shattered. For some reason I jsut don't believe I can stop the puck now, there are times will i'll get a "andrenlaine(sp)" boost and jsut rob everyone, but for the longest time i keep going back into these slumps that i never seem to come back out of. I know I have the talent to keep going and I've shown that I do, but something isn't clicking.

Any suggestions?

[fiveholegoalie]

Originally Posted by shutout_9999

Hey 5-hole,

For the longest time my confidence seems to be shattered. For some reason I jsut don't believe I can stop the puck now, there are times will i'll get a "andrenlaine(sp)" boost and jsut rob everyone, but for the longest time i keep going back into these slumps that i never seem to come back out of. I know I have the talent to keep going and I've shown that I do, but something isn't clicking.

Any suggestions?

Shutout, thanks for writing.

As we all know, in the game of goaltending, confidence plays a large factor in our overall success each time we're on the ice.

Please refer to a few articles below that might shed some light on your issue.

1. Bandits advice: H. A. P.!

2. Consistent Practice Habits

3. Article: Keeping your head in the game

4. The 5 R's

After reading these articles, please go out and utilize some of the tools you've learned in these articles to your advantage and hopefully it will help break your mental "slump"!

Good luck and let me know how everything works out!

[Panda]

I come from Australia, and we have no goalie clinics or anything here. I can't even find a goalie coach. I really want to improve my game though. Do you know what I could do to help? I know some issues i need to work on (bringing my gloves forward a bit in my stance for example), but it's hard to know how else i can improve? I've just kind of made it up as I go?

Do you know what I'd be able to do? Flying to the US for a goalie camp is beyond my funds atm.

[fiveholegoalie]

Originally Posted by Panda

I come from Australia, and we have no goalie clinics or anything here. I can't even find a goalie coach. I really want to improve my game though. Do you know what I could do to help? I know some issues i need to work on (bringing my gloves forward a bit in my stance for example), but it's hard to know how else i can improve? I've just kind of made it up as I go?

Do you know what I'd be able to do? Flying to the US for a goalie camp is beyond my funds atm.

Panda:

Thanks for writing. I think the first step you've already completed, by coming on here and asking questions and reading articles in this forum has already begun to make you a smarter goaltender. I would recommend a few things:

1. keep on reading articles in our forum and within the GSBB

2. post any footage or pictures so I can look at them and review them for you

3. if you have any more concerns, please post them here or PM me.

Please read these two articles below that are very important to any goalies game:


1. Consistent Practice Habits

2. Bandits advice: H. A. P.!

Overall, you have to be your own goalie coach. So in essence you have to be an even more in tuned student of the game because you do not have a goalie coach. I'll help you out as much as I can so your game can keep on developing and improving over the next few months.

Talk to you soon.