Jukka Ropponen Interview

[Eidolon]

Q&A with goalie coach Jukka Ropponen

[CubanPuckstoppr]

Good find.

If there are no objections I'd like to stick the thread for awhile.

[Eidolon]

Thanks! I found that link over at Kukla's Korner. Pretty good read.

[sloth2946]

Good interview, thanks for sharing it.

Some key points to the article are that what is making Finland so successful is that they have a systemic approach to training skills and instead of doing it top down as is done here in North America, it is done from the bottom up.

From what I've seen with regard to USA Hockey, their idea of preparing youth coaches for instructing goaltenders in the fundamentals of the position is abysmal. But to have a qualified person instructing the goalies in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio is invaluable.

In short....we here in North America need to take more lessons from across the pond.

[gl35]

Originally Posted by sloth2946

From what I've seen with regard to USA Hockey, their idea of preparing youth coaches for instructing goaltenders in the fundamentals of the position is abysmal. But to have a qualified person instructing the goalies in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio is invaluable.

In short....we here in North America need to take more lessons from across the pond.

For me, one of the important posts on this board was when Keeks announced that he was going to play goalie in a beer league so that he could <<try some of the newer things he'd been teaching so that he could get a better understanding of them.>>

(not a direct quote since the post is gone -- but don't get me started on that)

I'm not convinced that training a bunch of "goalie coaches" who've never played the position is a good idea. In fact, we (USAH) may be better off letting kids develop on their own, rather than having a bunch of "book experts" who've never even played the position attempting to do it.

Perhaps the real difference is as simple as Finland having an easier time accepting a socialized development program, whereas the US naturally gravitates toward privatization.

[Jansson]

Originally Posted by gl35

I'm not convinced that training a bunch of "goalie coaches" who've never played the position is a good idea. In fact, we (USAH) may be better off letting kids develop on their own, rather than having a bunch of "book experts" who've never even played the position attempting to do it.

Book experts are better than nothing.

[goaliedad31]

Excellent interview. What he says has a lot of merit. Why can't there be someone who teaches goalie coaches instead of just going to a 'coaches' clinic. Just because you didn't play the position doesn't mean you can't instruct younger people on proper techniques and other facets of the position. Watching videos, reading bulletin boards, articles and talking to current goalies can tell you a lot. Trust me, I did.
There are great coaches out there that have never played hockey and great players that make lousy coaches.

[Steve L]

Originally Posted by gl35

For me, one of the important posts on this board was when Keeks announced that he was going to play goalie in a beer league so that he could <<try some of the newer things he'd been teaching so that he could get a better understanding of them.>>

(not a direct quote since the post is gone -- but don't get me started on that)

I'm not convinced that training a bunch of "goalie coaches" who've never played the position is a good idea. In fact, we (USAH) may be better off letting kids develop on their own, rather than having a bunch of "book experts" who've never even played the position attempting to do it.

Perhaps the real difference is as simple as Finland having an easier time accepting a socialized development program, whereas the US naturally gravitates toward privatization.

I don't think trying to break all the bad habitis that they would have learned "on their own" is such a good idea. Maybe it's just different out here in California, where there are a number of decent (and a few really good) goalie coaches, and enough parents willing to get their kids in for regular weekly lessons.

[Jukka Ropponen]

While there still are and will be "parent type" goalie coaches here in Finland who have never played as goalies themselves the majority of our goalie coaches have playing background. I would say that when you move to older groups almost all of the goalie coaches have playing background. You only see a few of those without proper background at the very young age groups.

It' still great that federation gives training to those youth coaches without background, but even bigger difference to North America is the fact that those goalie coaches with playing background do almost always go through certified training when they start coaching goalies. This way they don't just teach/repeat the same mistakes they have been doing during their career.

I have several goalie coaches that work at my camps & events and I give them continuous training so that I know the people I use do teach the right way and are updated on latest developments. As an example I am using Ale Jääskeläinen as the other coach on the goalie sessions this week. Some of you may remember Ale from the 2003 Rochester clinic as he did join us on that event. I run the other end with Sulander and Bäckström in the net and Ale runs the other end with Flueler (ZSC) and Härmä (KooKoo) at the other end. We use this week as teaching for Ale as well and I design the workouts and help Ale also to analyze and correct his goalies.

Overall the biggest difference between North America and Finland in goalie coaching can be summarized to these few points:

1) Sheer # of trained goalie coaches
2) Well coordinated educational program for goalie coaches
3) Youth/junior hockey organizations value goalie coaching and are willing to invest to it (pay for coaches and pay for their education).
4) Ability to attract ex goalies to coach.

My younger son is a good example. He plays as a goalie for GrIFK Jun A team and when he joined this club last spring they also asked him if he would be interested to coach goalies for the clubs -98 team. They do pay for him for each session he participates at + they are also paying for him to go through the coaches training program. This is also very typical scenario. Older active goalies often help and coach 1-2 times per week clubs younger tenders.

Jukka

[gl35]

To be clear, I have complete respect for any parent who is willing to step up and invest their time coaching hockey. My concern is that sending them back to their teams after a few hours of classroom instruction is likely to give them the mistaken belief that they're qualified to start teaching their goalies.

Experience is the only teacher. Without enough direct experience, the value of the knowledge attained is limited. In the case where you have no direct experience to build on, you're simply too far away from the source to be of much use. (I'm talking strictly in terms of giving direct instruction)

How many people would attend a class on teaching golf and then go out and start teaching a golf team without at least picking up a club and trying to hit a few balls just to see if they even understood what they were taught? That seems crazy to me, but that's exactly what happens with goalies.

Jukka, rather than double post, I'll just add here that the program that you have in Finland sounds outstanding. My gut feeling is that our club-based system tends to discourage the type of unity that would be required to develop a program like the one you've described. Hopefully I'm wrong about that, but either way, there are many things that we can learn from what you're doing!

-gl

[goaliedad31]

Jukka, thank you for responding and thank you for further insight.
I think points 2, 3 & 4 are very good. Well coordinated is a key point in #2.
Most coaches get a very brief overview of coaching goalies in there coaches clinics and for many, that's it. There needs to be more time and practical on ice demonstrations.
Maybe paying some of the older goalies to assist with the younger ones
might entice more of them to get involved.
My son also helps out but when volunteering takes away from a paying job it's tough to get them.
Someone like you needs to continue to encourage ex-goalies to become coaches.

Do you ever do any camps in Ontario? I would love to see the kind of things you do.