Communication = Leadership

[harri1]

Communication Equals 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).

The following are just a few ways in which MTN feels the goaltender can be an effective leader on and off the ice.

Off Ice Communication

The goaltender must be aware that the communication process begins before they even step on the ice.

The goaltender needs to communicate any positional and/or team related issues with teammates. The goaltender needs to discuss with defensemen, where and how they want pucks set up for the breakout. The defensemen need to know how the goaltender wants to play odd man rushes, screen situations, and penalty kills. As well as key words that the defensemen need to hear during certain plays.

Another aspect of being a leader is trying to rally your teammates. Often things like the goaltender’s body language or some encouraging words can help build team confidence and camaraderie. If a teammate has done something that you like, let them know. If you think someone needs to pick up their game pull them aside and positively let them know how much more they are capable of. If a teammate has royally screwed up, it is not your job to berate them in front of the rest of the team and if this mistake has resulted in a goal, remember you are the one whose job it is to cover up for that mistake (see Goalie Responsibilities).

Analyze the other team’s goaltenders for strengths and weaknesses. If you spot a weakness of the other team and/or their goaltender make sure you inform the players on your team. Your teammates may not take the scoring advice to heart and worse yet if that scoring advice works they seem surprised. Keep giving the advice because no one knows better how to score on a goaltender, than a goaltender.

On Ice Communication

During the game the goaltender is the quarterback. The goaltender is the one player who gets to see the whole play develop almost all of the time. The goaltender should be the eyes for the entire team.

When you are verbally communicating with teammates make sure that you are loud enough that the fans can hear you. If the fans can hear you your teammates will too.

Three important aspects of verbal on ice communication are:

1) TIMING: If the timing of the communication is not correct then a teammate could get hurt or a goal could be scored.

2) VOLUME: If your teammates cannot hear what you are saying they will not do what you need them to do. With a mask on, and a noisy rink it is doubly important the goaltender is LOUD and CLEAR. Let your teammates know what is needed, with authority, so they know you are serious.

3) SHORT PHRASES: Communicating, on the ice, requires that the goaltender use short phrases to describe what actions need to occur. Hockey moves too fast too be able to fully explain a situation. Of course, everyone needs to be on the same page as to which short phrases will be used.

Some short phrases that can be used during a game are:

MAN ON! The goaltender is letting a teammate know they are under pressure.

MOVE! SCREEN! CAN’T SEE! These indicate that the opposition or a teammate is screening the goaltender.

SHOT! The goalie wants the shot. The defenseman should take away the passing option.

BOARDS! GLASS! The goaltender lets the teammate know that the boards or glass are a safe play.

BACK DOOR! There is an open attacker at the opposite side of the crease. Defensemen should watch for the passing option.

FREEZE IT! ICE IT! Both signals indicate a face-off or line change is needed. Use these instructions if your team is scrambling in your own end.

HIGH MAN! There is an open man in the slot that should be covered.

ICE! Tell your teammates the opposition has iced the puck.

SKATES! FEET! The puck is in the skates of your teammate. Teammates need to control the opposition’s sticks and control the body to avoid a sudden scoring chance.

OVER! BEHIND! If your teammate has control of the puck and it is safe to pass to another player across or behind the net this is a good command. This may also be a way of indicating that the puck has been rimmed around the boards to the other side of the rink.

GOT IT! MINE! This indicates that the goaltender has an idea of what they want to do with the puck. The goalie may want to play the puck or freeze it for a whistle.

UP! The puck has gone into the air, possibly after a save. There is an open teammate up the ice.

REVERSE! The defenseman’s best option is to pass the puck back in the opposite direction they were heading. The reverse pass is a hard pass made off of the boards.

WHEEL! TAKE IT! Let your teammate know when they have a chance to rush the puck.

SET UP! BACK! If the breakout is not working properly instruct your defensemen to start from scratch.

NET’S OFF! Let the ref know if the net is off its moorings. Get the whistle to prevent a deflating goal from happening.


** Remember: Hockey happens at a fast pace so communication is important. Proper communication will help make everyone’s job easier. **

[harri1]

Many years ago, I was given an excellent piece of advice about a way to impress the scouts/evaluators at tryout camps or even during the season. Since I did not know better I felt that this person who had "inside" knowledge about what evaluators talked about was giving me a sacred piece of advice. What was the advice you ask?

"Whenever a goaltender is on the ice the scouts should be able to hear that goaltender communicate clearly and loudly no matter where the scouts are located in the stands, at all times."

Now that I am much older and wiser and one half of an up and coming goalie school, we have tried to pass this information onto our students over the last few years. This info goes well with our article on "Preparing for Tryouts and Training Camps". As much as we have stressed the importance of communication in tryouts, training camps and regular season this information is kind of lost in the anxiety of tryouts and rigours of the game. It was very recently that we were evaluating a Midget "AAA" Spring Camp that we realized that most young goalies lack proper on-ice communication skills.

There are two areas of weakness that needs to be addressed:

1. Inconsistency with any verbal communication. Even if there was a goalie that we could hear communicating in a cold, empty rink, while sitting at centre, we would only here intermittent communication. If we even heard the goaltender communicate loudly they seemed to quit doing it when they were active in the play around them. If there was lots of time some would communicate OK, but often the goaltender could not concentrate on the play AND communicate. Goaltenders must be able to do both, at the same time. An example would be if a goalie is being screened by their own teammate, the goalie should tell them to move without losing focus on the situation at hand.

2. Lack of volume; if communication was happening. Some goalies believe they are communicating but do not realize that they are often the only ones who can hear their communication. Goalies have masks that often stifle sound and d-men are usually too rushed to listen unless they are basically being yelled at all the time. When we see army movies/t.v. shows we always see the commanding officer in the face of soldiers yelling at the top of their lungs. Goaltenders are the generals, the commanding officers of a hockey team, and as such need to communicate much the same way on the ice.

I have brought for your viewing pleasure a couple of great clips that really show how strong NHL goaltenders can communicate. When you watch an NHL game on t.v. you can often hear the goaltenders communicate in the background. The following videos show a mic'd up Dwayne Roloson and then Martin Biron mic'd up. Notice the constant chatter, with a ton of volume. The communication is not elaborate just timed well, loud and short.

Dwayne Roloson (Excellent communication under pressure)
YouTube - Roloson Mic'd Up

Martin Biron (Excellent communication with more time)
YouTube - Mic'd up with Marty 4/8/07

Hope this was enjoyable and informative. Take care.

[casedawg20000]

I totally agree that communication is one of the aspects of the goaltender's game that is often overlooked. Many goalies are simply there in net in body but not contributing at all verbally to the play. The short phrases are key, as they convey a quick message that is easily understandable. I remember a goalie who would always be talking, but he talked so much, much of it was lost in translation and didn't really help the team. I have also seen a team excellent on the PK simply because their goalie was reading the other team so well and talking to his teammates. I think this skill should be emphasized at a younger age because when goalies start to get older, then the skill can be refined instead of just being taught.

In regards to off ice communication, I think that also the body language and confidence level of the goalie directly affects the team. If a goalie is not focused in the dressing room then the whole team will likely follow suit. Often though, goalies can get a team focussed when they are clowning around before the game. When players see how seriously their goaltender is taking the game, I find it tends to rub off on them. If a goalie is fiercely competitive and is prepared for the other team by giving information and strategies, it works to focus the entire group. This is why the goalie can be a true leader on the team even though they do not wear a "C" or an "A".

CT

[harri1]

I had a good response to your response casedawg but when I went to post it the GSBB system was backing up and I lost the whole thing. Now I'm too ticked to repeat myself. I will reply again tomorrow night.

[harri1]

casedawg20000 - I want to start by saying thank you for the good comments in the two communication threads. In terms of a goalie communicating too much I would rather have the goalie that talks too much as opposed to the goalie that does not talk at all. I think the part in the original article that takes care of the possibility of a goalie talking too much is...

TIMING: If the timing of the communication is not correct then a teammate could get hurt or a goal could be scored.

A goalie that communicates all of the time may not understand the importance of timing.

You are right if a goalie is very prepared whether they are more loose before a game or have a very rigid routine the rest of the team will feed off of the goalie that appears to be prepared. Once I started to realize the importance of my body language and the affect on the team I started to make sure that I never did anything like dropping my head between periods or after a goal. Even if I felt I was at fault I still needed to SHOW that I was not fazed. You are right, all goalies are leaders whether they like it or not, usually more through action than words; it varies depending on the goalie.

One last comment, it is extremely important that goalies sit down with their defencemen and get to know what they need their goalie to do for them and vice versa. This is especially important after being traded or whenever a goalie plays for a new team. Discussing needs off the ice will lead to better understanding and more instinctual plays on the ice.

[Slapshot011]

Originally Posted by harri1

In terms of a goalie communicating too much I would rather have the goalie that talks too much as opposed to the goalie that does not talk at all. I think the part in the original article that takes care of the possibility of a goalie talking too much is...



A goalie that communicates all of the time may not understand the importance of timing.
.

OK, my experience with this... I also skate out and in true beer league fashion I play forward or D depending on what's needed but the last couple seasons it's been mostly D. My goalie on this team talks constantly but not effectively. Full sentences, insults, swears, jokes etc. It gets to the point where after a few minutes it just becomes a constant rumble behind you. Kinda like white noise so even if there is some useful information it gets lost. Common conversation between players in the faceoff circle... "what the hell is Artie talking about? Who knows!?, does it matter?lol "

I tend to try optimal communication as you described and I'm fairly active but when I fill in on that team, my teammates joke about how quiet it is back there! I've had other players (D) that I don't see very often as a pickup hour backup/call-in tell me that they like how much I communicate compared to the other guy. Should give you a clue as to how much my BL goalie talks.