What makes a great hockey goalie

This is a simple step that you can take to ensure a more smooth sailing game day. I live by the same rules in my full-time job as a firefighter: every morning I check my gear thoroughly because it could literally be life or death.

Visualize and get into a calm and positive mindset. I have recently and consistently started implementing short meditations and breathing exercises into my daily life.

During my playing days at Adrian College, one of my coaches would put the entire team through a pre-game visualization exercise. You can learn more about him and his services on his website. You can also find many more examples online, including this visualization exercise similar to the one that I did in college:. I hope that you can get some value out of these tips and I wish you all the best on the ice this season!

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Join the WHL Academy today! Training Coaching Six things goalies should focus on to have a better season Six things goalies should focus on to have a better season. Dana Timm. Talk to you soon! Apply to be a WHL Writer here! Post Views: Coaching Skill Development. Fullbacks should never leave the goalkeeper alone and unprotected. Nor should they stand so close to them, or directly in front.

A good goalkeeper should always try to stay on the balls of their feet. This helps you keep the ball flat when kicking and making foot saves. Your head is weighty so importantly it helps keeps your weight forward.

When diving or smothering, always try to land on your side and your hips. Not only is this more comfortable than falling on your front, it means you are in a position to possibly save a rebound or another follow-up shot. Hand positioning is key when an opposing forward steps within striking or good assist range. Keeping your hands up gives you a fraction more time to make the save. This also prepares you for diving where you could crash to the ground in a body fall.

Clear your mind and focus on the next goal-bound shot. Every game is different and you could still end up being the hero at a later stage. I have previously spoken about the importance of mindset when playing your best hockey.

Due to the fact that you need to be the most composed of all, especially as your margin for error is the lowest. The 5 seconds surge to save the ball can be played over and over again in a game.

Not only do you need to be very fast off the line , but be fearless in that five-second charge. If a ball gets past you, try to immediately forget about it and put that in the past. Clear your mind and focus on the next shot. Enjoy yourself and have fun.

At the end of the day, it is just a game. Check out more field hockey tips to help set you apart this season and join us at a Nike Field Hockey Camp this summer. Select your sport and get into camp! If you need more assistance, just give us a call at we would be happy to help! Call us! Opposing players will try to fool the goalie with "head fakes" and "pump fakes" to deflect his attention from the puck.

Some players even put black tape on the blade of the stick to hide the puck. Knowing where you are on the ice. With such intense concentration on the puck it would seem quite easy for a goalie to find himself moving out of position. Kelly Hrudey told us he thought the positioning was even more important than reaction time when it came to being an effective goal tender.

Sometimes the shots are so fast and so accurate that a goalie will not have time to react. So a goalie can often make a great save by being in the right position.