Motivation, Part 1 ...

One of the most popular questions I get from parents of prospective young netminders is this: "How do I know my kid will want to play goalie?" It's a fair question, especially given the costs associated with outfitting a young keeper (see previous post). My standard reply is simple: "Oh, don't worry. They'll let you know."

It's a concise answer, but one with a broad interpretation. I'm not trying to be clever or coy. I really believe that kids, especially really young kids, will be the first to tell Mom and Dad that they'd rather not play between the pipes, once they find out how hard it is. Today's top-notch goaltenders, whether high school, juniors, college or pro, make the position seem so effortless that kids who watch them, and are enamored with all the cool gear, think it's going to be a snap for them as well. What they rarely comprehend, at least initially, is the hundreds if not thousands of hours of training required to make those movements appear so "effortless."

It's not unlike regular players, who immediately start looking for the pucks the minute they hit the ice. There is undeniably a magical quality to pucks; Kids want to stickhandle and shoot early, late, and every moment in between. The problem is, in a hockey game, players are likely to have the puck on their stick only a fraction of the time. And if they can't skate, they'll see the puck even less, because they won't be able to keep up with the play. Skating is the bedrock foundation of this game, and the better players almost intuitively understand that skating drills, without pucks, are necessary to improve their overall skills.

Similarly, young goalies want to get in the net, and stop shots. After all, that's their job, right? But, like their counterparts at forward and defense, if a goalie can't skate, he or she will rarely be in the right place, and in the proper stance, to make that save and recover for the next shot. Though the skating techniques employed by goalies are different than positional players, those techniques are just as critical to their success. And they're just as difficult to master. There's a lot of sweat equity required to build that foundation. And that's where you find out if the kid is motivated or not.

Motivation is one of the trickiest aspects of coaching any sport, and particularly hard with goaltenders. Yet it's also one of the most obvious, and most decisive factors, when assessing a group of young goalies. The kids who really get after it, who battle on every drill, every shot, for every loose puck, quickly separate themselves from the pack. Those kids are a joy to coach. Even more importantly we, as coaches, know that those are the kids other players will gravitate toward, and work hardest for. So it's a win-win.

I often wonder whether there's a corollary between effort and talent, because the kids who try hardest are the ones coaches naturally gravitate to. The more time we spend with them, the better they get. That improvement, in turn, validates our role as coaches.

Still, the sad truth is that too many kids have the talent but lack the requisite motivation. Few parents see this side of coaching. We will agonize over a kid who has great ability, but for any number of reasons – from personal issues at home or school to simply a lack of interest – won't realize his or her full potential. It's an incredibly frustrating situation, because we know that you can't "teach" motivation. We can present an optimum environment for learning, but even then some kids just won't show any spark. Like one long-time coach and friend likes to say: "I want to tell his parents to save themselves a lot of money and aggravation, and get their kid a basketball for Christmas."

In reality, the kids who "want" to play goal don't need any special considerations. They'll play hard regardless of the condition of the rink, the quality of the shooters, the dreariness of the drills. They don't even care what kind of gear they've got. They just want to play. And they'll play their hearts out every time they get on the ice. This summer, I worked with a number of top-flight goalies, all prep-school, collegiate, and/or pro-level keepers. Two of the hardest workers were two of the best, Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks (shown in the accompanying photo), and Cody Reichard of the Miami University Red Hawks. Likewise, future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek was legendary for hating to surrender even a single goal during an entire practice. It meant that much to him.

Kids who share the same mindset and work ethic as a Schneider, a Reichard, or a Hasek are born goaltenders. Those are the kids who will let their folks know that Mom and Dad are raising a goalie, like it or not. The parents won't have any doubts.

Part 2 will discuss the psychology of coaching a kid who has the talent, but doesn't seem to have the drive to give his or her best effort.

Best,
-Brion

The gear game …

Back in the day, when I was growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s and '70s, playing goal was a calling, for one simple reason. You got hurt. Often. It was perfectly normal for me to finish a skate with several (or more) multicolored welts, each one recording another save. I took great pride in those bruises, and in many ways, it was pride that drove me to play the position. It certainly wasn't "fun" most of the time.

A big reason was the gear. The equipment simply hadn't caught up to the curved sticks and slap shots, and getting hit repeatedly by a puck was going to be painful, period. I still have a memento – an old cage from my Cooper goalie mask – from my high school days shortly after my family had moved to New Hampshire. The cage is bent almost perfectly around my nose, so it never raises suspicion. But, in truth, the bar was straight as a ruler until a teammate's slap shot in practice caught me square between the eyes. The impact separated the cage from the helmet, and sent me toppling backwards. I slammed the back on my head on the crossbar, and the only thing preventing me from getting a concussion was the helmet I was wearing. But that cage, I'm absolutely convinced, saved my life.

Street hockey wasn't much better, though not life threatening. This was actually my introduction to hockey, spurned on by my Grandpere (my mom's dad), a huge hockey fan and a native of Quebec. We could play year-round on the streets of my New Jersey neighborhood, but early fall was a magic time. The Rangers started training camp, and we'd trade in our baseball gloves and bats for hockey gloves and sticks. But the hard, bright orange Mylec got more and more stiff as the temperatures dropped, and would sting like a son-of-a-gun in weather below 50 degrees (which was compounded by the fact that I, as the goalie, got stiff as well, 'cause I wasn't running around). I remember my mom helping me to fashion some home-made pads out of old, brown denim jeans stuffed with foam. The rest of the gear was fairly rudimentary: hockey glove as a blocker, baseball mitt as a catcher, maybe a cup jock (maybe not, which meant really living dangerously), a catcher's chest protector, heavy sweaters to protect the arms, and a plastic Mylec mask. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Most of the time, anyway. There were some pretty excruciating moments, when a shot found an unprotected area, but those never prevented me from getting back between the pipes.

By the time I hit 8th grade, I knew I wanted to play goalie on the ice as well. Rinks were starting to sprout throughout northern New Jersey, and my brothers and I were quick to sign up. I emulated Ranger netminders Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure in those days, and begged my mom to get real gear. She said get a paper route. So I did. And in 1972 or '73 (I'm not sure … the memory is a little fuzzy), I went to a local sports shop, and got my first genuine set of pads. I remember paying the princely sum of $115 for the leg pads, $40 for the catch glove, and $35 for the blocker. The total bill was about $225 for just about everything I needed, except goalie skates. Those would come later.

Looking back, I can't believe I got an entire set of brand-new, adult-sized handcrafted leather gear (made in Canada, of course) for a shade over $200. Of course, that was almost 40 years ago, but the point is, I was able to outfit myself with the proceeds of a paper route. How many kids can do that today?

As a coach, I realize the financial commitment that playing goal brings, either for the goalie, or his or her parents. It's not cheap. Take the legs pads. Pro-level pads, made north of the border, run at least four figures, with the starting point of roughly $1,200. There are exceptions to the rule, such as Simmons, a very nice pad manufacturer that doesn't spend big buck on pro sponsorships. But the major players – Vaughn, Reebok, Bauer, Brian's, Sher-Wood – will all cost a very pretty penny. If you opt for customized gear, like Trevor Leahey's imaginative Stomp gear in the accompanying photo, you can plan on dropping close to $2,000 on pads and gloves alone. (On the other hand, Trevor went to the Pingree School here in Hamilton, a commuting prep school that runs about $30,000 annually, so I'm guessing cost wasn't a big deal for his folks!)

So what is a goalie parent to do? First, if your young netminder is still growing (ages 6-16), don't go crazy on top-notch gear. Kids will want matching gear, probably the same stuff their heroes wear. What kid wouldn't? Don't fall into that trap. Get them what they need, and save what you can (you'll need it later if he or she sticks with it). Younger goalies (Mites and Squirts) don't need bulletproof protection, because their teammates can't shoot the puck that hard anyway (the coach might get carried away, but that's another story). Don't take the "he'll grow into it" approach, either. You want equipment that fits correctly, and is relatively lightweight. If the pads don't fit correctly, you're setting your child up for frustration at best, and failure at worse.

In this regard, secondhand gear is a great choice, because it depreciates so quickly, and you can usually find very reasonable prices online at sites such as Craig's List, or stores like Play It Again Sports. I've had great luck on Ebay, but that's because I know exactly what I'm looking for, and the size I need. That's a little trickier for parents, since you're still buying the item "blind." If you're new to the world of goalie gear, you want to actually see the stuff you're buying, and you want to make sure it's a good match. Most importantly, make sure your child's knee (with his skates on) fits squarely into the knee cradle of the leg pads. Likewise, the chest and arm protector should fit comfortably – buying this item over-sized will only prevent your young prodigy from being able to move without difficulty. Newer pads are specifically designed to move with the goaltender, but only if they fit correctly.

Since these pads only going to be using it for a season or two, you might also opt for newer pads on the lower end of the price spectrum. To help take the sting out of outfitting a young netminder, most major gear manufacturers now offer equipment made overseas. And while this gear has made significant improvements over the years, it still is inferior, in both materials and workmanship. Still, it might do the trick, depending on your needs. The benefit here is that you're dealing with a shop that (ideally) can show you the correct way to put the pads on. I'm always startled to see how many young goalies show up at our camps and clinics with ill-fitting pads. The funniest are the ones with the pads on the wrong leg (yes, there are "left" and "right" pads). But then I realize that putting n pads, for most parents, is akin to me installing an electrical outlet or changing the brakes on my car. If you've never been shown how to do it, it can be puzzling. Take the time to learn, and encourage your young goaltender to do the same.

For PeeWees and Bantams (ages 11-15), you want to make sure they're protected. Kids can start shooting faster and harder, and the puck isn't getting any softer. Better gear is not just an option; it's a necessity. You'll want to upgrade to goalie pants, and probably a mask with a plastic neck protector (or dangler). Again, go the secondhand route if money is a concern. You can typically find good gear at 25 to 40 cents on the dollar, and your child will benefit from the added measure of safety. Compared to my circa 1972 stuff, today's equipment is far superior, which is one of the biggest reasons goaltending is becoming so popular. It simply doesn't hurt as much. And that's a good thing.

Addendum: My good friend Steve Zinger pointed out that I didn't mention knee/thigh pads, which are a critical piece of protection for young goalies. Many smaller, kid-size leg pads expose the area just above the knee, and just below their hockey pants, when a young goalie drops into the butterfly (or on the ice). Some pads have "thigh boards," but I've found that in less expensive models, these boards don't stay in place. Knee/thigh protectors are an inexpensive yet effective piece of gear to prevent injuries to this very susceptible (and sensitive) part of the leg. Thanks, Steve, for the heads up!

Stay tuned for future posts on the importance of goalie skates, and properly fitted goalie sticks.

All the best,
-Brion

Starting young ...

I can't blame kids for wanting to play goalie nowadays. There's no question that it's become a glamor position. Here in Boston, if you turn on NESN, the Bruins local TV channel, you're bound to see highlights of Tuukka Rask (the B's anointed one) and Tim Thomas (the 2008-09 Vezina Trophy winner). Goalies are superstars, the center of attention. And that's bound to catch any kid's eye.

Suffice to say, that wasn't always the case. While I was growing up, I was in the distinct minority, one of the few with the kinked DNA who actually wanted to play goalie. The fashionable positions were the forwards, the goal scorers. Then Bobby Orr, with his preternatural skills, came along, and gave defensemen added panache. Overall, it was the stars who skated out who sparked the dreams of most school-age buddies of mine.

Goalies were stereotypically some sad-sack grommit who was short on talent and, more often than not, long on girth (or someone's kid brother who would play any position just to be part of the game). The idea was to take the worst skater, and stick him in the nets. After all, the thinking went, they didn't have to move very far. And even if they got pummeled, they'd stick around because they didn't really have any choice.

Today, gear improvements have made the position much, much safer, which makes it more attractive for first-timers (more on equipment advances in a later post). Plus, the gear looks really cool, and that adds allure to playing goal. But there's also an undeniable athleticism that modern goaltenders brings to the game that makes the position look like such a blast to play. As a coach, I understand that the skills on display in pro and college-level games are the result of years and years of hard work, but kids don't know that. They just see these fabulous acrobats, coiled like jungle cats in front of their cages, making life miserable for the world's best shooters on a nightly basis.

If only it were so simple. I'm not discouraging anyone from trying, but the PlayStation generation doesn't always grasp the effort required to play a position as physically demanding as hockey goaltender. And once they find out for themselves, their first reaction is often to dump the "tools of ignorance" and pick up their skinny sticks. So it's critical to make sure novice goalies are given the correct set of expectations, designed to give them the best chance of success.

There are several caveats to consider before you put your youngster (or any youngster) in the nets. Most importantly, remember that children under the age of 10 are still getting their skating legs under them. The added obstacle of trying to move around with cumbersome goalie gear is a rude wake-up call. Chances are, they'll flail, desperately trying to find a balance point on their edges without the natural advantage that momentum provides. Goalie-specific skating is much different than the long, looping strides of regular skaters, and regular hockey skates aren't design for the quick, compact movements a netminder makes. So the very act of staying on their feet becomes a daunting challenge for many young goalies.

During a recent clinic for my Agawam Youth Hockey goalies, I had one little shaver who couldn't have been more than 7. And he couldn't stay upright. Every time he moved, the poor kid fell. He simply wasn't bending his knees, and kept losing his balance. Once he fell – either on his backside, or on all fours – he could not get back up. It was excruciating. After about 10 minutes of flopping around, he burst into tears. I helped him off the ice, delivering him to his dad, but it was clear that his goaltending days were numbered. He found out the hard way that goaltending was whole lot more difficult than it looks on TV.

One very effective method to prevent these awkward on-ice moments is to have the young netminder bring the gear home, and try it on without skates. Most equipment for Mite and Squirt goalies is relatively light, but can still feel stiff and bulky. To make things easier, give your first-time netminder a chance to get used to moving with all that added bulk, without the added tribulations of slipping around on the ice. Play street hockey, fire tennis balls at him, laugh. Be patient. And don't be in a great rush to your undersized netminder onto the ice. The realization of how tough it is to play goal is akin to "sticker shock" for many youngsters; too many quit without really giving the position an honest effort.

The good news is that the learning curve is fairly sharp, provided they stick with it. Make it fun, and don't worry about the results of the first few skates. The only goal you want to focus on initially is that they want to get back in the nets.

All the best,
-Brion

Welcome to the rubber room ...

Playing goal is in my blood. Has to be. Really, when you stop and think about it, that can be the only explanation for why someone (me, in this instance) would keep putting himself in front of a rock-hard slab of vulcanized rubber, one that's often traveling upwards 0f 100 miles an hour, for more than four decades (the accompanying photo is taken from one of my "adult" league games ... we're contractually obligated by our wives to put the term "adult" in quotation marks in every reference!).

Heck, even today, less than a week following hip surgery, and a day after my 53rd birthday, I can't wait to get back on the ice (despite stern reservations from my surgeon, and my bride). But there's an undeniable draw to playing goalie in ice hockey, provided you're wired correctly. While you're not responsible for scoring, you can singlehandedly keep you team in the game by keeping the puck out of your net. You don't get to celebrate after every save, only at the end of the game. And even those post-game celebrations are typically much more subdued then the end-zone dances that goal scoring tends to engender these days.

Those moments, though, when you're stopping everything the opposition can throw at you, are priceless. For those who accept that challenge, and thrive under the particular pressure (lunacy?) that goaltending presents, there isn't a better place to play. So, with 40 years of experience under my belt (and the subsequent evolution from stand-up to hybrid to butterfly styles), I've decided to share what I've learned about "the most important position in team sports." For the past dozen years, I've coached younger goaltenders (heck, they're almost all younger than me these days; even the guys in the adult clinics), which has proven to be a real nice continuum, a way to give back to a sport that has given me so much.

One of the most glaring observations I've made while coaching is how little other coaches, and parents, understand the demands placed on the goalie, both physically and mentally, in practice and in games. The classic example of this disconnect is the time-honored shooting drill, in all its permutations. You know this drill, when player after player after player skates in on the goalie and rips a shot (often a slap shot from the hash marks). So, if you've got 20 skaters at practice, the goalie is seeing 20 shots for every single shot taken by each player. Two shots per player, 40 pucks flying at the goalie. Oftentimes, those shots come in rapid-fire succession, not allowing the goalie even a split second to regain his or her composure and/or stance. Then it's on to yet another shooting drill.

Ten minutes into practice, the goalie is toast, and starts stumbling around like a shell-shocked soldier from the front lines. And the coach, innocent but oblivious, can't understand why. Often they'll try to pump up the kid with encouragement, not realizing they've already lost him/her for that practice. I've even overheard coaches comment on how certain goalies "quit on a drill," with little understanding that they ran the poor kid into the ice.

The idea behind this blog is to help bridge that gap. I plan to not only offer advice and tips for goalies on training and technique and equipment, but also to help coaches and parents better understand the very unique challenges of this very unique position. I welcome any and all questions. Ultimately, I hope to create a vigorous round-table discussion on the fine art of goaltending, where anyone and everyone can weigh in. Join us!

All the best,
-Brion