The King's rule: Fun is vital

Henrik Lundqvist shares a lighthearted moment
with teammate and fellow goalie Antti Raanta.

Hi gang,

The last of my rapid-fire three-post medley. At our recent Foundation for Goalie Research and Education symposium, a new topic came to the forefront. Actually, not a "new" topic, but one that's finally getting the attention it deserves. And that topic, in a word, is fun.

Sports have become such a high-stakes activity that many of us, including coaches and parents, lose sight of the fact that these are still games. And games are supposed to be fun. Because, if they're not fun, what's the point? Which reminded me of this great column written by all-world goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for The Player's Tribune. Which led to a column of my own. Let me know what you think ...

##

Lessons from the King: Fun is vital

I'm a big fan of Henrik Lundqvist. The regal Swede has the noble bearing that I love seeing in goaltenders, as if they're almost invincible ("The King" being one of the best, and most appropriate, nicknames in the NHL). Technically, he's a rock star, and beneath that calm exterior is one of the league's fiercest competitors. There have been several years when he's almost single-handedly carried the New York Rangers on his way to collecting 400-plus wins (not to mention the gold and silver Olympic medals in his trophy case). I personally think he's worth every penny of the $9.5 million that the Blueshirts pay him annually.

So when I saw that Lundqvist wrote a "Letter to My Younger Self" in The Players' Tribune, I had to check it out. I wasn't disappointed. Some of his comments to his 8-year-old self are predictable, like the following segment, where he recounts the very first time he put on goalie gear.

"You'll glide to the top of your crease, bend your knees, then glide backward toward the net. And keep gliding. And keep gliding and gliding.

"Eventually, you'll hit the back of the net and topple over. You've fallen, and you can't get up. Nobody told you how heavy the pads were going to be.

"As you're laying there on the ice, completely helpless, your own brother will skate down on a breakaway and bury the puck in the open net. He'll skate away with a big smile on his face, arms in the air, while you lay there staring at the puck in the back of the net. Remember this feeling. It never gets any easier.

"This is just your first practice. In your first game, you'll let in 12 goals. Nowhere to go but up, right? Well, in your second game, you'll let in 18. Don't get discouraged."

These feelings – adjusting to cumbersome gear, feeling embarrassed, dealing with disappointment – are fairly universal in the goaltending community. As is Lundqvist's next thought.

"Believe it or not, this is the start of something beautiful. You have found something that you truly love. No matter how many goals you let in, the feeling of making just one save makes it all worth it. That's how you know you're on the right path."

This is music to my ears. As a goalie, and as a goalie coach, I know exactly how Lundqvist was feeling way back when. I've often told parents, when they ask whether their son or daughter will stick with goaltending, "Oh, don't worry. They'll tell you."

What that means is that the position quickly weeds out kids who simply aren't cut out for the rigors of goaltending. Some will stick it out because they're the only option, or they really enjoy being part of a team. But the ceiling for these kids is always going to be low. Why? Because developing into a really good goaltender takes an incredible amount of hard work and dedication. If you don't love the position, the odds of you committing to those countless hours in the gym and on the ice are slim.

As Lundqvist goes on to say, there's nothing mysterious about becoming great. Good gear will help, but ultimately it isn't the equipment that's going to make a difference. It requires God-given talent, and a willingness to put in the work required to make the most of that talent. It takes heart.

"There's no magic recipe for becoming your hero Pekka Lindmark (the former Swedish national team netminder)," wrote Lundqvist. "You don't need shiny new pads – you won't get your own pair until you're 18 anyway. You don't need expensive camps. You don't even need to be very good yet. The only thing that matters right now is that you keep having fun.

"You can compete like crazy against your brother. But never stop having fun. Be dedicated to having fun."

And that's where The King got me. "Having fun." Such a simple concept, yet so remarkably profound. Despite all the challenges that goalies face, kids who flourish in the position are typically (not always, but typically) the ones having fun. Because if it's not fun, the pressures and expectations of the position can crush you.

Some of my favorite goalies embody this concept. I think of guys like Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury, guys who looked like they were absolutely in their element when they were between the pipes, no matter how high the stakes were. Their smiles, their attitudes, were absolutely contagious. One of my favorite clips that airs over and over on the NHL Network is Canadien/Avalanche great Patrick Roy grinning and winking after yet another highlight save.

When I coach young goalies, I still try to nurture, above anything else, a love for the game. If a puck gets by you, try to figure out what happened, try to adjust, but don't agonize over it. Concentrate on what's coming next, not what's in the rear-view mirror. Remember to have fun. After all, it's a game.

I kept playing goalie past my 50th birthday. If my old-goalie hips and back didn't give out, I'd be playing today. I have several friends in their 60s who are still suiting up, and when they complain about this or that hurting them, I tell them to zip it. Because I'm utterly jealous that they're still heading to the rink once, twice, sometimes three times a week. My wife thinks I'm nuts. But, then again, she was never a goalie. There's no way she can understand.

I miss the fun. I miss the chirping, the camaraderie, the physical challenge, the subtle-but-very-real satisfaction of feeling the puck hitting me. Stepping on the ice, fully geared up, was an act of joy. It might not have always seemed like that to others, when my competitive streak occasionally overshadowed the more pleasurable aspects of the game. But, underneath it all, there was no place else I'd rather have been. Because it was fun.

The concept of "fun" is clearly so important to Lundqvist that he ended his missive to his 8-year-old self with this wonderful nugget:

"In fact, let me leave you with one final piece of advice. Tomorrow, when you put on that surprisingly heavy goalie equipment for the first time, right before you step out onto the ice, take a deep breath, block out all your thoughts and worries, and ask yourself a question: 'Why am I doing this?'

"The answer will come to you very quickly. 'I'm doing this because it's fun. I'm doing this because I love to compete. So let's go out there and have a blast.'

"Keep reminding yourself of this when things don't go as planned, even when your stage is Madison Square Garden.

"Being a goalie is 90 percent mental. If you are stuck in your own thoughts or dwelling on negativity you won't have the mental focus necessary to compete and succeed. Nobody tells you this when you're a kid, but the best way to get in the right mindset is to start by having fun. The rest you'll figure out.

"Your life will take you to many interesting places, and many big stages. But it doesn't matter if you're stepping out onto the frozen lake in Åre to battle with Joel, or stepping out onto the ice at Madison Square Garden in front of 18,000 people. It's all the same game.

"It's just ice. It's just a puck. Stopping it is fun."

Words that befit a King. Perfect.

FINIS

Making the most of your goalie camp investment

Good communication is a hallmark of a good goalie camp.

Hi gang,

As promised, Round 2 of my early May post blast. If you haven't already signed your young netminder up for a summer goalie camp, here's a laundry list of items to consider to ensure you maximize your dollars. Just make sure your child isn't playing hockey every day this summer. It is, after all, the off-season ... And, as always, let me know what you think.

##

Making the most of your goalie camp investment

It's that baffling time of year, even before the end of the youth league season (and just after the close of the high school campaign), when parents are already looking ahead to summer camp options. I know that sounds crazy, but it's simply the reality of year-round hockey.

Now, I'm a big proponent of down time, as opposed to playing hockey 24/7, 365 days a year. I don't believe players – not even the most diehard hockey fanatic – can maintain that level of enthusiasm year round.

But summer camps are important, because they give goaltenders a chance to work on their technique without the additional pressure of game results. Brian Daccord, founder of Stop It Goaltending in Massachusetts, refers to off-season camps and clinics as "developmental" training.

In season, it's all about "performance," or preparing for the next game, said Daccord. During the season, goalies (and coaches) don't have the luxury to work on new techniques or tweaks to their game. They have to focus on the task at hand, and that's winning. It's all about results. Consider the basketball player who needs to improve his free throws. Can you expect him to try something new in a game, when every point counts? Of course not. He's going to default to what he's most familiar with, regardless of the success rate.

The same is true for goaltending. The game is simply too fast to consciously think through every movement. There's no time for indecision. Reactions have to be automatic. So you need enough time to put in the repetitions needed to create adequate muscle memory without any related concern over game results.

Spring and summer training allow goalies time, and a pressure-free environment, to explore and experiment. Comfortable with the "load" on the post (or "VH," for vertical-horizontal), but want to try to "lean" (or "Reverse VH")? Off-season camps and clinics are the time to try it out. Like many techniques, the "lean" requires time to get comfortable with, much less master.

So, all that said, there are a number of questions that parents and players should ask before selecting a summer camp. In other words, to quote Daccord, "you should know what you're paying for."

First and foremost, does the camp have a "curriculum" that spells out exactly what goalies and their parents can expect? For example, at Stop It, we have a well-established 8-week program – called "blocks" – that is specifically designed to establish a foundation that goalies can build on. As any contractor will tell you, a strong, sturdy, reliable foundation is the key for a solid structure.

Here are some other key factors:

THE FORMAT

Weeklong camp or a series of clinics? I personally like a series of clinics that stretch over the course of a several months, maybe once or twice a week, for an hour to 90 minutes per session. This keeps things fresh (and, let's face it, there are worse places to be than an ice rink on a steamy summer day). This approach also works well if your child is skating in a low-key spring or summer league. For the last two years my daughter Brynne played in the New England Women's Hockey League. This league was more like organized pick-up, giving all the kids a chance to try something new without worrying about costing their team the game. That kind of freedom is liberating.

The weeklong camp is what Daccord calls an "experience." It's typically an intense setting, with 16 hours (four hours a day over four days) on the ice, covering a wide range of skills and game situations. It's the goalie camp version of cramming for a big exam. The downside is that they don't always allow for the repetition that's so important in creating muscle memory. So it's on the goalie to remember what they've learned, and continue to work on that skill set in the weeks following camp. On the positive side of the ledger, weeklong camps typically expose goalies to a number of different coaches – and coaching philosophies – and other goaltenders. And that's fun.

Is the camp goalie specific? One of the reasons that goalie-specific training is so popular is that goalies rarely get enough individualized attention in a typical "team practice" environment (this holds for youth as well as high school and junior programs). Mixed camps, offering instruction to forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders, can have the same pitfalls. "You're going to get X amount of minutes of training or instruction, and then get stuck in the net to be a target," said Daccord. "At the end of the day, is that what you signed up for?"

Do the camps offer large groups or small groups? This really comes down to ratio of coaches to goalies. On a regular sheet, we at Stop It can have as many eight stations running simultaneously, but each station has a qualified coach, working with one to four goalies. So even though we've occasionally got up upwards of 24 kids on the ice, all are getting personalized attention. That's key.

Does the camp stress basic skills, like skating and puck handling? Footwork is essential, because getting to the right place at the right time in the right position is the hallmark of good goaltending. Being able to handle the puck often separates starters from back-ups. Look for a camp that doesn't ignore these details.

Technology. Keeping up with the times is a big bonus. We employ tablets with video delays, so campers can actually see what we see, and can immediately apply what we're teaching. This is particularly useful for "visual" learners, but almost every goalie enjoys watching himself or herself in action. If they're getting lit up, watching might be less fun, but it's more important from a coaching perspective.

ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES

Closely related to "the format," camps can be judge by what they offer for off-ice activities as well as on-ice instruction.

Is there a strength-training component? Whether you're a butterfly netminder or prefer the hybrid style, modern goaltending requires strength and endurance. No matter what level you're currently playing at, getting stronger will make you better. But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Proper weight training instruction is invaluable.

How about nutrition? You are what you eat. My mom said it, more than 50 years ago. Today's nutritionists pretty much say the same thing. In order to get stronger, and have durable connective tissue that aids in flexibility, you need to eat right.

Yoga/flexibility/mindfulness. I've lumped these together because the crossover benefits are almost countless. Knowing how your body works, how your mind works, and how the two work together are crucial to improvement. I don't break the position down into percentages (physical and mental). Suffice to say that both are necessary to reach your full potential. Instruction here will pay big dividends on the ice.

What are the non-hockey activities? Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and similar sports are all beneficial. They not only keep kids active, working those quick-twitch muscles and honing coordination, but they'll also ensure that everyone will sleep well at night.

LEVEL OF COACHING

This one is tricky, because there are so many qualities that make for a good coach, and not all of those qualities are readily apparent. For starters, you want experience, enthusiasm, and technical expertise.

Experience. Most camps employ a combination of full-time professional coaches and part-time coaches, plus college and high school "junior" instructors. Do some homework, and check the bios of the coaches (reputable camps will list those on their web sites). If you're selecting a camp with a "name" coach, first ask how long that coach has been instructing, since playing at a high level and coaching at a high level are two very different things. Oh, and make sure the "name" coach actually plans to be in attendance and coaching (see "Tim Thomas").

Enthusiasm. There is no substitute for an upbeat staff that understands how important it is to be a positive. Goaltending is hard enough. At Stop It, we set the bar high, but then we're relentless in our encouragement to help kids reach and exceed that bar. Similarly, the best coaches are not only students of the game, they're also students of human nature. There are significant differences in my approach to coaching girls and boys, women and men. And there's an almost infinite number of subtle differences in the "proper" approach within those groups. Every child, or young adult, is different. Find a coach, or a coaching outfit, that takes pride in getting to know each camper.

Technical expertise. Flexibility is equally important for coaches. In short, a good coach is open-minded and well-versed in a number of goaltending "styles." The ability to pair a goaltender with the correct style is vital to that goalie's chance of success. Beware any coaching program that boasts a "one size fits all" approach. That's the goaltending equivalent of squeezing a square peg into a round hole.

THE SHOOTERS

I've said this in prior columns, but it bears repeating. You might have the best coaches on the planet, but without good shooters, the instruction is limited. Having really good shooters takes your instruction to another level. And by "good," I'm not just talking "talented." I'm referring to kids who can bring it, but are also willing to do exactly what they're told. Often, that means paid shooters.

"The other question parents never ask is, 'Do the coaches coach, or do they coach and shoot?'" said Daccord. "When a coach shooting, they're putting their head down. They're not watching, they get tired, and their coaching suffers."

Having quality shooters allow coaches to do what they do best, and that's coach. That's what you're paying for. Make sure you get your money's worth.

FINIS

"Elite" hockey is no panacea ... Do your homework

Expect a crowd at elite team tryouts.

Hi gang,

Having just wrapped up a weekend conference with Brian Daccord's Foundation of Goalie Research and Education (FGRE) in Woburn, Mass., I was reminded that I've fallen behind on my blog. So I'll try to make up for lost time ... Here's the first of three posts, starting with one of my favorite topics -- so-called "elite" or "select" programs.

In short, the phrase "buyer beware" instantly comes to mind. These programs don't always provide an "elite" experience for your child, and you should do everything you can to learn more before signing on the dotted line, and committing hundreds of dollars, to make sure the program will be a good fit. In fact, several coaches this weekend told stories of appalling behavior by some programs, which were willing to back-stab players they had already selected if if meant an upgrade (telling me that this topic is, unfortunately, still current).

The lesson? You need to advocate for your child, because too many of these programs won't. Let me know what you think ...

##

"Elite" hockey is no panacea … Do your homework

Select and elite hockey programs will promise you the world. I'm here to put a pin in their over-inflated balloon. That doesn't reflect any deep-seated malice. I do it because my only loyalty is to my readers. My goalies, their parents, their coaches. That gives me a certain freedom. Directors of "select" and "elite" programs don't have that luxury. They are beholden to their bottom lines.

Here's my cautionary tale. By the time you read this, my daughter will have finished her high school career. That's liberating. Like any parent, I was hesitant to criticize any organization that Brynne played for, concerned about in-season retribution (which, believe, happens, and happens often). But they often deserved criticism.

The following observations are generalized, occasionally focusing on goalies. In her first two years of "select" hockey, Brynne (a defenseman) played for a program on Massachusetts's North Shore. Her first year was a dream, with two great coaches who were dedicated to their players. It was an incredibly rewarding experience for Brynne as she transitioned from her co-ed youth hockey program.

The bubble burst a year later. Brynne was placed on a Tier 2 full-season team (the right placement, based on her tryout), despite my telling the program director that she was playing for her high school team. "That's OK," the director replied. "We want our girls getting more ice time."

The director's tone changed completely a month into the season. She and the coach realized that half the team was playing high school hockey, and MIAA rules often prevented those girls from participating in practices and games. The team struggled. The director called a parent meeting, asking for more commitment. We reminded her that she knew these girls were playing high school hockey.

Brynne switched to another "North Shore" program the following year, joining several high school teammates. Brynne's U-16 team had a "coach" who showed up for maybe half the games. Not a good sign. Since I was driving Brynne, I volunteered repeatedly to work with the goalies. I never once got a reply. Bad sign No. 2.

The next year, we got lucky. Brynne's Tier 2 U-19 team had several girls from the same prep school (for car-pooling purposes). Again, no coach was provided. Instead, two of the prep school parents and I volunteered to work the games, and the girls had a terrific season. But the goalies didn't get any in-practice instruction. The assumption was they'd find outside help.

This past season was the breaking point. Tryouts were a joke. After the last one, girls got herded into waiting area, and called in individually, best players first. They were asked to sign on immediately, before the director called in the next girl. After an hour, he sent everyone else home. We had to wait two days before learning that Brynne was again placed on a Tier 2 U-19 team, which was a mild disappointment (especially after we discovered some Tier 1 players never tried out).

However, one of Brynne's best friends was also on the team, and the director promised a high school coach. So we agreed to sign up. The first red flag was that coach missing the Beantown Classic, a summer tourney. The director advertised pre-tourney practices, but charged extra. Those practices conflicted with a camp that Brynne was already participating in, which we'd paid for. We declined, despite the director's complaints, realizing the practices were nothing more than a money grab.

The second flag shot up when the "coach" apparently hurt her foot before the season, and bailed. Just quit. The director again asked parents to pitch in. So, for the third straight year, Brynne's team didn't have a paid coach. No, there was no corresponding discount in the cost. Guess who pocketed that difference?

And our poor goalies – one a freshman playing for a U-19 team, and another who clearly needed instruction – got no help. Practices were a shooting gallery. Great, huh?

This stuff happens on the boys' side as well. Last July, I was talking to a pair of goalie dads. One I've known for years. The other had just moved his family to the area. During our chat, I learned the son of the new guy had displaced another young goalie we work with. In mid-summer, when team rosters are already set.

But the program these kids play for didn't care. They thought they found a better goalie, so they just cut the other boy. Here's your deposit, see you later. Oh, did I mention these kids are 12? What does that tell you about the program's commitment to each youngster?

The reality is that these programs are about winning, first and foremost. Because winning records (and trophies) draw more players. Better players. Which leads to more winning. What gets lost in that formula? Any genuine commitment to the players. They become replaceable. For an organization that purports to support youth development, that's reprehensible.

Keep this in mind if your youngster isn't an absolute stud: Don't expect equal instruction for equal payment. Some programs might provide that, but many don't. Talk to plenty of people before choosing a program, especially parents. Program directors often lie. Parents have far more likely to give you the straight scoop.

And, just to absolutely clear (and fair), these problems can happen at other levels. Here's an example of bad adult behavior at a town program.

I got a call last summer from a friend who is also a hockey mom. She was livid. Her son, "Pete," had played for a local youth hockey program for years, alternating between goalie and defense. He was very good at both.

With middle school looming, my friend's son decided to retire his goalie gear. The youth program had different ideas. Pete tried out as a defenseman. But when the team placements came out, my friend and her son got a rude surprise. Here's the email exchange between mom and program.

Town hockey program email No. 1: "We spend a LOT of time deciding on what team is right for your child, based on your child's tryout."

Town hockey program email No. 2: "Your child is assigned to Team X, at Goalie."

Mom's email reply: "My child didn't try out as a goalie."

Town hockey program: Crickets.

The placement was patently unfair. Courageous kids – those who volunteer to play goal – often get a raw deal when no one else has the guts to step up. That's wrong. To prejudice any child because of his or her ability to play the position is even worse.

The program was notified beforehand that Pete wasn't playing goal. By all accounts, he was one of the better defenders at tryouts. But with enough players for three teams, and only a single goalie, the program's "adults" took matters into their own hands, and assigned Pete to a Tier 2 PeeWee team, separating him from his friends on the Tier 1 squad.

Mom called the program president to reiterate that Pete didn't try out as a goalie. She got a voicemail from another board member, asking her to reconsider.

"I got seven unsolicited emails today from other parents incredulous that (Pete) wasn't on the 1's roster, skating out," she told me. "And (program organizers) wonder why enrollment has plummeted."

I don't blame my friend one bit. Hockey parents have a well-deserved rap of being a little unhinged. This isn't one of those cases. The organization put her, and her son, in an untenable position, simply because he had experience playing goal. That's unacceptable.

FINIS