Greg Gardner is an Assistant Coach with the Niagara University Purple Eagles Hockey Team. He is also a goalie consultant for many goalies all over WNY and has a Goaltending Institute on Campus at Dwyer Arena.
The very first thing a coach evaluates a player on, is his or her skating ability; this holds true for goalies as well. For the trained eye, determining whether or not a goalie is a good skater is based on specific movements and technique. For the untrained eye, determining whether or not a goalie is a good skater is based on whether he or she looks fluid in net or cumbersome. In both cases, evaluating a goalie's skating is an important gauge on his or her play. There is a saying that has held true for many years regarding this exact concept: "A GOALIE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE FASTEST SKATER ON THE TEAM, BUT NEEDS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST." This concept refers to his or her ability to move forwards and backwards as well as laterally. So the question is posed, how does a goalie improve his or her skating ability?
I have been asked endlessly about whether or not it's a good idea for goalies to skate out as a player or should they skate exclusively as a goaltender? Does skating as a player make you a better skater and what else can be done to improve my son's or daughter's speed and quickness? To answer these questions I have to say, that unfortunately there is not one right answer or one direct path for success. The trouble is that there are many routes to becoming a great skater but there is a master plan for success.
I always answer families with the rationale that it is a personal preference whether or not a young goalie should skate out, but I absolutely encourage the extra skating. Power skating sessions should be utilized and if a very young goalie wants to do it as a player, go for it. However as the child grows up, I also believe that there comes a time when a dedicated goalie needs to remain a goalie. Whether that age is 7 or 11, there does become a time where the transition between both should stop. I usually hint when the goalie's parents have finally purchased a pair of goalie skates for their child and their child owns their own equipment, then you may as well always use it. A dedicated goalie should go to power skating camps as well as goalie camps to develop their speed and agility. These camps may not always be fun but they do build a foundation for a strong future.
What else can my son or daughter do to get better? What on ice drills should they be doing? In Elementary Schools, teachers teach the alphabet to children to develop fundamentals for later years. I also believe in the ABC's for goalie, but instead of reading and writing them I teach the goalie to skate them. Skating the Alphabet is a simple yet repetitive way of increasing strength, balance and speed. There are several letters that can be used on the ice such as: The T Drill, The U Drill, The V Drill, The W drill, The X Drill, The Y Drill and The Z Drill. Whoa!!!! For those who have never heard of the goalie alphabet, imagine each drill’s letter as a skating pattern performed in the crease. Doing these repetitions over and over again build strong habits and a strong base. The key to skating the letters is to do so by imagining different save selections and tracking imaginary pucks. The goalies that are the most successful are the ones that realize WHY they are skating the patterns versus simply moving around the crease.
Muscle memory is when your body reacts in the correct manner before your head has a chance to tell it what to do. Muscle memory is developed through practice and repetitions. They may not always be fun, but when it comes down to it, preparation breeds success. A prepared goalie's body reacts instantly without hesitation and that is ultimately the goal.
If you have any questions about these training methods or regarding any future goaltending clinics contact me either by email me at goalie@greg-gardner.com or by phone at 716-286-8758.
