So, I was cleaning out the vault the other day and came across a few questions that were in the corner under some boxes of hockey tape, so I pulled them out, dusted them off and here are the answers for you. Aaa-chhooooo! (whew! It’s dusty in that vault)
You can watch the video to see the questions and answers or read below if that is more your style…
If you cannot see the video above, click the link below
http://youtu.be/giNBTDWcp7Y
Q1: The coaches’ mind
This was a question from a younger goalie (teenager) whose team was really struggling this season. He had played fairly well against the top teams in the league earlier in the season, but now at the end of the season, the coach is starting the other goalie against those top two teams back-to-back.
Not only did this hurt the player’s feelings, it has made him second guess his ability and the coach’s confidence in him.
So he was wondering what he should do about it and why the coach made that decision.
My Answer:
Thanks for your email. One thing I always tell myself when someone does something that seems illogical or out of character is that it very rarely has anything to do with ‘me’. There is probably something else going on behind the scenes.
I wonder if he just doesn’t want to put you in there and risk damaging your confidence before play-offs if the best teams come in a skate around your team like pylons and shell you hard.
My very best advice to you is to just ask your coach, but rather than making it like ‘how come he gets the start?’ take this approach…
“Hey coach, my goal is always to get better and better, could you help me understand why Joegets the next two starts? I really want to help the team win and if there is anything I can do better, just let me know.”
That shouldn’t put the coach on the defensive, but should help you understand his reasoning. Do you think that will work?
Cheers,
M
You will never know unless you ask.
Q2: The one about flipping the switch
This was also from a goalie and he is playing at a high level, but has decided to do everything he can to get drafted in 2016 – and he wants to start now. He asked what he should be doing off-ice, so I asked him what he was currently doing.
And this was his response:
An in season workout for me would consist of Deadlift , back squat, single leg RDL and pull ups, those types of exercises are what I stick too, I workout about 4 times during the week
My Answer:
This is a guy who has decided to go for it! He is already working hard toward that goal, but putting his efforts in the wrong areas – he just needs a blueprint to follow, so here was my response:
There is a lot of room for improvement here. You are basically training like a powerlifter rather than a goalie. These exercises (other than back squat) are fine as part of a program designed to improve your performance on the ice, when they make up the entire program, there is a problem.
Then you are not getting the mobility, stability (the way goalies need it). Does that make sense? I also think 4 workouts per week during the season is a lot, but not sure how much you are playing right now.
But like you said, you are committed to becoming better, that is why you emailed right? Let me know what you need XYZ – You can apply for a spot in my private coaching program ($3000 for the year) if you want that. You can wait until I open another Small Group Facebook Coaching group which is 4-months of training ($697) or you can check out the Ultimate Goalie Training VIP (www.ultimategoalietrainingvip.com) as a starting point (it is only 6x$49).
Let me be clear, I am not just trying to sell you on a program, but you need a detailed roadmap to follow, that will make a huge difference on the ice. You let me know what you think you need.
Cheers,
M
Q3: The one about speed
This one came from a goalie that went home over the Christmas break and worked on his speed and agility like crazy.
But when he came back into game action after the break he was slower than he was before! How did that happen?
So I asked him what he was doing for speed and agility training.
He replied that he was using some of the speed and agility workouts from Rapid Response Goalie Training. Uh oh, I thought.
Until I kept reading.
He went on to say that instead of only doing 6 reps, he had bumped it up to 15 reps of each drill and he had cut back on the rest interval a bit, etc.
So he took a nice speed and agility routine and in an effort to make it harder, he turned it into a grinding stamina routine.
This is why he was slower when he got back on the ice.
My Answer:
If you have the recipe, follow the recipe. It works. You cannot get faster by driving yourself to exhaustion, if your speed workout is leaving your overly fatigued, then you are no longer training speed, you are training stamina.
On the positive side, it was only a few weeks that he was making this mistake (he didn’t know better – that is why he asked) and once he got back to just following the recipe, his speed will return.
If you feel the need for speed here are some lateral speed drills for goalies that you should definitely try.
Any Questions?
So there is your Q&A – I love getting your questions, so don’t hesitate to ask. If you are asking a question about how you can get faster, more flexible, stronger, etc. don’t forget to let me know what you are currently doing to work on that aspect of your game. Even if you are doing nothing at all, that is fine too, I just need to know so I can give you a good answer.
Leave your questions in the comments box below.
Cheers,
M
Your step-by-step follow along blueprint for flexibility, stability, strength, speed and stamina on the ice. Know exactly what to do for your off-ice training each day. No more guessing.