Mind/Body

A much overlooked area of training for goaltenders is ensuring that their mind and body are fully prepared. If a goaltender’s mind is not focused on saving the ball, they will not play to their full ability. Goaltender’s will sometimes comment on a bad game they had by mentioning, “My head wasn’t in it today.” This means they were not concentrating on saving the ball. Their head was filled with multiple thoughts unrelated to making a save which led to their bad play. A goaltender must be focused, and have a clear mind to be effective.

As well as the mind, it is essential that the body be in the right state. If a goaltender’s body is extremely tense, they will be unable to maximize their quickness. Therefore, a goaltender needs for be relaxed while waiting for their chance to make a save.

DRILLS: Progressive Relaxation, Self-Suggestion, Visualization