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103 - Why "Practice Goalies" Struggle in Games
66 Plays1 day ago
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This week Connor flies solo and discusses the topic from our monthly newsletter: why practice goalies struggle in games. We go over the importance of balancing structure and chaos in the development environment and how to help be a better game goalie.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Update
00:00:06
Speaker
Welcome to the DIY Goalie Podcast, where hosts and goalie coaches Nathan Park and Connor Munday share their insights on how to become a better goalie.
00:00:19
Speaker
Goalies, how are we doing? Welcome back to the DIY Goalie Podcast presented by True North Goaltending. ah It's just me in the captain chair today. Nathan Parker is actually on assignment. I can actually say that with some legitimacy this time. he is ah He's currently in a meeting with a potential client um for this for the upcoming year. So he's on he's on assignment trying to work on bringing in some more clientele for us for the season.
00:00:47
Speaker
2026 2027 season and beyond so i' looking forward to see where that has gone um i'm jumping on here today like i said it's going a little bit of a quick hit episode today a little bit of a shorter one uh hopefully for the two-year anniversary of this podcast which will be episode 104
00:01:09
Speaker
which is very, very exciting. Looking to hopefully have us both on, maybe a guest. Haven't really kind of figured all the details out on that yet. We would have thought, you know, we would have thought that, um you know, with it within us now being in the off season, that we kind of have our stuff together.
00:01:29
Speaker
We never do life of true North goal tending and myself and Nathan, it never ceases. um And, you know, we just, we just keep trucking on. So Nathan, Nathan on assignment, I'm sitting in the captain's chair.
00:01:43
Speaker
We're good to go.
Casey Colts U18 Season Recap
00:01:44
Speaker
Um, some exciting news kind of on my side of things. Um, uh, provincials has officially wrapped up. And so shout out to the, Casey Colts, you 18, double a hockey team, the team that I've been working with all year. Uh, they did end up winning bronze at the U 18 provincials, U 18, double a provincials this year. Uh, so I'm really, really happy about that. We've had a, we've had a really good you year, lot of good ups and downs, um, um,
00:02:11
Speaker
and uh you know just didn't start off the tournament all that hot lost the first three games lost the first game by a large margin uh but then um ended up um coming back where it counts essentially and putting in and putting up putting up the win um in the fourth game and then thankfully had the goal differential uh turn in our favor so we were able to play in the bronze medal game and then we we uh we we ran we didn't run away with that one but we um we managed to come away with the win and so the colts are now back-to-back bronze medal champions in the provincials i'm happy to have been part of that crew a really good team good great staff good goaltending so i'm just thankful ah thankful for the year this year hopefully able to come back i'll be having a chat with uh evan carrillo who i know listens to this podcast so evan uh Evan, I know that you and I will be talking together here at some point throughout the ah throughout the summer. So looking forward to that conversation. um Speaking of the Colts this year, it's kind of brought up a topic for me today.
Practice vs. Game Performance
00:03:16
Speaker
And it actually kind of goes hand in hand with our newsletter that we did send out today. So if you are not subscribed to the True North Goaltending newsletter, head over to truenorthgoaltending.com. um and subscribe to our newsletter we really or nathan releases it every month that has a lot of great stuff in there our monthly practice plan that is uh specified to goaltending um And then there's kind of a a topic. it's ah it's It's similar to the podcast, ah you know, in a sense where, ah you know, we have a topic that we talk about. And so we're going to ah we're gonna rehash this topic today. And the topic that we have today is why practice goalies struggle in games. And I've seen it firsthand. A lot of goalie coaches seen it firsthand where, you know, you have a... um
00:04:04
Speaker
you have a goalie that either A, looks really bad in practice, or B, looks really good in practice but struggles in games. And so we we we come across, you know, the situation frequently, and a lot of goalies and goalie coaches out there has experienced it at some point in their career where, you know, sometimes your practice is, you know, they'rere you're you're knocking it out of the park, um You know, your your tracking pox, your positioning, your skating looks great.
00:04:36
Speaker
And then when it comes to the game, it all just falls by the wayside. A lot of it contributes to, you know, a controlled setting versus an uncontrolled setting. so like a practice, you know, versus ah versus game setting.
00:04:53
Speaker
um There is a bit of, um you know, a differential, I guess, obviously, when it comes to that, because.
00:05:04
Speaker
You know, with goalie setting style practices, um you know, like like I said, it's a controlled setting. You know where the shots are going. You know where, um you know, the backdoor threats are. You know what that you're going to have a rebound pop out because it's part of the drill.
00:05:22
Speaker
So it's's it's it's part of that, you know, situational awareness, I guess, in a sense where, um you know, you're being told what's happening and what to expect next versus an uncontrolled situation or an and um an unstructured situation, um you know, where a a rebound could potentially pop out or, you know, the puck, you know, maybe doesn't get placed in the spot that it should be.
00:05:50
Speaker
um So this is so just in kind of just kind of recapping this article here or this part of the article here. You know, whether you call it situational awareness, hockey IQ, reading to play, et cetera, the ability to process the game in front of him is what separates elite goalies from good ones. Situational awareness is one it is one of those skills that isn't developed by definitive structure, such as push from a to B or for shot. It stems from repeated exposure to patterns and the ability to recognize those patterns and
Importance of Chaotic Training
00:06:16
Speaker
translate them to an output.
00:06:18
Speaker
This is why training in an unstructured environment similar to a game can be beneficial for goalies of all ages. I like to take that maybe a little bit step further because I i sometimes will have, you know, that development where like, hey, I'm going to shooting blocker side.
00:06:34
Speaker
And sometimes the shot gets away from me. And sometimes the goal I get scored on. And sometimes the goal, it gets mad at me. And they goes, I thought you were going to shoot on the blocker side coach. And I go, yeah, obviously I messed up on the shot.
00:06:47
Speaker
That does not mean that we just give up, you know, or that we just kind of get flustered because the shot didn't go where we were expecting it to go. We still have to play the puck. Yeah.
00:06:59
Speaker
Right. ah Sometimes i sometimes I've had drills where, you know, I mess up on the initial shot and we still play out the rest of the drill because goalies have to be used to kind of sometimes, you know, situations not going the way that we wanted it to. But we still have to read and react accordingly. um Chaotic development, you know, as we've established and we've talked about it in previous podcasts as well. You know, chaotic development is an important part of goalie growth, um essentially.
00:07:35
Speaker
Sometimes, you know, when we talk about, you know, chaotic development, um you know, again, like I said, like I have i have a little bit of uncontrolled or or, you know, controlled and uncontrolled chaotic development, you know, in in my practices.
00:07:50
Speaker
But, you know, sometimes having that extra little bit of randomness to development isn't necessarily a bad thing. That's why I do like those, um you know, those those battle drills, you know, that that coaches will do sometimes, you know, where, um you know, it's just it's it's an in tight area and there's a lot happening going on. So for me, I really like it because, you know, it really gets the goaltender to, you know, think about what they're doing, think about what's happening and try to read and react, you know, as as best as they can. um Our article here talks about, know,
00:08:27
Speaker
You know, what exactly does chaotic development look like? We do have it in the practice plan that's with this with this article. So, again, if you aren't subscribed to it, go subscribe to it. um and Introducing randomness to development is actually quite easy to do. it just involves a little bit of discipline from the coaching side of things.
00:08:46
Speaker
Most of the time, the answer is to coach less and let the players play, which we know quite well. Again, you know, like i said as well, you know, sometimes, you know, I'll have a drill where, know,
00:08:57
Speaker
You know, maybe i'll i'll um I'll mess up on the shot or, you know, I will, ah um I don't know, just, you know, maybe maybe I'll shoot to a different area, you know. Or even then, you know, sometimes afterwards, you know, maybe I just did, maybe I forget the drill entirely sometimes, and you know, so I go and do something different.
00:09:18
Speaker
Hockey... is a strategic game, but it's also a randomized strategic game at the same time, you know, where a lot of different things can happen.
Proactive vs. Reactive Saves
00:09:28
Speaker
we as goaltenders just have to, um you know, have that extra little bit of discipline and, you know, be able to read the play and react accordingly. That, I mean, we see like, you know, like those highlight reel saves of, you know, goaltenders, you know, where they think the puck's going one way, it ends up going another, but the goaltender's still able to get over. How do you think they do that? It's just because they're not... and
00:09:53
Speaker
They don't get caught in one area and be like, oh, well, puck's going the other way. I'm going to get scored on whatever it is what it is. No, it's more so just, you know, like they're still battling to get across. That's why I like watching, you know, like the the the Ingo magazine. You know, we shout out those guys all the time. But, you know, the Ingo magazine, you know, pro reads. Because sometimes, you know, where they give you that still, you know, of a play that's developing. And we don't know what the outcome is going to be yet, even if we watch the game or not.
00:10:23
Speaker
But, you know, we don't we don't know what the outcome is going to be. So we're making all these decisions, you know, ah us as the reader and trying to figure out what exactly is going to happen, you know, where threat A, B, C, D, et cetera is. um And then by the time the play develops, sometimes we're right, some sometimes we're wrong, right? So um going back to the whole thing, you know, like I said, and I'm i'm tying this back to, you know, my my my Colts team for the year. um Sometimes, you know, sometimes I had to figure out that, you know, coaching is sometimes less is more or sometimes more is less, um you know, just depends on the situation, essentially. And, you know, have to figure out, okay,
00:11:10
Speaker
why are we doing this so well in practice, but why are we screwing it up in a game? So then sometimes, you know, have to tweak the drill and, you know, be like, okay, well, let's and introduce some some randomized elements um to the drill. And, you know, so maybe I'll add in an extra shooter. So, okay, well, now you may, maybe you have two different options.
00:11:29
Speaker
I'm still kind of telling them what's going to happen in a sense, but they have to figure out is it choice A, is a choice B, is it choice C, et cetera.
00:11:40
Speaker
There's no real, I guess, right or wrong answer to it in a sense. It's more so just, you know, sometimes...
00:11:51
Speaker
You know, we just have to, you know, we as goalies, we just have to figure it out, you know, and that's, it sounds so stupidly simple because it is, you know, and, um you know, this we have, you know, so we have to do, you know, like like I said, like hot like, I always talk about, you know, proactive plays versus reactive plays, proactive saves versus reactive saves,
00:12:15
Speaker
We don't ever want to really get caught in a reactive save, which sounds, again, so counterintuitive. But if you guys will let me to define my definition. When I talk about, you know, a proactive save, you know, we're actively tracking the puck. We're actively in position. We're not doing anything that's going to, you know, hinder our ability to, you know, make our save.
00:12:38
Speaker
We're on top of the puck. Versus a reactive save where we're late to making saves, we're late getting the position, so on, etc. Sometimes being or sometimes having those reactive saves is fine. But again, it's it's a it's a um it's a pick and choose your battles sort of situation. We want to be in a more proactive situation.
00:13:00
Speaker
save stance, not really the word that I'm looking for, but we, but we, we want to be more set into a pro or be ready for a proactive save than getting into a reactive save more. So nine times out of 10. So even if, you know, the shooter, you know, who was supposed to shoot a blocker side ends up shooting glove side, we're still being proactive and tracking that puck into our glove, still shifting into position. Even if a rebound doesn't go the way that we want to, we're still watching it. We're still kind watching that puck come in.
00:13:30
Speaker
come out and we're able to get to that next position. We're able to get proper rotation, get our feet set. We're beating passes, you know, everything along those lines, not always going to be the case.
00:13:42
Speaker
Sometimes we do end up getting caught in a reactive position. We're all, we're all human. You know, nobody's, nobody's going to be perfect. um But we'd want to, you know, being that more proactive side of things versus reactive side.
00:13:59
Speaker
So I don't know if that really um helps things a whole lot. I feel like I was just rambling. Like I said, it's a quick hit episode today. um You know, we just for goalie coaches, volunteer coaches,
00:14:17
Speaker
This one kind of goes out to you guys a little bit. You know, don't but like, yeah it's funny. we We talk about cookie cutter goaltenders. I hate that term, but we don't want cookie cutter drills sometimes. Sometimes, you know, we want to have those randomized drills. Sometimes we can introduce a little bit of screw ups, ah you know, in, you know, in the drill. Because at least it gets, it gets the goalie thinking, right? It gets the goalie reading the play, reading the shot release, you know, sometimes a pass doesn't go where it's supposed to. So sometimes, you know, as the plasza players, you know, recuperating on that pass, you know, the goalie can make adjustments as they go, you know, because and they're not, you know, sometimes the players won't always hit their spots. So we as goalies have to adjust and react accordingly.
00:15:04
Speaker
um I would definitely like to know Nathan's side of things and kind of his thought process with this practice goalies um article, but I'm going to leave it there today. um There's been, there's just been a lot going on as well. Nathan has also been doing some stuff with Alberta cup.
00:15:21
Speaker
which is surprising, which is, it's not surprising. It's so, yeah, it's surprising. ah No, it's ah just, ah it's, it's, it's nice to, nice nice to see him part of that, um you know, and um good luck to everybody. If you are from the Alberta region who did get selected for Alberta cup, best of luck to you there. um And as everybody else is heading into their um heading into their off season, let us know kind of what your off season plans look like. Um,
00:15:48
Speaker
Cannot stress anymore. You know, take some time away from the game. Take a month away. take it Take a few weeks away. Something. Get away from the ice a little bit. You know, just go off, go fishing, go play baseball,
Offseason Recovery Tips
00:16:00
Speaker
football, soccer, whatever that may look like. um go on a trip go camping know just do something that does not involve a hockey stick a puck or ice please um take some time for yourselves you know reflect on the year um and you know by the time that as summer's progressing spring summer's progressing and head into the off season and such then we can look at um you know returning back to the ice and start getting back into uh game form so then by the time the uh the winter season gets back into it, you'll, ah you will all be, all be good to go and you will be ready.
00:16:42
Speaker
um I did just want to kind of echo something as well that I heard a few days ago, just when it comes to just the reflection of the season. And I do want to take a few minutes on that.
00:16:53
Speaker
Cause for me, you know, it was a different year this year compared to last years that I've had. I'm, I'm, I'm thankful if you don't, for the teams that I've been on in the past,
00:17:04
Speaker
But there was something about being on this team this year that I was with um that just hit different. A lot of camaraderie, lot of good discussions between coaches and players and, you know, coaches themselves and, you know, just a really good team atmosphere.
00:17:23
Speaker
And I haven't been part of that in a while. At least it feels like. Yeah.
00:17:31
Speaker
I'm happy with the job that I did this year with my goalies, and I hope that my goalies are happy with their development and what they've been able to accomplish this year.
00:17:43
Speaker
um There are definitely some things that, you know, could have been better at. Definitely some things that, you know, I wish I had done differently. But all in all, I'm personally happy with the year and I and i have goals and I have um ideas on what I want to achieve you know for next year's season, both on the goaltending development side of things that I do with Witch for North and the goalie coaching side of things that I do
Season Reflection and Postseason Review
00:18:10
Speaker
on the ice. Yeah.
00:18:13
Speaker
So goalies, goalie parents, goalie coaches, volunteer goalie coaches, even take a few minutes, you know, at the end of season this year, have a sit down with yourself or have a sit down with mom and dad or whoever, and just take a minute to reflect on the other the things that went well, the things that didn't go well, um things that you want to be better at this year.
00:18:35
Speaker
um You know, just sometimes, you know, the hockey season, you know, it never really truly ends because we don't really want it to end. um And I think, you know, sometimes we all just need to take ah a couple minutes, you know, and have a little bit of a ah of of a of a postseason exit interview with ourselves, essentially, and and just say, like, hey, you know, we had a ah we we had a good year this year. Maybe we didn't have a good year this year. Maybe we had an in-between year this year. And, you know, just take a few minutes, you know, reflect on the year,
00:19:11
Speaker
put that chapter to a close, take some time off, get ready for, get ready for next year. That is definitely what I will be doing. um Having some fun with the family this year. Unfortunately, still to talk to Nathan almost every week. So.
00:19:28
Speaker
Life of a goalie coach with True North goaltending and ever. and um but yeah, so yeah, so
Summer Training Opportunities
00:19:33
Speaker
there we go. So there' is our there's our episode for today. um As we enter into the offseason, we at True North goaltending will still have bookings available. So if you are in the Edmonton area, or if you are traveling up to the Edmonton area at any point, and if you want to come train with myself or Nathan or any of any other one of our lovely staff members that we do have, ah you guys can head over to truenorthgoaltending.com, hit the book online section there, and you are able to ah book a one-to-one session, two-to-one session, three-to-one session, all at various price points. Um,
00:20:07
Speaker
So if ah if you are interested in doing that, you go check us out, truenothgoaltending.com. When it comes to our on-ice camps, I had to think of the word for a minute.
00:20:20
Speaker
Our week-long camp has been sold out, but we did offer we are now offering an additional four-day camp the week after. So spots are still available there. So if you are interested in any or if you if you ended up missing the first round of camps, you can go check us out. True North Golden Tending dot com. um Book your spot for the second round of camps. It's only a four day camp, but it is still a great opportunity to get back on the ice work with some really highly dedicated coaches, including myself um and, you know, getting back into tip top shape. to be ready for the upcoming season so if you are interested in working with us this summer go check out truenorthgoaltending.com as you also make your way over
DIY Goalie Content and Release Schedule
00:21:02
Speaker
to the website we do have a bunch of other few uh fun things on the go there i know nathan is working on revamping the website again um We do have all of our content that used to be on the DIY goalie website has been now moved over officially to True North Goat Tending. So our podcast, all our blogs, our drills, our our courses, our concentration grids, all of that is now located on truenorthgoatting.com if you hit the ah the content button there and you'll be able to choose what it is that you want in terms of the content that we love that we love to put out. If you go check out our shop at truenorthgoaltending.com, you can purchase purchase a bunch of different merchandise that we do have there. It's been a while since I've been on the on the shop store. What do we have here? We have a ah a pullover hoodie that says school is important, but goaltending is important, or I think is what the... The actual image says as I pull it up. Yeah, school is important, but stopping pucks is important, which is a a great quote.
00:21:57
Speaker
um ah so Another one here that says I don't talk to myself. My posts are I don't talk to myself. My posts are listening. um What else do we have here? We have a whole bunch of different stuff like crew neck sweaters, pullover hoodies, a bunch of men's and women's gear, all with a bunch of ah funny a little ah funny little funny little images on it. This one says ah ah don't make me use my goalie mom voice, which is ah which is a funny one. and this saw This one also says here I help save for the future, which we all know as goalie parents.
00:22:30
Speaker
ah That stuff is expensive. Um, on top of that, as well, if you are listening over on the podcast side of things, which is, you know, whether it be Apple, iHeart, Spotify, whatever that may look like. If you are a returning listener, thank you. Make sure you hit the share button. If you are a new listener to our little program, hit the follow button. We release new episodes every Wednesday.
00:22:53
Speaker
ah So make sure you guys hit the follow button for a new ah for new for new a new video or new a new episode, audio thing, whatever. If you are watching over on the YouTube side of things, again, same deal. release We release new video platform episodes every Wednesday. So go check us out, truenorthgolten.com.
True North Goaltending Social Media Promotion
00:23:12
Speaker
com speaking of social media you guys can go check us out on all your favorite social media platforms whether that is facebook institute on not instagram facebook twitter tick tock all of that is uh true north goaltending except on instagram because we like to be different that one is y-e-g um that'll do it on behalf of myself and nathan park this has been diy goalie podcast presented by true north goaltending make some savings goalies have a great summer we'll see you guys next time take care