Goalie Coaching Session for ALL Coaches

 

For many of us, planning a practise is often a last minute exercise as we rush from work, trying to figure out which coach has the pucks and pylons and then pulling together a practise plan in our heads, because the typed one sent around we did not have time to read or forgot to print at work, so then we make it up on the ice, drawing on our years of experience.  It all works out and the kids leave with a decent sweat on.  

 

In this rush though, the afterthought is too often the goalie.  What to do with the goalie?  Too often, as has happened to all of us, the goalie ends up standing around - waiting for someone to take shots on him/her.  The assistant coach eventually trys a few flick shots, wraparounds and keeps the goalie warmed up until the rest of the team is ready to start a drill with shooting.  

 

It isn't from a lack of wanting to do better or knowing that our goalies need more.  All coaches want to do better for all their players.  But it's just that most of us coaches have not played net or coached nets and we don't really know how or what constitutes a drill for a goalie other than shooting on him/her.  At the end of the day, the only development our goalies get is if they go to specialised clinics.

 

This year OCMHA is going to help bridge this gap.  On September 24th at the Firehall (Old Ottawa South Community Centre), we will hold a dedicated session for all coaches with our goalie development service provider, GoalerU, Stefan Nichols:  The topic will be "How to start the year off properly with your goalies and goal setting."

 

This session will align with and suport OCMHA's overall objective of moving toward a goalie development plan for the association.  Rather than just supporting goalies and giving them some instructionsas best we can, our association is moving toward development plans for the goalies - identifying baseline skills, identifying needs and targetting those development needs in the year.  As coaches, this session will help you to support these phases.   The end result, better goaltenders, better teams - better hockey.

 

This coaching session will help with such things as learning how to work the goalie into the plan so that they too get the workout they need and focus on their needs so that they develop their skills at the same time as do the players.

 

For this to work, we need all teams to send a minimum of one coach/assistant coach or dedicated goalie parent who will become an assistant. Your best case scenario is for all head coaches, those who design the practises, to attend.  

 

GoalerU lead, Stefan Nichols, will also be available to support you - OCMHA coaches and goalie personnel - with questions and advice throughout the season.

 

Also - please remember that we have goalie clinics in pre-season and during the season.  We welcome and encourage coaches to come out on the ice and observe to see the drills up close.  Anytime.

 

The session on September 24th will start at 7:30 pm.  Expect 2 hours.  Please inform your convenors of attendance.

 

Best regards,

Goalie Development
goaliedevelopment@ocmha.ca