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COMMANDMENTS FOR MANAGING GOALIES I was recently browsing some old issues of Goalies World, a famous goalie industry magazine by Gilles Moffet, and came across a couple articles on how management should handle goalies and develop young netminders. The article was focused on NHL-level management but I think there's a lot to be learned there that could be applied to Major Junior level franchises. So I've taken the backbone of that article (in Goalies World Issue #8, Apr.-May 1997) and modified it for Junior Hockey Goaltenders. I've broken it into two sections, the first being general commandments and the last being a primer on developing rookie goalies (16/17 year old Major Junior goalies.)
Commandments for Goalie Management 1. Understand that top Hockey is impossible without top goaltending. I may be biased, but it can be argued that the most important position in hockey is the goalie. No matter how good the team, a weak goalie will hold them back; a great one will make them better. 2. Confidence is the fuel that motivates top goaltenders. More than half of the game for a goaltender is in their head, especially at a young age. If they believe in themselves they will play at their top level, doubt will kill any goaltender. 3. Don't play mind games with your goaltender. All goalies will have hot and cold streaks but they shouldn't live in fear that they will be judged on their mistakes. If a goalie has earned the number one spot then support them, don't constantly threaten to promote the backup. 4. Have a long-term plan and stick to it. Don't Panic. Junior hockey follows a natural 4-5 year cycle. Make sure you do your homework and draft quality goaltenders and be realistic about their development. Most goalies develop slower than players and should be given time to grow. Few 15/16 year olds can shoulder a starting roll or expect to develop confidence on a weak team. Timing is key to a goaltenders development. 5. One goalie is better than two. The more rubber a goalie sees the better he will get. Practice time is not the same as game-time and splitting two goalies will only hurt each of them. Establish a starter and stick with him until he needs a rest and/or is in a slump. When the key games begin you need to know who your starter is and know he is ready. 6. Avoid having two young goalies at the same time. The ideal situation is an experienced goaltender and a rookie goaltender. An experienced vet that is also capable of tutoring a rookie is gold and never worth a trade. The mentor/rookie setup is ideal for development and to avoid confusion on who the starter is and who the backup (goalie of the future) is. 7. Never let you players believe goaltending is THE problem. This one strikes home with all goaltenders. Players and fans are quick to point to a goalie when a team loses. When a team allows 35 plus shots a game then maybe the players need to play better defense and cut down on scoring chances. Coaches should never center a goalie out as the problem - confidence is key and a goalie that doesn't believe in himself and thinks his team feels the same will never succeed. 8. Never use the "You Win You play and You Lose You Sit" strategy. The coach that invented this tactic was clearly never a goalie. Your goaltenders should be constantly evaluated and a smart coach knows when a goalie is hot or struggling. He should adjust his starting strategy based on this knowledge and start his goalies accordingly to the schedule to build confidence. 9. Never allow your goaltender to be humiliated. Many of us remember Roy quitting the Canadians after being left out to dry in 1995. The job of a backup is to relief the pressure of a starting goaltender, especially during off-nights for the team or the goalie. If the team is struggling then give the starter some relief; if the goalie is struggling then maybe waiting for intermission could be a good time to pull him. That skate to the bench can be a long one, and damaging, if you've been humiliated. 10. It's Normal for a goaltender to be off his game. Even great goaltenders have bad games and the nature of the position makes it harder than other team-mates to hide those games. Many factors can contribute to a slump and for some goaltenders it can last for more than a few games. Good goalies can bounce back if you show them support - abandon them and they may never recover. KEY INGREDIENTS IN DEVELOPING ROOKIE GOALIES 1. TALENT HAS TO BE THERE. It takes a lot of talent to play major junior hockey and few goaltenders get that far without having the raw talent to play well. A goalies development often has more to do with external influences during his junior career than the talent level. Some develop later but few play the game at this level without exhibiting the appropriate talent. 2. DOMINATE IN LOWER LEAGUES. A goaltender that comes from a successful season has the confidence needed to advance. Success should not be measure by team success but look closer at the impact a goaltender has on his team. Teams that don't win championships but have good goaltenders are often very fertile grounds for finding talented goalies that are ready to excel. A goalie that shows potential but is struggling on a weak team needs more time in midget or Tier II junior before facing the pressure of Major Junior hockey. 3. STARTING WITH A DECENT TEAM. Timing is hard in junior hockey as eventually rebuilding is necessary. Starting a rookie on a good team is a good practice. He has time to develop before facing the challenge of a franchise in transition. Staring a rookie on a last place team can do damage to his confidence that could follow him for seasons to come. 4. VETERAN GOALIE TO TUTOR A ROOKIE That experienced goalie that is key to a team's successful years is key to develop your young goaltenders. Having two rookie goaltenders will often damage both goaltenders and the naturally competitive atmosphere DOES NOT enhance development but slows it, for both. Alow your vet to tutor the rookie and help him build his confidence and relate his experiences over his career. 5. SUPPORT FROM MANAGEMENT If management has a plan and sticks to it then a goalie will know where he stands and feel the necessary support. To throw your goalie of the future into an unstable or unclear situation will detract from a goalies ability to focus and build confidence. Previous management of goaltenders will speak volumes to a young goaltenders and give them the framework needed to build a career on. 6. SMART MANAGEMENT Developing Goaltenders is a step by step project and rarely does a goaltender come from nowhere and steal the show. Establishing a plan for growth, timing the promotion to the roster, and building confidence is key with young goaltenders. Very often you see young goaltenders abandoned and traded to other teams and do much better with the new team. This change to a more positive, smart management style can often be the trigger needed to realize a goaltender's potential.
I hope you enjoyed this article. It was fun putting it together. I think the next article will be more technical and deal with goaltending strategies when playing a puck coming out from behind the net..... |
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Jerry Shields