For many young goaltenders it's not their physical skill that will hold them back, it's their mental skill. Every goaltender has a voice in his or hers head that's constantly speaking to them. The voice in the the head isn't the problem, that's natural for people in general. It's what's being said to you during a game. During the 60 minutes of a game goaltenders are alone with their own thoughts for most of it. Most young goalies really struggle with keeping focused during this time. Small things like the flash of a camera, horns from the crowd and even the other teams fans, players and coaching staff can distract a goaltender. Disappointments such as getting scored on would often makes goalies like myself angry with their own play. Without knowing it, my mental voice would go to a negative side, saying things like, "wow I suck today" or "my team would be better off with me on the bench". These distractions and disappointments would often take me away from the game leading to more bad goals against, misplaying the puck or even a small parts such as not skating to the bench on a delayed penalty.
It took me until my second year of midget to learn a technique called, "a focal reset routine". Granted, the name sounds challenging, but the reset itself is quite simple and turned my career as a goaltender around completely. Watch a Washington Capitals game with Braden Holtby in net. He has quickly become an elite goaltender in the NHL for not only his physical abilities, but his ability to tame and reset his mind. I built my focal reset routine around him, which only takes seconds. During almost every break in play, especially after a goal against. I grab my bottle and take a quick sip, then keeping the water in my mouth I squirt the water into the air. While focusing on just one water droplet, I watch it all the way until the droplet hits the ice, then swallow the water I already had and focus on the face off wherever it may be. This three second "focal reset routine" has completely changed my game for the better.
As for during play, it can help goaltenders to create a motto to repeat during play to stay focused. It helps if they're simple to remember with only a couple of words. Mine for example has been, "stop the puck". Short and easy to say in your head. Some goaltenders even take to writing the motto on the back of their blocker for a quick read in times of need. This also keeps your mental voice busy during play, instead of saying things that will most likely distract you. Whatever way you as a goaltender choose to remember the motto, trust me when I say; it will help your play immensely!
It took me until my second year of midget to learn a technique called, "a focal reset routine". Granted, the name sounds challenging, but the reset itself is quite simple and turned my career as a goaltender around completely. Watch a Washington Capitals game with Braden Holtby in net. He has quickly become an elite goaltender in the NHL for not only his physical abilities, but his ability to tame and reset his mind. I built my focal reset routine around him, which only takes seconds. During almost every break in play, especially after a goal against. I grab my bottle and take a quick sip, then keeping the water in my mouth I squirt the water into the air. While focusing on just one water droplet, I watch it all the way until the droplet hits the ice, then swallow the water I already had and focus on the face off wherever it may be. This three second "focal reset routine" has completely changed my game for the better.
As for during play, it can help goaltenders to create a motto to repeat during play to stay focused. It helps if they're simple to remember with only a couple of words. Mine for example has been, "stop the puck". Short and easy to say in your head. Some goaltenders even take to writing the motto on the back of their blocker for a quick read in times of need. This also keeps your mental voice busy during play, instead of saying things that will most likely distract you. Whatever way you as a goaltender choose to remember the motto, trust me when I say; it will help your play immensely!
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| Holtby Watching his water during a game against the Predators in 2013 (Zimbo.com) |
For more info and stories on this subject from NHL goalies visit: Holtby and other NHL goalies talk about mental reset
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