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The position of a hockey goalie is by far one of the most detail-oriented positions in all of sports. In fact, goalies must work hard and practice everything from keeping the proper posture in net to the fundamentals behind each save to be successful in keeping the puck out of the goal. It's something that's much easier said than done, especially when you consider that a goalie, while part of a hockey team, is a very individual position.
One of the best ways to help goaltenders learn and grow their game is to carefully analyze their performance in games after the score is final. When coaches can sit down with a young goaltender and point out flaws in positioning and fundamentals, a young goalie is much more apt to learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.
Here's a closer look at the value of post-game analysis for goaltenders:
Video analysis
If possible, analyzing any kind of tape to point out where improvement can be made is an incredibly helpful tool. It's one thing to discuss with a goaltender what they did wrong, but it's another thing to show them what they did wrong. A coach can take what was shown on the tape and apply the lessons learned into practice the next time the goalie hits the ice.
Focus on weaknesses, but discuss strengths
Say a goalie lets in two bad goals last game, but did a superb job of controlling rebounds. It's important to make sure that not just the bad is discussed in any post-game analysis, but the good too. Focusing only on the negative can destroy a goaltender's confidence. But if you can address the bad in a way that also takes into consideration the good things that they did, it can make for a much more constructive teaching moment.
Ask the goalie
Don't just tell the goalie what they did wrong, ask them how they think they played and what they struggled with in a particular game. Make sure that any analysis considers multiple points of view.
For more information on the goalie skills analysis and importance of post-game evaluations for young goalies, contact Rick Heinz Goalie School today.