Spring Hockey vs Goalie Training

Goalies and skaters alike are making the common mistake of playing too much hockey year round.  It’s an odd statement, especially when it originates from a goalie training provider who supplies our students with year round goalie training.  So what should hockey players and goalies be doing throughout the off-season instead?

Although kids love this great sport, time away from it to gain the opportunity for athletic development is essential to their growth, and extremely underrated; especially for goaltenders.

With the goaltender’s equipment becoming smaller, goalies can no longer rely solely on their ability to get their equipment in front of the puck, and are now required to move with more explosive power and agility.  In order to do so, goaltenders require the necessary goalie training to ensure that they maximize efficiency.

But are goalies really going to get the necessary goalie training which they require during their off-season by playing more games, and training with a spring hockey team?  We don’t believe so.

Instead, we feel that goaltenders should utilize the off-season to participate in goalie training that through repetition, will allow them to work on balance and stability for standing and sliding movements.  Doing so will allow goalies to ensure that they are capable of applying direct movements effectively, placing as much of their bodies between the puck and the net with proper timing.

Improving a goalie’s balance and stability will allow the goaltender to manage depth and angles with more ease, which will also enable them to place additional emphasis on improving their technical game.  By improving the goaltender’s technical game, we enable our students to maximize their overall efficiency.

Although spring and summer hockey has its advantages by allowing children to extend their season into the warmer weather with some of their friends within the comfort of a familiar environment like an arena, if they’re looking to improve their game, kids should be looking to other sports to gain additional athleticism, and work on goalie training or hockey development in a hockey school environment.

Additional information regarding our upcoming off-season goalie training programs may be found here.