Working hockey camps is no easy business. I've worked plenty before but GoaliePro is by far the most intense goaltending specific camp I have been a part of. On the ice three times a day, with the third session being a two hour period, it's tough but the positive is Jukka built a structure of support so no single person is left out to dry. For instance, at each station there is either two or three coaches depending on the difficulty of the skill or drill. With more than one set of eyes on a goaltender this helps us coaches converse on what we are seeing giving the goaltenders performing the drills an honest, non-biased, feedback. Again this is a system I have never seen in the United States.
On Wednesday, I have the pleasure of directing a breakaway station in the morning, and poke-check conditioning in the afternoon. This is the first day I was actually able to shoot, the other instructors and I took it upon ourselves to be the shooters for the groups so we could mix it up (Wednesday is hump day so we had to do something to keep us going). The demeanor of goaltenders in this country seems to be much more controlled than goaltenders of other nationalities. Take for instance, the act of slamming your stick against the post if you are upset about letting in a goal. During my career at Michigan State University I broke more sticks over the crossbar than the hockey staff actually knows about (Sorry TMagee!), but I wasn't alone, and I have seen it all over not just in the USA. But here in Finland the younger kids all the way up to the pros do not use acts of anger to try to get themselves back into the game, instead they seem to take time between reps to regather themselves or they keep battling and try to focus more on the task at hand.
TheGoalieGuild owner, Justin Goldman, who granted me the scholarship to travel here has been of great help during the week from anything to hockey questions to meeting new connections to even learning more about the city itself. Future scholarship winners take note that Justin absolutely LOVES the RVH! Wednesday his station was "RVH Land" and he utilized an IPad so that goaltenders can see themselves moving into the save selection from a still stance, to sliding into it post to post and releasing yourself from the position to square up to a shot. I have seen this type of reflection used in Mitch Korn's practice but I have not seen an IPad used before. Good stuff I plan to use it during my own practice. It is little ideas like this that I have picked up from Justin that I really am looking forward to using, innovative stuff that can really help goaltenders. If they can see themselves they can be their own best teacher. Side note: Justin also proposed to his girlfriend Wednesday night! Congrats buddy!
On Wednesday, I have the pleasure of directing a breakaway station in the morning, and poke-check conditioning in the afternoon. This is the first day I was actually able to shoot, the other instructors and I took it upon ourselves to be the shooters for the groups so we could mix it up (Wednesday is hump day so we had to do something to keep us going). The demeanor of goaltenders in this country seems to be much more controlled than goaltenders of other nationalities. Take for instance, the act of slamming your stick against the post if you are upset about letting in a goal. During my career at Michigan State University I broke more sticks over the crossbar than the hockey staff actually knows about (Sorry TMagee!), but I wasn't alone, and I have seen it all over not just in the USA. But here in Finland the younger kids all the way up to the pros do not use acts of anger to try to get themselves back into the game, instead they seem to take time between reps to regather themselves or they keep battling and try to focus more on the task at hand.
TheGoalieGuild owner, Justin Goldman, who granted me the scholarship to travel here has been of great help during the week from anything to hockey questions to meeting new connections to even learning more about the city itself. Future scholarship winners take note that Justin absolutely LOVES the RVH! Wednesday his station was "RVH Land" and he utilized an IPad so that goaltenders can see themselves moving into the save selection from a still stance, to sliding into it post to post and releasing yourself from the position to square up to a shot. I have seen this type of reflection used in Mitch Korn's practice but I have not seen an IPad used before. Good stuff I plan to use it during my own practice. It is little ideas like this that I have picked up from Justin that I really am looking forward to using, innovative stuff that can really help goaltenders. If they can see themselves they can be their own best teacher. Side note: Justin also proposed to his girlfriend Wednesday night! Congrats buddy!