'HOW TO BECOME A BETTER GOALIE'
- TIPS TO PRACTICE SMARTER -

To truly enhance your performance, you need to focus on how you prepare and practice. Here are three powerful habits to integrate into your weekly routine that will help you practice smarter and achieve meaningful progress.

1. Have a ‘Skill Learning’ Preparation Strategy

Preparation is the foundation of progress. Developing a ‘skill learning’ preparation strategy isn’t just about working harder — it’s about working smarter. Here’s how to make it happen:

• Define Your Goals: Before you hit the ice, have a clear goal for each session. What skill or aspect of your game are you aiming to improve?
• Plan Your Drills: Create a roadmap for your practice. Focus on drills that directly target the areas you want to improve.
• Reflect and Refine: After each session, take a moment to review your progress. What worked? What didn’t? Adjust your strategy for the next session.

By approaching your practice with purpose, every session becomes a step forward in your development.

2. Pick One Skill to Master Each Week

Goalie training is all about building a repertoire of strong, reliable skills. However, trying to improve everything at once can dilute your focus. Instead, commit to mastering one specific skill each week. Here’s how:

• Choose Your Focus: Whether it’s transitional movement or rebound control, pick one technical skill that aligns with your performance needs.
• Break It Down: Dissect the skill into its fundamental components. For example, if you’re working on the T-Push transition, focus on a skill chunk from the Skill Build Plan.
• Educate Yourself: Watch, learn and practice from instructional videos that will give you the knowledge to coach yourself during practice.

Zeroing in on one area ensures your energy is directed where it matters most, leading to noticeable improvement.

3. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity in Practice

When it comes to practice, the quality of your effort matters far more than the quantity of time you spend. Bring intention and awareness to each session by:

• Starting with Warm-Up Drills: Use warm-ups to practice specific form and function movement patterns so you can prepare your body and mind.
• Focusing on Technique: Concentrate on executing your chosen skill correctly rather than rushing through drills.
• Reviewing and Adjusting: If something feels off, take the time to analyze your movement, remember the correct pattern and then make adjustments. Small tweaks can lead to significant gains.

Consistency in your practice builds confidence, and confidence translates into game-day performance.

The Key to Unlocking Your Potential

Skill development isn’t about practicing aimlessly; it’s about intentional preparation. By incorporating these habits into your routine, you can:

• Identify what to work on with clarity.
• Practice smarter by focusing on precision and technique.
• Build confidence through consistent, high-quality training.

Stay focused. Stay driven. And keep evolving. The journey to becoming a better goalie starts with how you prepare today. Are you ready to rise to the challenge and become the goalie your team can rely on? The crease is yours — own it!