1. Question: I strained my groin while stretching before a game. The rink was really cold. My mom says I was bouncing a little while stretching. Anyway, it is sore and feels inflamed. It has been 8 days now. I have been icing it and resting and have missed 2 practices and a game. I need to get back to playing. What should I do?
Answer: First, it is necessary to stretch before you go on the ice, also. |
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The colder the rink, the more you need to stretch before and during the game. Proper technique is important. Do not bounce...you could (and may have) pulled something as a result. Ice is good...more stretching is good...but you really should go to a sports medicine clinic. They have the ability to administer extra "stimulation," ultrasound, and possibly an anti-inflammatory drug to speed the healing process. They can give you proper exercises and techniques. You are not an expert in healing...go to someone who is!
2. Question: Our league does not use pins or magnets to anchor the nets. They slide all the time and I hate it. Should I buy my own...what can I do?
Answer: We rarely use net pins at practice, even in the NHL. But, there is a trick. When the ice is a bit wet, after the zamboni, quickly move the net into place. Then, take a water bottle and spray down the lower portion of the net, inside and out. The net will "freeze" in place in a few moments, and will be less likely to move when bumped.
3. Question: I am coaching a peewee AAA hockey team. Like most coaches, I really do not know a great deal about goaltending. One of my goalies, and his dad, informed me that he is a "butterfly goalie" and requires special drills. Could you please explain to me how a "butterfly goalie" is unique.
Answer: Butterfly, has become a catch-all term. Like all gelatin is referred to as "jello", and almost all copies are referred to as "a xerox" every goalie that leaves his feet (and almost all do) think they are "butterfly goalies." They are not. The term hit stride as many of the French-Canadian Quebec goalies emulated Patrick Roy. This style was perfected by Francois Allaire, a highly successful goalie coach who helped Roy rise to stardom in his days in Montreal. Most goalies therefore may have "butterfly" tendencies, but are really hybrids... a mixture of goaltending styles. Even Roy, shifted slightly away from being a "pure butterfly" goalie. In today’s game to be successful, it’s not if you leave your feet, it is when and how. Most have to leave their feet often. That does not make them butterfly goalies. Often young goalies and their dads try to justify the fact that the young goalie leaves his feet too early or too often, by calling themselves "butterfly goalies." There is a lot more to being a "butterfly goalie" than just dropping to your knees often.
4. Question: Coach Mitch, I am brutal on breakaways. My coach tells me it is because I always "make the first move". How do I stop doing this?
Answer: Goalies rarely truly make the "first move." I cannot remember the last time when a player was coming in on the breakaway, and the goalie (other than an attempt at a diving poke check) made a move before the player started to deke. Your problem is not that you make the first move, but rather you lack the patience to wait for the shooters "real move." What you are really doing, is you "go for a fake" rather than waiting for the real move. The hardest part of a breakaway is the ability to "read" a fake from the real move. Visual cues such as stick position, body position, how far apart the shooters legs are, when the shooter stops skating, the size of the goalies "gap" between himself and the shooter, all assist the perceptive, patient goalie in determining the fake from the real deke. A coach who tells the goalie not to make the first move is using an outdated, inaccurate cliché.
5. Question: I know you once coached Steve Shields in Buffalo. I remember watching a game in which Steve Shields made a good save and cover up the puck. The ref came over and talked to Shields. Shields was smiling and laughing ... he didn’t look like a very focused goalie. How can he perform well that way?
Answer: Steve is very relaxed. He is confident in his abilities. He has fun playing. Don’t mix those three things up with focus. He is very focused and competitive when the puck drops, with an exceptional work ethic. Great goalies have an excellent handle on their emotions. They do not get too high or too low. They play on ability yet are so strong mentally (like Steve) that they are able to "relax" at times during the games and between periods, yet re-focus when needed. This helps prevent "burn-out" when you play a lot. I have seen goalies that get so worked up to play that they have a super first period, but they lose it during intermission and have a poor second period. It’s too difficult to sustain that fever pitch all season...except come playoff time, where it is enormously draining and only the very strong survive.
6. Question: When a player goes behind the net with what looks like a wrap around, I see a lot of goalies go to one knee and literally swing their stick on the blocker side to deter the player from walking out. Do you like that move?
Answer: There are many ways to react to situations and many save selection options. In general, I might like one move a goalie makes in situation A, but hate that move in situation B. While in general I do believe that swinging the stick on one’s knees leaves the goalie quite vulnerable, there may be an occasion or two where it will work or is appropriate. The problem comes when the move is over used and is not appropriate and results in a goal.
1. If the goalie has good defensive pressure on the forward why leave your feet?
2. If the goalie can get there in time, why leave your feet?
3. However, if the goalie is "late" and is desperate, only then this move may make sense.
7. Question: My 12-year-old son plays on a weak team. They almost never win. He faces 30-40 shots every game, and plays well but is getting frustrated. A real good team inquired. What should we do?
Answer. It’s never good to lose all the time, nor is it beneficial to win all the time. What’s important is that he is playing well...improving...and not developing bad habits. I’d rather play on a team where I was busy...with a chance to make a difference each game. Just winning and getting a shutout facing 14 shots is good for confidence, for the stats, and maybe the ego, but not for development. Please consider all these points. With the little bit you have told me, and if he can keep a positive, confident attitude, I’d opt for the weaker team. |
