InGoal Magazine April 2012 - Summer Camp Edition : Page 72
A Step by Step Guide to Playing your Most Consistent Game T he most common question I’ve received over the years from goaltenders has been: “How do I prepare to play my best?” goaltender is able to execute these skills they will likely play well. by Justin Johnson, Founder of MEGA Goaltending University of Minnesota Goalie Coach This concept is not foreign to most goalies, but they tend to go wrong when they believe they must execute every physical and mental Though there are many potential responses, skill well in order to experience success. This I typically answer with a simple yet effective will create an overwhelming feeling of anxiety suggestion: “Find three things you do when and you become unclear about what you playing well and commit to executing those must specifically do to replicate successful skills each game” performances. This method of approaching your performances In reality, success comes from placing great allows you to leverage mental and physical attention on the few select skills that actually strengths, while keeping your mind focused on lead to your desired results. So to begin the aspects that will lead to stopping the puck and process of playing your most consistent game eliminate mental and physical clutter. you must find no more than three action points I’ve outlined a step-by-step process we use with you can focus your energy towards. Here are the our goaltenders at MEGA and at the University requirements for picking your action points: of Minnesota with great success. Take the time 1. Action points must be something to think through the suggestions so you can you have complete control over. develop your own path to consistent play. 2. Action points have to correlate to you playing well and within Step 1: Finding your Action Points your style or skill set. When beginning the process of finding out how 3. Select actions that if done well, to play your best on a consistent basis the first other elements of your game fall into question you must ask yourself is, “What am I place with little effort or thought. doing when I play well?” Keep in mind, playing well is simply a general term expressing the idea that during the game you were able to execute a combination of physical and mental skills well enough to experience success. For many goalies playing well will consist of things like accurate angles, appropriate depth, staying relaxed, or fighting through traffic to see the puck. When a Remember, you only have control over your thoughts, feeling and actions. Your movement, save selections, angles and the type of thoughts you have are all elements you have control over. Making every save, winning, and getting shutouts are not elements you control. Your action points also have to correlate to you playing well and within your role. Find one that Michael Neuvirth prepares for a game, thinking about the keys to playing his best game. Buren Foster photo. 72 InGoal Magazine April 2012
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