Can you teach someone to play goal?

‘Tenders Tips #6

Carolina Hurricanes Goalie Coach Tom Barasso is successful because he has a complete understanding of the game and is a powerful communicator

There’s an old saying amongst teachers that you don’t really understand something until you can teach it. That can apply to your goaltending every bit as much as an academic subject.

If you want to be the best that you can be you need to really understand the position. Believe me, you might think you understand, but until you have tried to put it into words, to pull out the essential elements and to communicate it to someone else you do not completely understand. At very least the process of preparing to teach someone else will help you really sort out what you think about goaltending.

If you were going to work with a young goalie – where would you begin? What are the most important elements to communicate? What might someone say after you teach a lesson – are you ready for the hard questions?

I guarantee that sitting down and making some notes as if you were going to teach someone will help you become a better goalie yourself.

Better yet, why don’t you volunteer some time with a minor hockey team and help some kids out while you are learning yourself. Even if you’re still playing minor hockey there could well be a team with younger goalies who could use a hand.

photo thanks to captainslack