Вратарь. Вратарское искусство и менталитет For all the changes in goaltending, notably the improved equipment, the availability of private coaching, and a variety of new techniques when the puck is down low in the zone, the basics of playing the position really haven’t changed in decades. It is still, first and foremost, about three things: being in the right place, controlling the puck, and having a sense of timing. The specific techniques a goalie chooses in order to accomplish those three objectives are individual choices. But these three primary areas must be mastered in order to play the position effectively. To do this, a goaltender must understand where to be in a given situation (positioning), have the ability to get there under control (good movement skills, on and off the skates), have refined save techniques (puck control), and, finally, have a sense of knowing how to play the position (proper training). The last skill is the most challenging. Many goalie coaches focus on teaching physical techniques, which is certainly necessary to play goalie well. But at higher levels of play, simply mastering a series of techniques is not the same as knowing how to play goalie. A goalie must understand the game of hockey—what opponents, with or without the puck, will do in certain situations; what teammates will do—and then process all this information to the point of seeing where everything will come together and when. Only then will a goalie begin to approach her highest level of competence. MENTAL SKILLS The biggest challenge for many goalies is not how they move or react or play angles. For many it is dealing with the mental and emotional demands of the position. Consider the following:
The speed of the game requires the goaltender to play without the burden of deliberation. A goalie wracked with self-doubt or a case of nerves is usually ineffective. Much like a referee, the goalie must perform without a tangible awareness of all that can go wrong. Both must have an unusually high degree of self-confidence to do the job well. Confidence problems can be the result of a variety of situations. It could stem from fear of the unknown, such as a goalie moving up to a new level. It could be from fear of the known, such as recent poor performances. Or it could be from unrealistic expectations, established by themselves or by parents or coaches. Coaches can’t necessarily solve the problem, but they can make a situation worse. If a goalie is going through a tough stretch and dealing with confidence issues, a coach running a steady diet of one-on-none, two-on- none, and three-on-none drills at practice can certainly add to the problem. A goalie’s ability to control what she thinks about during competition helps her handle the mental demands of the game. Sport psychologists advise goalies to stay in the present. That is, don’t think in the past (the last game, the last shot, the last time the team played this opponent), and don’t let the mind race ahead to the future (the final score, what the coach will say in the locker room, what parents will say in the car, who will start the next game). Stay in the present. Concentrate on what is happening now. Another way to express this to a goalie is to tell her to focus on her efforts (now), not her results (later). Some goalies accept the advice but don’t know how to block the worries that come with poor play. Two typically worrisome situations for goalies are allowing a bad goal or seeing a lead turn into a deficit. Some goalies try to distract themselves by saying a positive phrase over and over. A goalie who tends to go down too early or often might say, “On your feet. On your feet.” A goalie who tends to drift back too deep in the net might use, “One step out. One step out.” In a sense, the goalie is displacing the potential bad thought with the mantra-like recitation of a positive sentiment.
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