What is Midwest Goalie School’s core philosophy
To make every goalie feel empowered about wanting to be a goalie. We want goalies to leave our camp absolutely in love with being a goalie.
Will Midwest Goalie School make my child better?
As the owner, I promise that every kid who puts on an MGS jersey gets the attention and support they need to discover or rediscover why they love the position. I believe if a goalie loves what they do, they have the ability to get better, and we will work one on one with your child to teach them all that we know. We will support any goalie that wants to learn and provide for them the foundation to get better. The staff (myself included) are working at MGS because we love helping goalies, end of story.
Does MGS have shooters at the camp?
Yes, we only hire paid shooters who are of the necessary caliber to challenge and consistently shoot where needed. We use high school, junior A, and college shooters.
What does my kid need to bring to camp?
Gym shoes, proper work out attire, water or a sports drink for dryland, and all equipment needed on the ice. We recommend goalies to get their skates sharpened before they arrive on Monday.
Can I register online?
Yes. That is a new feature at MGS. All registration and payment can be done for the summer camps online. We also accept personal and business checks as well as cash.
What is the student to teacher ratio?
We believe that one on one attention is critical to development. We never have more than 20 goalies on the ice for a camp, and staff 6 full time instructors. In addition, we also staff 3-5 “junior instructors” to assist goalies who are not in net taking shots. We have nearly a 2:1 ratio at our camps.
Do you use Sports Psychology with the goalies?
Yes! I graduated with a degree in sports psychology and use it extensively in our training. We discuss and practice concepts like mental imagery, controlled breathing, visualization, positive self talk, confidence instillation, game preparation, and how to handle a tough coach.
Where do I buy equipment?
There are a number of outlets to look for equipment. Jerry’s hockey warehouse in Schaumburg has a large goalie selection. Also, if you’re looking for the online route, the Facebook site “Sell my hockey goalie gear” is always listing used gear for sale. Craigslist and Ebay are other places to look for equipment.
How can I get a hold of you during the season
You can go to the Contact section of the website and submit an email question to me anytime. I am also available by cell phone (304) 914-9687 via text or call.
Can my son/daughter do any off ice exercises that will help, even at a young age?
If you are trying to get a workout away from the gym and lifting heavy weights (which should only be done when their bodies are physically mature enough to safely support that type of workout) things like stretching, yoga, body weight squats and quick feet sprints are a great way to stay in shape. At MGS we believe off ice is just as important as on ice, so we practice an extensive amount of both dynamic and static stretches, body weight workouts, and functional strength training in our camps.
My kid made the bottom team at our organization. Does that mean my goalie is bad or going to fall behind in development?
Not at all. Everybody develops at a different pace, and sometimes they need more time before everything “clicks” and they start to dominate. If they are playing games, they are becoming more experienced and that in itself will make them better. Sometimes being on a bad team is good because you face a lot of high quality scoring chances which make a goalie more “situational.” If they use the opportunity as a challenge to learn and grow as a goalie, they will have a positive experience and look back one day and be thankful they played on that team.
What can my child do during the season to stay sharp?
The best way to stay sharp and progress instead of regress is skating skating skating. The better skater any goalie is, the more success they will have. I have yet to witness a good goalie who isn’t a great skater. Doing 5 minutes of specific skating drills before and after practice will go a long way. It doesn’t have to be a series of complex moves, just as long as they are staying consistent with their stance and are paying attention to technique as much as speed and quickness. I promise you they will elevate their game! We do many different skating drills during the camp to add to each goalie’s personal toolbox.
Do you offer private instruction?
Yes. I am a full time goalie coach in the summer and run private, semi private, and group lessons with some of our full time staff. During the year, we have a Christmas Clinic to give goalies a chance to “work out the bad habits” they might have picked up during the season.
As a parent, I feel isolated and unsure about how to help my goalie. He/she doesn’t get much attention from the coaches and I’m not sure how to help, what do I do?
Call or email me! I will help you sort it out and develop a game plan to keep your goalie progressing during the year
What does the number “1” on the back of the jersey represent?
It is a tribute to Glenn Hall. Glenn Hall did many things that paved the way for the way goaltending is still played today. The man literally invented the butterfly, played 502 consecutive NHL games, and is nicknamed “Mr. Goalie.” It is a small sign of respect for what he did for the position!
What makes you better than other goalie school?
I don’t like to use the term “better” because when talking about developing a goaltender, there is no one right way to do things. It’s all about the needs of the goaltender and who they feel comfortable working with. It is good for goalies to get the opinion of other goalie coaches to see what they like and don’t like. It’s the same philosophy as seeking a second opinion about a medical question. It’s not that your doctor isn’t smart, it’s just beneficial to hear other opinions and THEN make an educated decision about who to trust. At MGS, we try and instill the skills necessary for goalies to grow and develop their own unique style. Our philosophies and training techniques are unique to MGS, but that doesn’t mean we have the absolute answers. We encourage goalies to sample what is out there and then chose the goalie school they have the most positive experience with and see the results they want.
What is the best line of advice for a developing goalie?
Control what you can control. If you focus on the right things and don’t get caught up in stats, scouts, coaches, etc, you’ll be fine