TGC | The Goalie Club | Teaching the latest goaltending styles and techniques.

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ABOUT US

Goalie School On-Ice The Goalie Club Goalie School was founded in 2002 by Des Christopher and Craig Lindsay, experienced goaltender coaches seeking a camp which continuously changed and adapted with the latest goaltending styles and techniques.

The Goalie Club was created for the purpose of helping goaltenders of all ages learn the latest goaltending theories and then implement it into their game.

The Goalie Club is a school built on the principle that to be a successful goaltender, a goalie must understand the game. By teaching goaltenders the why as well as the how of each technique, goaltenders become more confident in their technical game as they progress in their strategic game.

This Total Goalie Concept has guided two TGC members into the NHL, one TGC member onto a US National Team, four TGC members into minor professional hockey and numerous more into the college ranks.

SHATTUCK - ST. MARY'S

SSM The Goalie Club teamed up with youth hockey powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep School in April of 2005. In the four years since, SSM has won a total of 5 USA Hockey National Championships. The Girls Prep Team won the 19U Girls Championships in 2006, 2007, and 2009; while the Boys Prep Team won the 18U Tier I Boys Championships in 2007 and 2008.

The similarities between our goalie school and SSM are quite clear. Both programs believe in the importance of surrounding athletes with a top-level professional coaching staff who can share their own talents and experiences with each athlete. The passion that you see from the staff at Shattuck-St. Mary's | Goalie School SSM and TGC are second to none. For anyone who has been fortunate enough to be a part of (from within, or experience from the outside) Shattuck-St. Mary’s Hockey, he or she has witnessed one of the most impressive hockey cultural institutions around. Each member of the staff brings his or her own unique playing and coaching experiences that continue to build on the successes of seasons past.

This culture is also evident among the tight-knit staff of our Goalie School. Each time we are given the privilege to step on the ice for a training session, whether working with mite goalies or college goalies, we look at it as an opportunity to help instill the passion that we have for goaltending in everyone we work with.

THE 3 C'S OF GOALTENDING

[Comprehensive] utilizing a complete approach to goaltender training that encompasses all aspects of goaltending, including skill development, mental development, conditioning, nutrition, knowledge of the game and how to study other goaltenders.

[Consistent] providing a simple understanding (the what, when, where & why) of the technique incorporated with the technical training (the how) to promote using the right move in the right save situation.

[Continuous] promoting a long-term approach to goaltender development through progressive training that matures proficiency in goaltender fundamentals over the goaltender's career in the net.

PHILOSOPHY

FUNDAMENTALS THROUGH REPETITION
In order to train a goaltender to react to a shot with the correct movement the goaltender's 'muscle memory' must be set. To do this the goaltender must practice the correct movement over and over again so that it becomes engrained into their play. By performing the correct movement repeatedly a goaltender becomes comfortable with the save and all incorrect movements feel awkward, uncomfortable and are quickly corrected. Whenever TGC instructors are teaching the fundamentals to goaltenders or correcting bad habits, repetition is the key teaching technique that we use.

90% of goaltending is being at the right place at the right time!

STYLE SELECTION
There are 30 starting goaltenders in the NHL and none of them use the exact same save selection in all situations. The Goalie Club acknowledges that there is no 'one style fits all' solution to goaltending and approaches teaching each goaltender with that thinking. A key element to TGC camps and clinics is the teaching of theory during our off-ice program. Goaltenders discuss the varying styles used by NHL goaltenders and the adjustments that are made within those styles. They are then encouraged to experiment with these styles on the ice to find the techniques that suit them best. This leaves goaltenders comfortable and confident with the style that they are taught and approach the game with.

Style is about getting it done while making it look easy!

LEARNING THROUGH HARD WORK
The Goalie Club Goalie School has pioneered an innovative on-ice rotation called the 'Dedicated Program' that provides goaltenders with a 2:1 work to rest ratio even if they are participating in a 3:1 goalie to instructor ratio. The program uses an extra station rotation scheme to work goaltenders not in the net. It is designed to help with hand positioning, balance, slides, pivots, and quickness. Through this program dedicated goaltenders can work even harder on the ice and get even more out of their time with The Goalie Club. Since all of our theory is discussed in the classroom goaltenders are able to fully utilize their on-ice time to work on the theory they just learned.

Anyone can become a goalie, but a goaltender knows
they must be the hardest working player on the ice!

LEARNING THROUGH ENJOYMENT
We all know what they say about 'all work and no play'. With this in mind The Goalie Club school uses a number of different teaching tools both on and off the ice to ensure that goaltenders are having fun while working hard. You'll often hear coaches cheering for a great Fodjot Save, or see a goaltender doing a dead cockroach on the ice, or watch two teams competing to win The Goalie Fued, or catch a glimpse of a dozen goaltenders play tennis ball hockey.

At TGC, if it's not fun it's not goaltending!

GETTING ON THE PATH TO NO GOALS
You will notice that TGC exclusively uses the term goaltender in lieu of the term goalie. Although a subtle difference in terms, a distinct difference in meaning is evident. The term goalie is meant to define a person between the pipes who defends the goal. Anyone can serve in this capacity, albeit to various degrees of success. The term goaltender is meant to define a student of the art of goaltending-one who thrives to continuously learn and improve to be the best goalie they can be. The Total Goalie program is built on the premise of creating good goaltenders, not just good goalies.

Go For It!