By Steve McKichan /
Once you are through the Christmas Holidays, many families turn their thoughts toward selecting a summer goalie school to help with their child’s development.
Surprisingly, many of the top programs have already had some locations filled to capacity. Since time is of the essence, I want to provide you with some fundamental advice on selecting a camp where you will get the best experience for your money.
It would be a clear conflict of interest if the remainder of this article basically pumped the tires of Future Pro Goalie School.
Right off the bat, I want you to understand that there are many great programs available besides my camps and that I’m secure enough to admit that I’m not the only goalie expert in the world.
In fact, I’m sure there are more intelligent coaches that even I could learn from.
When I began outlining this article in my head I used the premise of what I would look for, knowing what I know, if I was going to send my own son to another camp.
Here are some of the thoughts I had in no particular order.
I have also provided a simple scoring system so you can compare the camps with the highest scores
1. Credentials
I would want a camp to provide me with the credentials of the head instructor and the actual amount of time he would be on the ice instructing every day.
I would ask for this in writing. If the program will provide written credentials and the actual on-ice coaching time of the head instructor give that camp a point.
2. Quality credentials
I would ask for the credentials of the actual head instructor who will be delivering the on-ice instruction.
For the following items below score and additional point:
a) Bachelor degree in education or a related field (one point)
- clearly, teaching will be professionally delivered
b) Actual National Hockey League regular season game experience (one point)
- playing in the NHL doesn’t make a great teacher but provides a valuable resource and respect.
c) Actual National Hockey League Goaltending Coach experience (one point)
- Goaltending coaches in the NHL have to have displayed remarkable ability to earn one of 30 positions in the world
d) Coaching Experience
- for every five years of coaching experience
at any level (one point per five years)
e) Other playing experience
- if they played Major Junior, NCAA Division I or top tier Euro hockey... (one point)
3. Ice-time value
Take the total hours of ice time per week and divide into the price for the camp to determine cost per hour of on-ice instruction.
Once you determine this info for a given camp, list them.
If a camp is top three in value... (one point)
4. Staff : student ratio
The more staff the better. Ratios range from 1:1 to 1:6 or higher. If the camp you are looking at has a ratio of 1:2 or better... (one point)
5. Word of mouth
Although not scientific, ask around. Which camps have people had personal experience with?
For every positive testimonial from another goalie parent… (one point)
6. Years in business
If a camp has been around for many years it isn’t an accident.
Camps come and go, here today, gone tomorrow. For every five years of being in business… (one point)
Get on the Internet and search for “goalie schools” on Google.
Visit all the websites and refine your search to a handful.
Use the above system to breakdown each program.
Once you have further refined your search, call them up.
How quickly do they return calls? Does the owner speak with you or do you speak only to support staff?
I have heard many great things about many goalie schools and unfortunately there can also be bad experiences.
However, if you use due diligence I think you will find a camp that is right for you and your little goalie. |