Parent Segment 3: The Net Pegs Keep Coming Off!

We’ve all been there before. The net pegs won’t hold. The other team gets angry. The opposing coaches yell and yes, even the fans start pointing finger, once again forgetting these are kids.

The referee may try squirting some water on the pegs which makes no difference. After the net is dislodged a few more times, as the frustration in the building increases, the referee warns the goalie - one more time and I have to give you a penalty. Nevermind that it wasn’t intentional, the referee succumbs to the pressure and takes it out on your kid.

That happened 20 years ago and it happens even more today as goalies using modern post-integration techniques like the RVH are constantly pushing off the posts, controlling slides with them and even trying to use them for leverage to push up and elevate to cover the top of the net on sharp angle plays.

Nobody likes to see their kid the centre of so much negative attention. We all see our young goalies are just trying to do their job.

So what can you do?

This week Woody and Hutch tackle this question from different angles.

Woody, who is prone to the occasional bit of frustration, takes a preventative approach - there are peg systems that do a better job. Associations need to invest in them to let their goalies develop, playing the way the game is played.

Hutch turns it into a mindset lesson for parents and goalies.

While Woody’s solution is a good one - it won’t help you in the moment.

There is nothing your anger and frustration can help. There is nothing you can do to stop fans from complaining, coaches from yelling or players from pointing fingers. And even if the referee is in the wrong on how they deal with your kid - again, there is nothing you can do that will help.

So Hutch suggests that we all smile and move on. It’s more than ignoring a problem, it’s turning that problem into an opportunity and knowing that your response will give you an advantage - and that’s worth smiling about!

He describes it as a goalie superpower for so many situations.

If you get angry as a goalie then the others gain an advantage. Your focus moves from the puck and the play to the problem. And that is of no help when it’s time to make a save.

BUT if you smile and see this as your opportunity then you gain the advantage. As the opposition gets upset they lose focus. As they see you smiling they will often respond by becoming more upset. And when you see that happening - you’ve got the edge. So enjoy it.

And as a parent, while it takes a long time for you and your goalie to learn this important skill, you can start to smile because you know as others around you are growing impatient and angry - your goalie is smiling and loving the moment and the opportunity that they have.

It’s not easy to develop this skill. There will be times the net comes off and far too many seconds later it will go in and be called a good goal. Indeed Hutch mentions in this episode one such occasion where a net was off a full 14 seconds before what was called a “good goal.” And while it’s hard to smile and move on there - anger does nothing but hurt. But if you can put the problem behind you it’s a bit more reinforcement that your mental strength will set you apart from others and help you make the next save.

Give it a try next time things feel like they are going sideways.

Make smile and move on your goalie superpower.

Have a listen and let us know your thoughts below. If you have a question you’d like to hear us discuss, hit us up at parents@ingoalmag.com.