Okay, so lemme tell you how this all went down for my kid who plays goalie. It started last winter – honestly, I felt kinda helpless watching him struggle sometimes during games. He’d get rattled after letting one in, and his coach just didn’t have the time to really focus on fixing his techniques one-on-one, you know? Kept hearing about how summer camps could be a big jump for goalies, so I got digging.
Figuring Out This Camp Thing
First thing I did was ask around the hockey parents like crazy. Got a bunch of names thrown at me, way too many honestly. Then I started actually calling places – like really calling. Asked them point-blank: “What exactly are you gonna do for my kid?” Needed specifics, not just fancy camp names. Ended up narrowing it to two places that kept mentioning fundamentals and mental toughness over and over.
- Talked Money & Schedule: Yeah, some were crazy expensive. Had to balance the cost with what they actually offered. One camp had cool gear but hardly any ice time? Nope.
- Obsessed Over the Staff: Demanded to know who’d actually be teaching. Found one camp where the lead instructor played pro overseas – that felt legit, so we leaned that way.
- My Kid Had a Say: Showed him the info, let him pick. Gotta get them bought in, right? Chose the one with the pro goalie running drills.
The Actual Camp Grind
Dropped him off that first morning at this big rink complex. Place was buzzing with other goalie kids lugging gear. Here’s the breakdown:
- Morning Drills = Pure Sweat: They started super early with off-ice stuff. Like, actual leg strength exercises and crazy reaction time games – bouncing tennis balls off walls, rapid-fire catching drills with a coach whipping pucks. Saw videos later; kid looked exhausted but focused.
- Ice Time Was Relentless: Way more reps than he ever got at team practice. Focused on things he sucked at – like moving laterally fast (push-offs, they called it) and sealing up gaps near the post. They filmed him! Saw his flaws on video right after doing it.
- It Wasn’t Just Stopping Pucks: They forced the kids to talk after messing up. Like, “Okay, you let that five-hole goal in… what went wrong?” Making him think it through instead of just getting mad. Huge for his confidence.
After the Week Was Done
Picked him up exhausted but buzzing. Here’s why I think it was worth the money now:
- Concrete Skills: He came back physically stronger. His slides across the crease? Way smoother.
- Less Brain Fog: Doesn’t crumble after a bad goal now. Takes a sec, resets. Learned actual ways to shake it off.
- That “Goalies are Weird” Bond: Sounds silly, but being around ONLY other goalies made him feel normal! Built a little crew with camp buddies who get the pressure.
- New Tricks: Brought back drills we can do at home – just pads, a ball, a wall. Keeps things sharp between seasons.
Bottom line? If your goalie kid is stuck or just needs that extra push, do the homework and find a camp that tears down their game to rebuild it right. Seeing that focus on every little movement and that mental switch flip? Yeah. Money well spent.
