“Play More Aggressive" – How Head Coaches Are Failing Their Goalies
The worst three words you can say to a goalie—especially a young one—are “play more aggressive.” It’s the equivalent of telling a defenseman “play better defense” or a forward “play better offense.” These blanket statements provide no real feedback, no teaching, and ultimately do nothing to help a player improve. I’ve never once heard a coach say, “play better offense,” so why do so many coaches feel comfortable telling goalies to “play more aggressive” without any explanation?
Why “Play More Aggressive” is Bad Coaching
Telling a goalie to simply be more aggressive encourages reckless play. Instead of making smart depth decisions based on what they read, they start overcommitting, chasing plays, and putting themselves out of position. While aggression might work in some situations, it can be disastrous in others. The result?
More goals against.
Decreased confidence in the goalie.
A lack of trust between the coach and goalie.
Poor habits that become difficult to break long-term.
A Real Example: The Small Goalie Who Played Big
I’ve worked with many smaller goaltenders over the years. Two seasons ago, I coached a Squirt goalie who had solid fundamentals but was overly aggressive at the start of the season because he knew he was small. Early on, we reviewed video, and he quickly realized that at moderate to sharp angles, he was much bigger than he thought in the net. He didn’t need to play as far out—and he barely had to move to cover the entire net if a player tried to pick an open spot. We had a saying before every game—”Play big”. Play big didn’t mean to play more aggressive. Play big meant to have the Goalie IQ to know how to read plays and have the confidence to look as big as a house while in complete control.
Goalie IQ > “Just Play Aggressive”
The common belief that "playing more aggressive" automatically takes up more net and is the smart decision is a misconception. Yes, in some cases it helps, but not always. Just like any other player, goalies need to adjust based on the situation rather than blindly defaulting to an aggressive position.
Why Aren’t Goalies Allowed to Make Decisions Like Other Players?
On a 2-on-1, a forward doesn’t make the same decision every time:
If the defender takes away the pass, they shoot.
If the defender pressures them, they look to pass.
We expect forwards and defensemen to read and react, yet for some reason, many coaches don’t allow goalies to do the same. Why are we telling goalies to follow one rigid approach rather than developing their ability to make decisions?
Connor Hellebuyck makes difficult saves look easy at a conservative depth due to his high Goalie IQ and ability to read the play.
The Reality: Many Coaches Are Hindering Goalie Development
Let’s be honest—there isn’t a 10-year-old on the planet who can read the game perfectly. But just like skaters, goalies need to develop hockey IQ and decision-making skills. If coaches want to win games, they should recognize that the goalie is the most important decision-maker on the ice.
Unfortunately, too often, head coaches give goalies the wrong advice or no meaningful coaching at all. If a coach isn’t willing to learn about goaltending, they would be better off saying nothing and simply offering encouragement and support. It’s frustrating to watch talented young goalies struggle under coaches who make no effort to develop them.
This must change—especially when goalies are paying the same fees as everyone else, just to be treated like a target in practice.
Head Coaches Must Take Responsibility for Developing Goalies
If you’re a head coach, here’s the hard truth:
Consult with goalie coaches. There isn’t a single goalie coach I know who wouldn’t love to receive a call, text, or email from a head coach who wants to learn more about goaltending.
Educate yourself. If you don’t have a goalie coach on staff, you need to become one. There are countless resources available to help you learn enough about goaltending to at least stop being a liability to your goalies.
Stop blaming goalies when you lose. If you don’t invest time in their development but are the first to criticize them, you’re failing as a coach.
We have the potential to develop better goaltenders across all levels, but it starts with coaches making an effort. More kids would sign up to be goalies if they felt supported rather than ignored or misunderstood.
“Play more aggressive” is a goalie killer. It’s lazy coaching, and it’s not good enough. We must do better.
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