The Best Goalie Advice I Can Give (And It’s Not What You Think)

By Dr. Jamie Phillips | Goalie Coach, Grand Rapids, MI

Every week—sometimes every day—I get asked the same question:

“What’s the best advice you’d give to a goalie or goalie parent?”

Before I answer, let me be clear. No single piece of advice will magically make you a better goalie. Improvement doesn’t come from words,it comes from you.

That said, I can offer a roadmap. A recommendation grounded in over 15 years of coaching, my time in the NHL, and now, in my work with goalies here in Grand Rapids and beyond.

So here it is—the best advice I can give:

Find a goalie coach you trust, and work with them consistently for the next 10 years.

That’s it. Not flashy. Not revolutionary. But absolutely foundational.

Success in goaltending doesn’t come from a single private lesson or a summer goalie camp. Those things have value—I run camps here in West Michigan and absolutely believe in them—but they’re not the cornerstone of long-term development.

True progress comes from intentional, repeated, structured training. One session a week. Maybe every other week. Over an entire season. Over many seasons.

That’s what builds elite habits. That’s what shapes vision, positioning, and confidence.

It’s how I got better. Not from hype. Not from hacks. From consistency and commitment.

So if you’re a goalie—or a parent trying to make the right decision for your kid—know this:

The long game wins. Always.

This season, ask yourself:

How good do you want to be in 10 years?

Because that answer will shape what you do today.

-Dr. Jamie