GataGoalie Coaching Philosophy

GataGoalie is determined to teach, push, and mold its goaltenders to become the best they can be. Not only are we determined to help our goaltenders reach the highest-level possible, we also strive to create an environment in which our goaltenders look forward to coming to work on their craft. 

While they may be cliché, below are some of our favorite life/sports quotes that best summarize what GataGoalie is and what we believe in. 

The love our founder/CEO, Joe Santagata, has for goaltending has allowed him to not have to “work” since the day he started playing/coaching the position. This is the mindset GataGoalie strives to instill in all of its goalies, by way of creating a fun and safe environment, where goaltenders can challenge, push, and develop themselves in every aspect of their game. We believe there is no better feeling than the satisfaction that comes of completing a hard day’s work and seeing all the days of hard work pay off, be it by making the team, becoming the starter, or winning the big game.

No two people are the same, and the same can be said for goaltenders; goaltenders come in all different sizes, with different strengths and weaknesses. Having worked with so many goalie coaches over the years, Joe Santagata was exposed to several techniques, styles, and mindsets. He used this to his advantage, learning that what may work for one goaltender, may not work for another. For this reason, at GataGoalie, developing “cookie cutter” goaltenders does not exist.

Goaltending can be a very lonely position at times, which is why goaltenders need to be self-sufficient in regard to training, mentality, preparation, and skills. GataGoalie strives not only to teach important skills of a goaltender, but to also teach goaltenders how they can continue to grow, develop, and excel on their own when a coach or parent is not present. 

As in life, there will be days where things just can’t seem to go right. You will give up bad goals. You won’t be razor sharp. You might even blow a game or two. As a goalie, bad days are inevitable. This is why GataGoalie strongly believes in training the mental side of a goaltender, just as much as the physical side. Mastering the mentality of a goaltender will give the goalie the skill to reset after a bad goal, make in-game adjustments on the fly, and shrug off a bad game. Mastering the mental side brings consistency to a goaltender’s game, and that is what separates an elite goalie from the rest of the pack.

Developing a goaltender into a high-level performer doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and patience. There will be days goalies ask themselves why; Why is coach making me do this drill?... Why did I give up that goal?...Why does coach want me to tweak my stance? It is okay to ask why however, it is important to understand that there is always a method to the madness. Development doesn’t happen in a day, a week, or a year. It is continuous process that happens over the course of a career. GataGoalie loves to see the short-term triumphs but strives to develop its goalies to bring the best long-term results.