Why Goalies Flinch or Close Their Eyes

Flinching or closing your eyes is a natural response to the intensity of the position, but it can hold you back. Here are the common reasons it happens:

1. Fear Response: Your brain’s instinct to protect you kicks in when something flies toward your face.

2. Lack of Confidence in Equipment: If you’re unsure about your mask, gloves, or chest protector, it’s hard to feel secure.

3. Poor Tracking Habits: Not locking onto the puck’s path makes it harder to react confidently.

4. Fear of Injury: A bad experience—like taking a puck to an unprotected area—can lead to hesitation.

5. Lack of Repetition: If you haven’t faced enough shots in a controlled setting, it’s hard to stay calm under pressure.

5 Steps to Stop Flinching

1. Build Trust in Your Equipment

Confidence starts with knowing your gear has your back. Make sure your mask fits securely, your chest protector covers key areas, and your gloves feel reliable. If you’re unsure about any part of your setup, take the time to adjust or upgrade it.

2. Start with Slow, Controlled Drills

Ease into facing shots by using tennis balls, foam pucks, or light wrist shots. These controlled settings allow you to focus on tracking the puck without the fear of pain or impact. Gradually increase the speed and intensity as your confidence grows.

3. Practice Puck Tracking

One of the best ways to stop flinching is to improve your ability to track the puck. Focus on following the puck’s full trajectory from the shooter’s stick to your body or glove. Try soft toss drills where a coach or teammate gently tosses pucks from different angles, allowing you to build tracking skills.

4. Visualize Success

Visualization is a powerful mental tool. Spend time imagining pucks flying toward you and making calm, controlled saves with your eyes wide open. Picture yourself reacting confidently to every shot. Visualization helps rewire your brain to stay composed in real-life situations.

5. Gradually Increase Intensity

Once you’re comfortable with slower shots, start facing harder, game-like scenarios. Progression is key—don’t rush into high-intensity drills until you’ve built the foundation of calmness and control.

Key Takeaways

Breaking the habit of flinching takes time and consistent effort, but it’s absolutely achievable.

Here’s how to get started:

• Trust your gear—it’s your first line of defense.

• Start slow and ease into harder drills.

• Master puck tracking and keep your eyes on the shot.

• Use visualization to train your brain for success.

• Build confidence step by step with progressive training.

With dedication, you’ll stop flinching and stay focused on every save—no matter how fast the puck is coming at you.

-Dr. Jamie

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