As the goaltender interacts with their environment, a cycle takes place in which they process stimuli, decide on a course of action, and execute that action. As this cycle repeats, the goaltender develops and improves.

The criteria in this evaluation model attempt to capture a holistic picture of a goaltender — how the goaltender’s mind and body, and their environment, affect one another within a competitive environment. These three components provide an ever-changing feedback loop, referred to as Perception-Action Coupling in psychology.$^3$ This concept is a small part of a broader field called Ecological Dynamics — in short, understanding the athlete as a dynamic, living being and using the environment as a teaching tool.$^4$

As the goalie receives stimuli from their environment, they must go through a cycle where they Process it (See and Understand), Decide on a course of action (pushed by Drive and tempered by Adaptability), and Act in a situationally appropriate manner (Move athletically and execute the Save). This cycle then has two effects:

1. The goalie imparts an effect on their environment with a save, goal, or play, which changes the environment and yields a new stimulus that repeats the cycle.
2. The goalie uses this cycle to incrementally Develop their skills, assessed via their developmental habits (Grow) and their openness and capacity for learning (Learn).

The map and sections below define the individual criteria that form this holistic model.

A high-level mind map of the holistic evaluation criteria.

<aside> ⚠️ The guide below is a long-form walkthrough of the criteria. For an abbreviated version to use while evaluating, see the Criteria Cheat Sheet.

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Process

See

• Acquisition: The ability to find/”pick up” the puck, especially after losing sight via screen, behind the net play, after looking off, or after coming off the goaltender’s body.
  • Example: A flash screen occurs and the goalie acquires sight of the puck by looking around the player’s body.
  • Example: The puck hits the goalie in the shoulder and goes over the net. The goalie is able to find the puck again quickly and reposition themselves appropriately.
• Tracking: The ability to follow a puck throughout its motion and trajectory, whether moving from player to player, shot on the goalie, or off of a rebound.
  • Example: The goalie is able to track a shot all the way from the player’s stick into their chest, dropping their head to follow.
  • Example: The goalie is able to follow a point-to-point pass between defensemen.
• Focus: The ability to consistently and appropriately switch focus from a narrow view of the puck to a wide range of focus that includes threats and the broader play. Encompasses the goalie’s peripheral vision and ability to “look off” to see player positioning.
  • Example: A player walks in with the puck and delays the shot. The goalie is able to watch the player’s body language in addition to the puck in order to maintain patience for the release.
  • Example: The team is stuck in the defensive zone and the offensive team sets up. The goalie is able to quickly look off from the puck to assess the player in front, and then look back to the puck.

Understand

• Play Reading: The ability to read and anticipate plays, and understand how they develop.
  • Example: The goalie watches the opposing team begin their breakout and observes how their own team defensively sets up. They’re able to anticipate which side of the ice the rush will come from and can mentally prepare their planned course of action.
  • Example: The opposing team’s rush enters the zone and the goalie’s team sets up collapsing zone coverage. Therefore, the goalie expects the shooter to come down the boards and cut in below the dot, mentally preparing them for a post-play situation.
• Pattern Recognition: The ability to recognize patterns within the game, whether it’s a repeated play or the trajectory of a shot puck.
  • Example: Throughout the course of the game, the opposing team has positioned the center in front of the goalie for tips and backdoor jams. The goalie quickly recognizes this pattern and alters their game plan in response, making sure to get line of sight on the release and kick or absorb rebounds away from the threat in front.
  • Example: From watching the release of a specific defender’s slapshot, the goalie knows what to expect regarding its trajectory and can consistently stop the puck within their technique toolkit.