What Is GDI Mentorship?
GDI Mentorship is a mental training program that is tailored to you or your goalies needs. Many mental training programs and books in the past have been developed in a cookie cutter nature assuming that what worked for one goalie would work for all goalies. Instead, each student who completes a GDI Mentorship session completes a short mental inventory test to see where they lie on twelve traits that have been found to exist in elite goaltenders. After completing the test and a short interview with the goaltender, a mental training program is designed that is tailored to match the needs of your goaltender. This type of service often costs over a hundred dollars a session but not at GDI. GDI Mentorship can also help you with determining where the future lies for your goaltender.
What Can GDI Mentorship Help My Goaltender With?
GDI Mentorship is tailored to your goaltenders need so the answer to this question is endless. Most notably GDI Mentorship can help your goaltender in areas such as improving self confidence, improving focus, create a positive tryout mentality, increase consistency, increase emotional control, avoid burnout, improved performance, improving recovery and identifying stressors that are impeding recovery.
Why Do Goalies Resist Mental Training?
Even though the evidence is as clear as the difference between black and white goaltenders everywhere resist mental training but how come? For some the answer lies in the fact that as a goaltender they are scared to reach their full potential. This may sound crazy but many goalies simply do not want to replace that crutch or excuse that they have had when they play a bad game. It’s true how many goaltenders have had a bad game and immediately say “I wasn’t focused today” or “I just didn’t feel ready to play.” The truth is elite goaltenders know that it is expected of them to be focused and ready to play everyday and that same excuse that is heard over and over at the rinks is just not good enough if you want to remain an elite goalie.
A second reason that goalies resist mental training is because they are either scared of what will come up during a mental training session or don’t want to put in the time or effort to work on the mental side of their game. Instead it becomes easier for the goaltender to say “I’m mentally tough already.” The truth is GDI Mentorship ensures to create an environment that is safe and confidential, only discussing areas where the goaltender feels comfortable discussing at that time. Mental training is not that old age image of the psychologist sitting in a chair while his client lies in the bed putting blame on the past. Mental training is about making yourself a better goaltender today. Considering the limited effort and time that it takes the results speak for themselves. Any goaltender who is serious about making it to the In today’s game almost every goaltender is now completing lessons on a regular basis to ensure that technically they are sound. The problem lies in the fact that every goaltender is working on the same part of their game and difference in skill level is becoming smaller and smaller. To gain that edge goalies now need to look at other opportunities that are available like GDI Mentorship. Elite goalies today and in the future will need to take the time and effort and improve their mental game or they will never make it to the next level. It’s that simple.
Which Coach Teaches The GDI Mentorship Program?
Currently GDI’s Mentorship Program is taught by Shaun Smith because of his vast knowledge in this area of the game. Shaun Smith has both the experience of playing the position and has combined this with a university degree to ensure accuracy and results. To ensure consistent successful results GDI has given the responsibilities to Shaun Smith. In fact, the current program being used at GDI was designed and tested for many years by Smith. Smith’s wealth of knowledge is utilized by GDI, which combined with his passion and desire to help others be the best at their sport has created a program that gets results. Finally, Shaun's love of working with children is highlighted by the fact that he can provide an experience that is both informative and fun.
At What Age Or Skill Level Should A Goaltender Start A GDI Mentorship Program?
GDI’s Mentorship Program can work for all goaltenders and is not dependent on the age or the skill level of the goaltender. GDI has worked with goalies as young as eight and at all levels of hockey. As long as the goaltender is ready to become a better goaltender they will experience results. In the past GDI goaltenders have gone from back up to MVP of the playoffs within a season as well as made the jump to quadrant hockey with ease. The fact is anyone can benefit from GDI’s Mentorship program.
What Happens During A Typical GDI Mentorship Session?
Once the opening session is complete the goaltender and our GDI Mentor will work on whatever areas need improvement. All sessions involve an engaging conversation about how the goaltender is feeling and the biggest key is that any GDI Mentorship session is flexible if there is something the goaltender wants to deal with first. Together, we come up with how to fix whatever is bothering the goaltender and develop interventions to help the goaltender reach the next level.
How Often Should I Have GDI Mentorship Sessions?
The answer for this question is not as simple as once a week or once a month. When a goaltender is entering a GDI Mentorship program it is recommended that they have a session around once a week at the start to learn the new skills that will help them become a better goaltender. Once they have completed this program most goaltenders will then settle into more of a maintenance program of once a month or longer depending on how things are going or if new areas need improvement. Other goaltenders will create a maintenance program that is tailored around big games, tryouts or tournaments to ensure that they are prepared for these events after completing the initial program.
Benefits of Mentorship Training with GDI Include:
? Increased Motivation
? More Consistent Play
? Increased Energy
? Improved Self-Confidence
? Improved Focus
? Increased Emotion Control
? Increased Satisfaction With Sport
? Elimination of Stress
? Improved Recovery From Injury
? Decreased Amount of Time it Takes To Learn A New Skill
? Improved Performance
? Enhanced Quality of Practice
? Improved Leadership Skills
? Avoid Burnout
? Improved Self-Awareness
? Increased Responsibility
? Increased Enjoyment
? Improve Team Cohesion
