How do I motivate a 12 year old Ice Hockey Goalie to be his Best?

take the pads off and smack a few good ones towards the goal and if that does not work you could try positive encouragment and
Patience. My daughter lacks self confidence and I don’t understand why, she hails from a very awesome and understanding family. Children sometimes tend to overthink things and over complicate.

I am trying the positive reinforcement and hope that works. Patience is great and I coach that way in general and am a patient father as well. My “rock and hard place” here is that we have a tournament coming up and he really needs to find his strength before that or he may lose it for good. A three day losing streak will likely defeat any sense of hope he has left. I’ll keep trying the positive encouragement and hope he finds his center.

have him watch the movie “Miracle” great movie, I am not even a fan of hockey and that movie always gets me.

It may be tough having his father as the coach too.
No matter how good he is, if he isn’t having fun or feels like you are his coach more than his father, then he may have issues.

I would get out on the ice with him and just have fun, or do something completely removed from hockey and help him to find a way to be happy again. Confidence in his abilities will come naturally if he is enjoying himself.

If you are just focused no the coming game and how he needs to avoid a three game losing streak, then he may just tune you out and not care about hockey because he is losing his dad.

Yell at him in public, ask him if it’s time for a diaper change when he’s doing drugs with his Hetero friends. Also arrange for him to put a pig to sleep… With nothing more than his bare hands and your disapproving glares.

Children love candy you know.

Tell him you think he’s great. But also tell him that no matter what he decides (whether or not he even wants to play), you love and support him.

Thanks for the positive feedback/input folks. I have spoken with my son directly about this and he feels like I am doing a good job supporting him. He feels loved and supported. He had a much better day on the ice yesterday. First we played on the ice for about 1 hour just for fun, just the two of us. Then he had practice later that day and did a great job. Thanks again for the help.

Great to hear! Now it seems like all he needs is that last little nudge in the right direction. I recommend emotionless, wordless, brutal abuse. Be sure to wear the mask of indifference during this (at minimum) 15 minute lesson.

Or Pizza Hut. Dear God Pizza Hut was a powerful motivator for me when I was younger… well, it still is in fact.

Lol – yeah, pizza hut was pretty great back in the day.
Good luck with the game.