Chris Dyson

Chris Dyson has defied death many times. Despite incredible odds stacked against him, he has always followed his passion and done what he felt was right. He is a man with vision and perseverance.

He is passionate about hockey — specifically, goaltending. He believes enjoyment of the game for minor hockey-aged goalies is paramount, and that this can be achieved by developing better skills, which will inspire confidence through improved play.

Chris’ mission is to change the game of hockey from the grassroots up, by providing coaches with the tools and knowledge to properly help their goaltenders and keep the game fun for everyone.

For nearly 30 years, Chris has instructed students from over 18 countries, presenting Puckstoppers Goalie Schools in Europe, USA, and Canada. He has received accreditation for his professional coaching skills and personally instructed literally thousands of goaltenders, parents, and coaches.

As a Goalie Coach/Consultant, Chris has seen many disheartening situations, involving well-meaning coaches who lack knowledge and understanding of the very skills they are trying to teach to impressionable young goaltenders.

Far too often, he has been witness to goaltenders whose confidence and enthusiasm have been destroyed by “pseudo-goalie coaches.” The biggest disappointment is when goalies quit the game they love because of coaches’ actions and misdirection.

For many years, Chris and Puckstoppers (his goalie training company) have offered free seminars to minor hockey coaches in an effort to help educate and eliminate this situation.

Mr. Dyson is now on a personal mission to develop an awareness of proper goaltender training throughout minor hockey, with a goal of achieving 100% compliance for all coaches to learn and understand the Essential Core Goaltending Skills (ECGs).

• Founded Puckstoppers Goaltending Service & Schools in 1988 — now one of the longest-running goalie training services in the world
• Invited by the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation to conduct several schools and goalie clinics throughout Finland
• Consulted with many hockey organizations to develop clinics, schools, and coaches.
• Accredited by Coaches Training Institute & International Coaches Federation with MC/ACTP designation
• Conducted dozens of radio and television interviews and appearances to discuss goaltending and hockey
• Profiled in Canada-wide television feature on CBC
• Featured in over two dozen news stories on proper goalie coaching, in various mediums
• Authored several published articles and white papers on goaltending
• Invited to attend Wayne Gretzky’s inauguration into the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Appointed as Head Coach for many teams from minor hockey through Junior, with multiple Championships
• Elected to the Board of Directors for several hockey Associations and businesses
• Worked as Head Goalie Equipment Buyer and Advisor for the largest sports buying group in Canada
• Created the largest goalie-specific ue in the world
• Consulted regularly with major manufacturers to design and engineer new lines of goaltending equipment
• Hired as game analyst, goaltending consultant, and colour commentator for live radio broadcasts
• Served as Mentor and Consultant to several businesses
• Survived major heart surgeries and an unprecedented number of cardiac arrests in early childhood
• Happily married for nearly 30 years with 3 great children

Coaching is a noble and often thankless job, but one caring people assume because they want to make a difference. No coach wants to be responsible for a young goaltender leaving the game — yet it happens all too often!

This book is filled with the knowledge, insight, and support you need to effectively and efficiently work the Essential Core Goaltending Skills that all goalies require, want, and yearn for their coaches to help them develop.

In Target Practice, Chris Dyson shares his 30+ years of goaltender coaching experience in order to provide simple, easy-to-understand, progressive development techniques, as well as common mistakes and an understanding of what coaches must learn and be aware of when developing goaltenders.

Learn How To…

• Approach, in an effective and knowledgeable way, the task of coaching goaltenders.
• Understand how progressive goalie coaching is a necessity for success.
• Internalize the 8 Essential Core Goaltending Skills every coach must know in order to effectively work with his
  or her goalie (or even discuss technical aspects of the position).
• Discover key elements affecting the goaltender’s level of play that are not even taught by many true goalie coaches.
• Determine why bringing in “pseudo-goalie coaches” is one of the biggest mistakes coaches and parents make.
• Connect with your goaltenders and understand what their frustrations are and how to help them cope.
• Ascertain exactly what the most common mistakes are and the true “root causes” that are missed almost universally by untrained coaches.
• Identify the number one complaint of many goalie parents and how you can deal with it immediately.
• Comprehend the basic truth that goaltenders truly desire productive on-ice sessions and direct interactions with their coaches.
• Recognize the number one, most important skills a goaltender must focus on and develop in order to improve; most coaches miss them entirely
• Gain helpful strategies that actually make working with your goaltenders fun.
• Realize that when your goaltender is receiving proper training and attention, your whole team (as well as the parents of team members) will be more efficient and cohesive.
• Confirm, finally, that you, as a coach, have an incredible amount of influence over the level of enjoyment or suffering your goaltenders will experience — based solely on your commitment to and knowledge of the material in this book.

In These Pages You Will Uncover…

This book will help you to understand how to properly teach and work with goaltenders of any age, knowing you will have been a positive influence in their lives and enhanced their enjoyment of the game.

• You can positively influence your goaltenders through proper training, but the biggest reward will be in knowing you will have made a difference in their enjoyment of the game — and thus enriched their lives.
• Progressive training and a basic understanding of the Essential Core Goaltending Skills are absolutely necessary to achieve the desired result.
• The game is certainly not all about winning, but it is definitely more fun when you win more. No one understands this more than a goaltender. Proper goalie training, then, can only result in better goaltenders and happier teams.
• As a coach, you have the power to help players attain goals and establish lifelong patterns of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Your actions and words will have an equally powerful — but negative — impact when you speak without the required knowledge contained within this book.
• The methods and information provided within Target Practice are applicable to goaltenders of all ages and skill levels.

"A lot of coaches aren't that eager to work with the goalie at all, and if their goalie is decent, they REALLY aren’t eager. Of course when it starts to go South they immediately start looking for help. They should be working to refine the goalies craft throughout the season."

- John Garrett, Former NHL Goaltender, Professional Commentator with Hockey Night In Canada

"Providing coaches with the skills to properly work with their goaltenders is awesome and perfect. I cannot imagine a single coach not jumping at the chance to take advantage of such an opportunity, especially at the grass roots level."

- Larry Feist, Publisher, Hockey Now Magazine

"I have never before seen information for coaches that is so useful, easily digestible, quick to read and easy to implement. Hockey coaches and parents everywhere will be thrilled with the content of this book!"

- Colin Hopper, President Source For Sports London, Former President Sports Distributors Canada

"If the advice contained in Chris‘ book is made mandatory learning for minor hockey coaches, it will positively change the face of goaltending in North America. Finnish goaltending development programs are nearly 20 years ahead of those in Canada and the US because our coaches are required to learn this before taking a team."

- Joni Hallikainen, Former Pro Goaltender, Professional Goaltending Consultant, Professional Mask Builder & Artist