„Goaltenders are one of the most important parts of a team and are often the main drivers of success. That is why we have prepared a carefully developed program with experienced goalie coaches, both on and off the ice. As a bonus, at the very end their program will be connected with our best shooters, making the goalie training even more effective. We are building on a history in which truly exceptional goalie coaches led HTA programs. Goalie training has a firm place in the HTA program and opens completely new possibilities in goaltender development.“
The training program, prepared directly by Jaromír Pytlík, is designed for young hockey players who want to improve their skills under the guidance of top skill coaches, recruited mainly from professional players or the HTA Coaching Academy. An automatic system assigns players to courses precisely by age and then to small groups within each course. Thanks to the training organization and group rotation, six coaches—specialists—work with the players during a single training session. Two head coaches lead the session and supervise the entire training process. This ensures excellent feedback and correction of mistakes for every player. In addition, players complete specific OFF-ICE training as part of the camp, with content tailored to the focus of the program. Regeneration is also crucial in such a demanding schedule, and it starts with quality nutrition. That is why HTA sports nutrition and hydration are available during the training programs under the supervision of a leading nutrition specialist. This makes the HTA training process highly effective.
„Historically, the HTA goalie program has been led by successful goaltending coaches. Now we want to build on that and go even further: work systematically with goalies through specialized programs led by the best professional goalie coaches, with experience reaching all the way to the NHL.“
HTA training focuses on individual skills. It is not a week-long camp; due to the high intensity and demands, it runs for three days. The program is comprehensive and includes skill instruction, games on small and full-size ice, and specific OFF-ICE preparation.
Preliminary and indicative group division:
In the interview, Jaromír Pytlík shares his approach to developing young players, focusing on detail and finding his own paths in training. He explains why it is important to build the right habits from an early age, test new methods over the long term, and base player development on quality, patience, and a genuine understanding of hockey skills.
At the same time, he shows the principle HTA has followed for years – not doing things simply because they have always been done that way, but looking for methods that genuinely move players forward.
