Let's Talk About Flinching: Over-ride Theory

This video is part of an article titled "Let's Talk About Flinching". This over-ride concept discusses the interaction of several internal and environmental factors involved with goaltenders flinching on shots.
Link to article: www.coretexgoaltending.com/app...
Thumbnail photo credit: stevewiensphoto.files.wordpre...

[@slow2K2GT]

I've also found that new gear can be frightening because there is no established level of confidence in it until there are a few good sessions in it.
Good video that helps identify a lot of variables.

[@addisonphillips2438]

This helped a lot. Thank you.

[@GreatFreedom]

this dont work at nhl level no more thanks to their chest protecctor reducing.. so this theory doesnt work

[@CoretexGoaltending]

While I would disagree with the black-and-white statement of "this theory doesn't work" (research doesn't work that way, new evidence is gathered and considered that either supports or does not support a theory), the reduced padding on NHL chest protectors is definitely a new variable to consider. It would be interesting watching some slow frame-by-frame footage of goaltenders reacting to shots in practice now vs. in last years chest protectors. Likewise, goaltenders will accommodate for the reduced chest protector padding by using things like mask danglers, padded undershirts, thicker neck guards (like Maltese), etc... so the noticeable differences may not be as obvious.

[@CoretexGoaltending]

@@GreatFreedom What exactly about the theory would they (and you) disagree with? I'm asking not to try and come out of this discussion on top but to identify an area of the theory to re-evaluate if necessary.
The first sentence in the Sportsnet article is "James Reimer keeps flinching and he doesn’t like it."
A guy that has never typically flinched in his life now noticing himself flinching in a practice environment due to an elevated concern for his personal safety.
"Some goalies eased their concerns by adding some more padding or switching to another chest protector, while others are still dealing with the change."
"...Sergei Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets last week told the Columbus Dispatch he fears getting hit by pucks and called the equipment change “terrible.”"
This is something I have applied to minor hockey goalies when they start pulling up or flinching on practice shots, to simply suggest they place more value on the shot (E.g. imagine the shots are coming from a rival team in a big game) has consistently worked to bump up their compete to stop a puck, thus over-riding their fear of getting hurt.

[@GreatFreedom]

@@CoretexGoaltending all their stories are stating that in their time in the nhl they havent once flinched but with the reduction in gear n less padding they have started flinching in response to constant injuries recieved from 80mph shots on average hitting them.. these are guys being paid millions only flinching and having issues cause of lack of protection, and these guys practice 6days a week get trained to not flinch and have best medical coverage around yet they are all saying roughly the same "ever since the changes ive flinched more then ever" no goalie will never not flinch at all if they have to worry about their own personal safety

[@CoretexGoaltending]

@@GreatFreedom In the video I'm careful to word the categories as "high likelihood of flinching" and "low likelihood of flinching", not eliminating a flinch completely as it's a built-in nervous system adaptation to protect vital organs in a threatening situation. The written article speaks to two different types of flinches, a conditioned (learned) flinch and an unconditioned (unlearned, natural, innate) flinch. With more injuries on what were once routine shots, goalies slowly become more conditioned to flinching as the perceived potential for physical harm is now elevated. What is happening here in relation to the theory presented in the video in the perceived potential for physical harm is increased relative to the situational consequence, increasing the likelihood of a goaltender flinching on a given shot.
The written article covers these points more in depth, I think we're actually on the same page here.