[harri1]

When working with young or even beginner goalies there is one common mistake that is made with regards to being square to the puck.

Again, we must remember that being square indicates that the gloves, stick shoulders, belly button and usually the front of the pads (depending on whether the goalie is shuffling or uses the modified t-push) are facing the puck as it moves around the offensive zone. Goalie equipment protects mostly in the front which is an important reason to stay square to the puck when moving.

Problem: Gliding to the posts

The common mistake with squareness to the puck usually occurs when the puck is being driven wide and low into the zone. Often we see goalies that will glide backwards towards the post in a half-square type of setup and will then try to square up once on the post. In these situations the goalie has not used a shuffle to track the puck and stay square but often use a glide that opens a large hole through the legs, does not cover short side and leaves the goalie with a harder time reacting to pucks moved high into the zone. This problem is made much worse if a goalie is too agressive with initial depth and must use an excessive fade just to track the puck into the zone; a common occurence with goalies playing at a higher level for the first time.

Solution

It is important to note that a the puck being driven wide and low into the zone must be tracked using shuffles in order to maintain squareness. Only, once the player moves behind the goalline can the goalie reposition the back leg with the heal on the goalline in order to play a behind the net play properly.

Goalies if you are having trouble with the shortside or plays that develop off the rush, wide and low in the zone, then you may be gliding rather than shuffling. Staying square to the puck increases your alertness and makes it easier to react to any situation being thrown at you.

More to come...