Let's Discuss Rebound Control.......

[profly_coach]

How many times have any of us been in the stands and heard the goaltending "experts" (non-goalie parents) that we're sitting with say that the goalie should have controlled the rebound from a one-timed shot taken from 3 feet away? As for me I guess it's been more times than I care to remember.

So, what's the rule of thumb for when to not worry about the one that got away?

My thinking is that anything shot from 3 feet inside the hash marks that hits the pads could end up being uncontrollable and that the priority in this scenario is making the save first and formost. As the shooter gets closer the probability of controlling shots at the gloves gets smaller. As the shooter moves closer yet, shots hitting the torso may not be controllable via a gut trap (as in my opening example).

In watching Montoya last night playing against the Russians there were shots taken from the face-off dots that he wasn't able to steer into the corners so this zone maybe moves out with the level of play.

What do you think?

[CoachJester]

My opinion is that the mentality of allowing rebounds in certain situations is a ticket to the beer leagues.

This leaves the question; is it always possible to control every rebound perfectly? The answer is, probably not. BUT, the attempt should always be made.

Proper position, stick involvement and a driving hunger to control all rebounds will give a goalie a better chance of handling these difficult shots. Simply saying the first save is good enough is excusing a potential failure.

Now, do we expect 6 year olds to have this level of skill and committment? Of course not. I wouldn't even expect it of any kid under 13. Older than that I would expect to see the attempt... Even if he tried and blew it, its good enough for me... if the goalie keeps this up, they'll get it eventually.

Midget kids, should be controlling most rebounds simply with good position, save selection and stick involvement. The goofy quirky shots are saveable, but excusable if an attempt was made.

[oldgoalie]

Practicing with the boys last nite, I butterflied to steer a low shoot in to the corner, however, it was fluttering and came off my pad right onto attackers stick. Held position and took the rebound off the mask.

I find the worse rebounds are those that come off the cheater of my glove, tend to pop out in front and about 4-5 feet away. I have always had a weak glove opting to block most shots, but have been working the active hands scenario from Jukka's site and finding my catching has improved. I also find I need to force my self to watch the puck into my glove or off the blocker, tend to react without following the puck all the way in.

[frankydee]

Originally Posted by CoachJester

This leaves the question; is it always possible to control every rebound perfectly? The answer is, probably not. BUT, the attempt should always be made.

Bingo. I teach my kids: "Dans le corps, dans le coin ou devant" : "in your body, in the corner or in front". Swallow the puck or clear to the corner, if you can't, move in front of it. On every shot regardless of a 3' or 30' shot.

[CoachJester]

Originally Posted by CoachJester

This leaves the question; is it always possible to control every rebound perfectly? The answer is, probably not. BUT, the attempt should always be made.

Often I see goalies, even on close quick shots, make a text book perfect save, have the puck's energy robbed by the pad/stick so it stops about 12" away.... yet they just sit in their butterfly and watch it, until the opponent picks it up

THEN we see the panic move to make the second save. Goalies should be positioned and have good stick involvement so that rebounds can be controlled away from them, but always ready to pounce on the ones that dribble off pads within reach.

[Clyde]

I have heard of this "rebound control" stuff. Never seen it though.

[profly_coach]

Originally Posted by frankydee

Bingo. I teach my kids: "Dans le corps, dans le coin ou devant" : "in your body, in the corner or in front". Swallow the puck or clear to the corner, if you can't, move in front of it. On every shot regardless of a 3' or 30' shot.

Perfection is the goal. That is understood. We also must consider what's humanly possible, too.
Since no goalie dead, alive or not yet born has yet to play the perfect game, we need a reasonable standard. What should that standard be? Remember, we're talking about mentoring people with much less playing and life experience here.

[Looper]

In my experience, a close shot is quite easily controlable if you trust your stick.
Usually I just grab the rebound with my stick and pull it into the face of my pad.

[jf-laflaire]

Best I've seen play live at this was Roy.

Made saves look simple but all rebounds were controlled properly. Close in shots were hit-me and stick (like fly paper) saves.

Shots at the pads either kicked them up to his stick or to the corners. Used his stick well for help (unlike other Q-fly goalies). Great hands and shot control. Not even that quick, I never thought he was special in that regard but everything looked so easy.

Let me do a little review...guys please help me add to this rebound control techniques list...

Stand-up techniques;

(i) Stick on pucks along ice
(ii) Old skewl skate kicks stick on low shots, if you've seen "Hot Goaltending" you'll know what I mean about reverse kick saves
(iii) Classic kick save
(iv) Slightly curving pads to cushion shot
(v) "V" technique with skates
(vi) Avoid the knee rolls
(vii) Trapper pins puck against blocker
(viii) Stick/paddle swat/redirect
(ix) Craddle a puck at chest area with glove

B-fly techniques;

(i) Bread basket arms on chest shots
(ii) Stick redirect on low/along ice shots
(iii) Proper leg recovery for rebound re-direction
(iv) Hasek drop stick and pick up puck

Feel free to add guys we all could work on this...

[xgoaliex]

The issue with these shots in-tight is this; what is conisdered rebound control? Is it only rebound control to steer the puck into the corner or hold onto it? or can it be considered rebound control to direct the puck back into the shot lane in which case a player only has the option of shooting it right into your chest, (a shot that should be controlled easily).

If you are looking for a one timer from 3 feet out to be put in the corner, then you have some lofty standards, as this can be done sometimes, but other times can not be done due to puck position, a late drop, where the puck hits your pads, etc. In these cases where you cannot steer it to the corner, the best option is to put it right back where it came from. If you do this properly, then there is no need to adjust depth or angle, and are in perfect position to make the next save, in which case I would count that as good rebound control as you set yourself up to make the next save.

[sloth2946]

Think of rebound control as a sliding scale. While the goal is to control every single rebound, the reality is that the higher percentage the scoring chance, the less of a priority the control of the rebound becomes and vice versa.

As goalie coaches we need to be objective on which shots are controllable and not so as not to hammer in the perfection concept into people and make them think that they will never satisfy the goalie coach because the goalie coach is looking for perfection.

A little perspective goes a long way.

[CreekyKnees]

How do you guys use your defensemen to help with rebound control on close shots?. They have to be just as hungry for the rebound as the winger or tie up their guy to buy time for the tender. Where do they fit into the picture?

[spidergoalie]

@ G-man

[CoachJester]

Originally Posted by sloth2946

As goalie coaches we need to be objective on which shots are controllable and not so as not to hammer in the perfection concept into people and make them think that they will never satisfy the goalie coach because the goalie coach is looking for perfection.

A little perspective goes a long way.

I would agree with this completely and totally. I often see head coaches screaming at goalies about controlling rebounds regardless of the situation at hand. A goalie coach needs to avoid getting dragged into this mentality him/herself.

It is our job to guide, and at times push goalies a bit, but we must never lose our grip on reality, and what is possible for a specific goalie given their skill, athletic ability, personality and experience.

SO what is reality and perspective. For me, it is as sloth mentioned, a sliding scale. I have to evaluate where a goalie is with rebound control when I begin working with him/her, where I think they need to be at the end of the season, and how various ups and downs during the season will effect the path to the goal that I set for them. Occasionally some adjustments or tuning of the "path" is required along the way.

... and try not to let head coaches be too annoying

[frankydee]

Originally Posted by profly_coach

Perfection is the goal. That is understood. We also must consider what's humanly possible, too. Since no goalie dead, alive or not yet born has yet to play the perfect game, we need a reasonable standard. What should that standard be? Remember, we're talking about mentoring people with much less playing and life experience here.

What's wrong with teaching to redirect pucks to the corner or keep it your body and if you can't do both, move in front of the rebound ? I think that's reasonable, and I won't ever call it a standard since goalies are different from another, the game keeps evolving and rebounds can be useful in some circumstances.

I won't ever teach a kid to disregard rebound control and concentrate solely on the save on some particular shot or play. Goal #1 is to make the save, goal # 2 how you make the save.

When I say "kid", of course I'm talking about young goalies who are ready to be taught these concepts.