Getting beat over the shoulder

[Aaron]

I've been getting beat over my shoulder lately from in close.(glove side, I'm a righy) When a skater is going about 6-8 ft in front of me across the slot almost always going to my left. I butterfly and get beat alot of the time. Unfortunatley, i'm not reading some cues very well from the shooter to tell if he's going high. I don't like to look at the shooter's eyes, I always watch the puck. Do you guys/gals check out his eyes? Or do you check his shoulders and stick blade? It's kinda hard for me to follow the shoulders, but the stick angle isn't as bad.I don't like to take my eyes off the puck to check out the shooter's stance etc. I think I worry so much about the low shot, I am reluctant to stay up, where I'd probably make the save much more often.

[jay]

Here are two suggestions, Aaron.

I find when I am getting beaten high glove side, it is usually because I am dropping my trapper too low and giving the shooter a large area to look at over my glove. This is especially true when dropping to the butterfly, as your glove will drop too. Try keeping that glove up higher.

The other thing that might help in this situation is to move out at the shooter as you are dropping, thus reducing the angle the shooter has, especially up high. If you know he is going to shoot, attack!

Good luck!

[TartanBill]

I partly agree with Jay, and partly dissagree.

First the disagreement. The coaching advice I have found recommends keeping the body *UPRIGHT* and the gloves *LOW* when dropping to the butterfly!

Think about the geometry. If you are at the top of the crease and shooter is 6ft in front of you, the puck must be < 24" off the ice when it goes over your shoulder or pad! Ergo, the gloves MUST be low. If your body is upright, there is virtually no chance of getting the puck over your shoulder.

The point of agreement is that you need to get out in front of the net. Keep your gloves in front of you as well! I am amazed at how often he will shoot it right into the catcher.

Second, this is not the time to look at the shooter's eyes, you must watch the puck and stick for the indicators that the shot is coming.

As a butterfly goalie, you want the shooter to go low. If he is going high, then you may be dropping to soon. I catch myself doing this on my off nights.

It helps to learn the shooters tendencies.

[jay]

OUCH!!

I guess stand-up goalies shouldn't give advice to butterflies.

[This message has been edited by jay (edited August 23, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by jay (edited August 23, 1999).]

[glovesave1]

The way I learned the butterfly was to keep your gloves at the same hights as when standing.For example,stand in a mirrior in your stance.(gloves about knee hights and out in front of you slightly)then when you drop,watch your hands,they shoudnt move.If you keep them the same hight off the ice your getting good coverage down low with your pads and your glove is ready to snap up high.And as importent your stick is sill square between your legs.This seems to work well for me

[Bernie]

I know you have proven yourself as the undefeated physics master, Tartan, but I have to agree with glovesave on this one. I feel the gloves shouldn't move from their starting positions when going down into, or recovering from the butterfly. In fact, I train my junior goalies by having them do "up-downs" without their sticks and making sure they don't move their gloves from the ready positions. I hope I'm not wrong on this!

Bernie

[TartanBill]

I am suggesting *keeping* the hands low as opposed to than lowering them or raising them prematurely.

The barrel of the stick is what, 20 inches high, with the palm more or less centered. And the Blocker is about 16 inches?

In my couch, my catcher hand is about knee level, but the tip of the glove is actually somewhat below my knee.

The pads are about 12 inches wide.

Bottom line, your gloves will start out (and finish) more or less about about 4 inches above the top of the pads. ( I measured with my stick and blocker hand just to test this out) That's what I mean by low.

So no disagreement.

I have more trouble with shots high to the stick side. My arm and shoulder seem to be more effective than my blocker.

[Kuzma]

I have a different situation stick side. Mostly that on most occasions a shot will hit the paddle or shaft of my stick no matter how hard I try to get it to hit my blocker. On the rare occasion I do get it to hit my blocker I can usually control it, but I can't get much practice.

[daemyn75]

Kuzma,

Hand and eye coordination is the key I had the problem too, Get one of the better shooters on the team to plow you with shots to the blocker side and practice with out your stick. Follow the puck all the way in and watch it hit the blocker. You will be amazed by the improvement.