getting beat 5 hole

[Aaron]

Well, I certainly learned a valuable lesson in my house leage tonight. NEVER work 12 hrs on the assembly line, then play goal. I got beat twice 5 hole, and I'm wondering what the hell to do! I got down in plenty of time, but what i think is happening is that i'm "lifting" my feet up. So then there's a gap between me and the floor, just before i fall down. Also, I think (in fact i KNOW)I'm lifting my stick. I think I need to "pull" my feet together first, then fall down. I'm not really sure.

Pull your feet together?? No way! If you take the time to pull your feet together AND THEN drop, the puck's gonna be in the net! Ever hear of the "butterfly?" Drop so your knees are together and your feet point out forming a V, stick down and in front, gloves up...

[glovesave1]

I find if I,m lifting my stick off the ice when I butterfly,It,s because I dont have it far enough in front of me.And that usually means Im also bending at the back instead of the knees.The lower you set up the easier it is to snap your knees to the ice and to spring back up.

you should definatley take a look at your stick when you are skating backwards and shuffling aroud even though you should be stationary when a shot is taken. maybe you aren't putting enough pressure on your stick more downward pressure on the stick might eliminate any stick movements

[Aaron]

I think I may be holding my stick too close to my body. When I go down, I think I'm dropping my blocker, causing the shaft to hit my leg. Consequently, the blade comes up off the floor. Plus I think I must be leaning too far back for this to happen also.

Although when I follow the puck around the crease, I ALWAYS have the stick on the floor, because I put some pressure on it, just to make sure. I think some practice on the butterfly is in order for this..

[Bernie]

You hit it right on the money Aaron. I wouldn't worry too much about it to be honest. 5 hole is the toughest save for a goaltender and this is *especially* true for roller hockey goaltenders.

For some reason a few years ago I had a really tough time the whole season with keeping my stick on the ground and my team started calling me "Johnny 5-hole". But I know the feeling when you get beat because your stick's not on the ground- you feel like kicking your own ass as you mumble "Again? Why aren't I learning this yet?"

Even my local rink idol, Matt Heines, who I've told you about before said to me after he played in his first pro roller hockey season:

"Forget about the 5 hole. At a point, anyone who wants to beat you 5 hole can do it about 75% of the time. I've played hockey my whole life and when I finally made pro- I probably got beat on 5-hole 3 or 4 times a game and I felt like I should go back to beginner league. But since every other goalie was the same way, I learned that there is only so much you can do to keep the stick on the ground at the right times. The problem is actually that everyone thinks 5-hole is a bad goal."

Hell, I know it doesn't help you much buddy, but at least you'll feel better! Matt also recommends putting pressure on the stick to remind yourself just like you said, Aaron.

Just on a side note, Matt told me of a particularly bad game he had where after about six 5-hole goals finally some fat guy with a beer and bratwurst in the stands heckles out: "Why don't you have the F^%(ing back-up goalie lay down in front of you to stop those!!"

Bernie

The good news about getting beaten 5 hole is that it shows you are maintaining good body position with respect to the shooter. The bad news is ... the puck is in the net. Generally it happens most to me on break aways, I tend to exaggerate my stance somewhat to try and be a little quicker to the corners on a deke. I want to defend those plays with either a full or half butterfly ... sometimes a heads up player will recognise this and fire the quick snap shot rather than deke, it is difficult to get down in time and fully close the 5 hole in those circumstances. I just chalk it up to a good shooter. I do, however, try and keep my stick well forward from my pads/skates and try and make an effort to keep the blade on the ice as I execute the drop. I hope this helps. Hey Arron, at hour eleven on the assembly line, what were you working on ... it might be something subject to recall in a year or so ...

[This message has been edited by geezergoaler (edited August 27, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by geezergoaler (edited August 27, 1999).]

[Aaron]

I watched myself on video-tape today of a game a few weeks ago. I ususally use a 1/2 butterfly, mainly because I can't spread my pads out very far yet. I noticed that when I went down, I was lifting my stick up and sweeping it away from myself before the puck got there on my descent.

I'm wondering if when i'm standing upright, would it be best to just snap my pads together instead of going down into a butterfly?

heheh Geezer, nothing too important Just an insulator mat and the weather-strip around the door seal.

[Bernie]

Hey Aaron- my vote is to learn to butterfly properly. If you just stand up and snap the pads together (This should be done by only moving one leg- not "jumping jacks" style) you are prone to getting beat to the side. If you butterfly properly, you take away the 5-hole AND the shots to the side of you. You should not be sacrificing 5 hole coverage by doing the butterfly. Just the opposite in fact!

I bet the video tape helped you a lot. You found your mistake. Now all you have to do is just not do that anymore! Simple right?

Bernie

[Aaron]

Bernie, I watched closely that tape of my game. I was shaking my head at myself..I don't think I'll waste any postage on sending it to you. I didn't let in alot of goals, but my positioning could certainly use some work. I watched it as if it was someone else in net, boy does that make you criticize Maybe after I get some practice in, and have a decent game on tape, I'll send it to ya

[Bernie]

Aaron...

Regarding only showing only a tape of your good games, it reminds me of a story.

I was once told by a teacher to recognize that when I was in school, any test or assignment I got an "A" on, I placed it nice and neat into my folder so it stood out proud as can be and I saved them the whole school year. But any test I got less than an "A" on promptly went to the trash or maybe got tucked way in the back of the folder out of sight.

The teacher said it should be the other way around.

Bernie

[Aaron]

yadda yadda yadda!! I know your point Bernie, and I thought about that too. Why show just the good stuff? I'll send it to you anyways.

By the way, today in our Sunday hockey, I was tested 5 hole about 6 times and stopped all but 1 which was a screen. I was snapping my knees together quickly today. Although I was still lifting that darn stick, I kept it down on 1 of them.

[Bryan]

I taped a game of mine a couple of weeks ago. I was shocked to see how often my stick was out of position. I never would have guessed that I lifted it that much!

[Bernie]

Ditto here too. I think we seldom realize how often that stick comes up. In the last couple of years I have made a significant improvment in this by focusing more on the problem. Often I now surprise myself that my stick was flat on the ground and saved a goal when I least expected it. Two years ago I would have been like "Damn, how long was my stick off the ground like that?"
Another good indication is when the stick stops a 5-hole shot before you even finish your butterfly. Many times on getting beat 5-hole you feel like you just didn't get down soon enough when in truth it didn't matter at all because you picked your stick off the ground while you moved.

I think one of the best defenses for 5-hole is to lower your stance. The closer your knees are to the ground the better. But bend those knees- not your back!!!

Bernie

Lower your stance to me equals lower your bum.

Ken Dryden once said that when he was having troubles it was usually because his stance was riding high. Granted, different goaltending style, but bum low always solves my five hole problems.

Also, a little give and take is great. Give a couple bait and switch types early and guys start thinking. Open the five big and wide, then snap it shut. It's beautiful.