net orientation

Sometimes during a busy scrum whem I'm moving alot to follow the play, I loose where the net is. KISS OF DEATH. What is the genaral feeling with the members of this forum on how to get your bearings, especially while fixed on the puck and moving backwards?

I posted this message before I read the other threads on positioning. I wish to re-phrase my question. What is the FIRST and FASTEST way in a no-time-to-think situation to asure good positioning?

[Squealagig]

Read the thread called "Angles.. HELP!" It's from about a week back and pretty much went into this topic. I still find it extremly dificult to keep track of where the net is on ice with no markings. With I'm fine.

[Squealagig]

I wrote my first reply before your second post so I'm not sure if it still aplies. I would say the first and fastest way in a no-time-to-think situation to assure good positioning would be to already be in the right position? Maybe I don't understand you question.

[daemyn75]

Cam,

The way I do it is to place my glove or stick back and feel for the net. than you know where it is on both side and you can still look at the shooter.

Well, as being a fairly new goalie.. and having that problem all of the time, here is how I solved it.

I measured my stick from the butt end 36" down the shaft and made a mark on the paddle. I lay the stick butt end against the post and mark the ice where the mark on the stick is. This gives me center of net.

I then pay the stick out and with the butt end on the center mark, pointed it at each face off dot, and down at center ice.

I make a ">" mark at each position. I then draw a line that crosses the crease line on the angle. I have done this with a marker, and with a ice pick.

To check my angle and position, all I have to do is quickly glance down. The marks tell me my position, and the lines give me an angle to center reference.

Perhaps a bit involved.. but hey.. I am an engineer ;-)

[CKeelty]

That's pretty clever, Jester.

Cam, one thing I do whenever I'm deep is try to keep one foot (the near side relative to the puck) against my post. This serves two functions, one is to cover low near side, the other is so I know where the net is. If there are markings on your surface, use the crease, man! It's your best friend after your posts so learn it well!

Regardless of whether or not you have a crease, you should also be doing movement drills around your net as often as possible in practice. Move out in different directions, move back, look at where you are and what the markings (even scuffs on the floor or lines on the walls) look like relative to your positions. The blue line marks on the walls are very helpful, as are the faceoff dots.

Before a game, do some quick movement drills--do an M (the shape of an M, if the posts are at the bottom right and left) and then circle your crease, stopping at intervals and getting into appropriate position--one stop at your post, one stop at a sharp angle shot, one stop at a shot from the faceoff dot, another at a shot from the point. Finally, a stop at a shot from the slot, then continue until you reach your opposite post. Also, skate out of your crease and then back into it, allowing your shoulders to hit the crossbar and/or your hands to hit the top corners. Skate back so your body is in the net, and press the back of your neck up against the crossbar. Do a split, skates against your posts, and then raise yourself up so your skates stay put but your body rises to make a huge v-shaped 5-hole. Then bring your feet underneath you on the goal line. Also, during the game, smack your posts with the stick and your gloves, skate out and back in again (anticipating where you'll end up)and do the "cleaning your crease" motion with the stick, even if you don't play on ice.

All of those things, in various combinatins, work so that you learn where your net is behind you. It helps to try and anticipate where everything is--as you strike the posts with your stick, silently say "now, now" as you think the stick should make contact.

There's also off-ice drills that I'm not sure have any effect, but I do them to try and improve my coordination behind my own back. One is to clap your hands behind your back--this also requires flexibility, mind you. Another is to lift one foot behind you, and smack the sole of that foot with the opposite hand (left to right, right to left). This also helps improve your agility, or so I'm told.

Over time (actually it happens pretty quick) you develop an instictive knowledge of where your net is. It still helps to check your angles against markings on the surface, but when you need to hit the net without seeing it, you'll usually be only a fraction of an inch off.

[CKeelty]

Dear God, I'm long winded.

[Bigdog]

I try to ust the face off dots if possible. This is tuff to do somtimes if you are down with a lot of traffic in front. But if you can get an idea of where the two lower dots are you can use them to line yourself up.

Give it a try in practice if you square yourself to the left circle you will be in position next to the left post.

Dog

[daemyn75]

Jester do you have the calculitical formula for that? I got confused after the first paragraph. I'm an electronics tech do you have a schematic I can follow?

The Face off dots are your friends. Be nice to them, stare at them longely, notice their nice red color. But don't stare too long, every now and then. Notice the distance they are and how far they seem to be and how much you want to skate to them, but don't. Tease them, make them call you, but you already have business to tend to.

Moral Of stupid story I just told: Know the distance between you and your face off circles. (Will come with time and practice) So that whenever you leave the net, no matter what you can find your way home(in net).


I find myself, during games (someone said before) checking with my glove and touching the post. I thought this used to be superstition with goalies I watched on t.v. and stuff, but they are actually checking position.

-The Wall

[WERNER 1]

I have a tendency to do like Daemyn75, that is check my position with my glove or stick, mostly glove though. then just wait for the play to develope, and be aggressive on the shooter and the puck. Oh yea, hope you've got some good defense. When your way out movin side to side, good luck, I just use the force. It seams to work pretty well too!!!

[Squealagig]

I don't tap the posts or anything. I just use the lines esp. the faceoff circles. I always start form the top of the crease. My save% drops like .300 when I don't have any lines.

[Bernie]

The proper way is to use the markings on the ice- face off dots, hash marks, etc...

Beginners do often tend to make etches on the ice and stuff but the thing is, those etches don't last long and they may even tend to keep you too deep in the net because you'll feel uncomfortable if you telescope past your little etch marks and no longer have them. By using the rink markings you know that every rink you go to will be the same. It's well worth the effort.
Also, there is nothing wrong with an occassional glance over the shoulder or a tap on the post to verify your position. Obviously you'll have less need for this as you progress but again, it's better to use the painted ice markings and look over your shoulder than to dig etches into the ice using a protractor and compass.

Eventually, a true "sense" of your location will hopefully develop. In roller hockey this is almost essential because many dinky rinks don't even have markings at all!

Bernie

[WERNER 1]

About the time I take a quick glance over my sholder, some yahoo launchs one from the other end. As I turn back I catch a glance of the puck just as it goes by me( this actually happend!)
Your ablsolutly right about a "true sense" of position - hense - "the FORCE"