Centre of Net and Angles

[Stephthegoalie]

Hey there,

Lots of great info on this board and what I am going to ask is probably something that you learn in minor hockey but here goes:

How do you keep yourself centred in the net without looking around? Is it as simple as looking down the ice and lining up with the net at the other end?

Also any tips on angles? I seem to have more trouble on left side. I am to far to the left and the shot goes pass me on the right.

I have been playing for about 8 years but started as an adult and have never had any formal instruction, just a patient D-man for a husband who tried to help as much as he can. Seems that there are a lot of experienced goalies around these parts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers!

[GT4Dreams]

I started playing in my late teens and just have recently felt comfortable w/ all my angles (though there is always neverending work on them).

Here are some tips from what I use

1) On plays coming from the wing, I use the blue line and the boards. If I'm on center of it, I'm usually too far on one side.

2) Seeing where the crease arc is lets me know where I am and how far I want to go.

3) Hitting the goal posts w/ your glove or stick before coming out lets you also know where you are

4) Time. I guess it's really like a blind person just knowing where they are. If you know where you are and know where it is relative to everything else, you can move about the crease with more confidence and speed.

I'm sure there are people who know drills and such, but this is how I learned.

Oh, lastly, if I'm facing a shot and it goes over the glass / out of play / offsides, I turn around and face the net and see where I was compared to where the puck was.

[CPAgoalie]

Before coming out of the net I always touch my tail bone to the vertical post in the back of the net so I know that I am centered. I try to maintain an imaginary line in-between the puck, the center of my body, and the center vertical post.

[993Butterfly]

Here's the best angle you can have at all times keep the center of your body facing the puck, like your belly button and keep your eyes on the puck.

all to often I see goalies follow the player you have to remember what the puck sees and what the players sees are two different angles about 2 feet of difference.
If you are center to the puck then the puck has to either go through you or at an angle beside you and in each scenario you can react or maybe just get a piece of the puck to make a save.

Blue lines are great reference and so are the dots but follow the little black disc and you'll always have a chance to make a save.

[maximum31]

ok the way I learned it and they way its generally taught are to use the seven reference points on the ice. Those points are 1. The line from the center of the net to the bottom of the circle, 2. the line from center net to the circle. 3. The line from center net to blue line boards. 4. Straight up ice. Then 5,6,7 in reverse order. Eventually you get an idea of what the view to these points should be without having to check. The advantage to this is you have a vantage point for every area of the rink. In general you should be using 2 shuffles between sections unless the puck is farther away in which case 1 works.

[Ryeno42]

Search "landmark Angles"

Short Version: Inside Out.

Don't use reference points , its bad habits.

understand your crease and think clock from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock .

Know that at 12 o'clock it has the widest angle. Everything else to the side is narrower.

Stay along the clock and you will be square.

[JON]

Very elegant font you got going on there. I use the hash marks and the far net to find my center. Giving either or both together a quick eyeball can give you an idea if youre off center.

[hroark2112]

Originally Posted by Ryeno42

Search "landmark Angles"

Short Version: Inside Out.

Don't use reference points , its bad habits.

understand your crease and think clock from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock .

Know that at 12 o'clock it has the widest angle. Everything else to the side is narrower.

Stay along the clock and you will be square.

I usually back you up Ryeno...but DAMN...your English is getting AWFUL!! You're almost as hard to understand here as ryanduffy!!!

What Ryeno is saying is that there are LOTS of threads on the board that cover angles. Use the Advanced Search tool, search for threads with ANGLES in the topic title, and you'll learn a lot!!

[The Wall33]

Originally Posted by Ryeno42

Don't use reference points , its bad habits..

I disagree, strongly, with this advice.

This whole topic is something I am passionate about and consequently have spent a great deal of time analyzing, testing and teaching.

Angles must be developed in accordance with the greater topic of proper positioning. Proper positioning is a fluid process that involves reading the play, gaining your major angle, attaining a proper middle depth, re-reading the play and making minor angle and depth adjustments accordingly in order to be square and set prior to the shot. This sequence is a learned process and becomes second nature after practicing it regularly.

Specific to angles, you absolutely should use forward reference markers. Do not listen to people who tell you not to because every arena has different dimensions and therefore will throw you off angle. Hogwash.

A smart goalie will use an inside middle position to acquire their major angle. Major angle is a term I use to reference the far blueline or centre red lines as they intersect the boards. Acquiring your major angle is as simple as stepping off the goal line and telescoping 3' to the top of the crease in line with your major angle marker. This is an entirely simple process - a straight line for 3', easily completed by even the youngest of goalies.

As the play develops the goalie needs only adjust laterally using small shuffles to stay on angle. The nearside blue line offers a marker for your minor angle adjustments. Other markers include the outside hashmarks, the faceoff dots and the middle of the slot (on both sides).

An astute goalie will take some time during warmups to do simple step outs to confirm their angles. Take a conservative depth (eg. middle of the goal line) and then step out and face some shots, making angle adjustments at the top of the crease using small precise shuffles. Take a peak up and use the forward markers as reference points and you will easily identify your positioning points.

Without a doubt, if you can master this simple yet highly effective sequence your game will soar to new levels. You will greatly simplify your movements, you will be set and square, you will minimize rebounds and you will win more games. Guaranteed.

Wellsie

[geojedi]

Seek thee out the Popa method of angles and positioning. Great for self-instructional.

Popa Goaltending: instruction for goalies goaltending coaches via the internet, goalie schools, summer hockey clinics for goalies, goaltending camps,DVD

[CubanPuckstoppr]

I know Wellsie, and respect his opinion, and am grateful for his contributions here, but I wish to present two counterpoints
dealing with different crease paint

problem losing my angle's on glove side ALLSTARTHREAD



And in support of Wellsie I present this, (anybody that works with SieveD on a regular basis needs support.

See the

Science of Hockey: Making Saves: page 3

once at the link scroll down to the Knowing where you are on the ice section (there’s a real video clip to go along too)


Personally I prefer most reference based on the net out, but will not complain if a goalie in on top of the crease, or recovering form a scramble, or "just lost" and uses a landmark as a reference, but IMHO this needs to be the exception.

[maximum31]

ok heres the thing about reference points
1. you should treat them as zones, the puck will rarely be exactly on a number so you should just be aware of the zone the puck is in as stated generally you use 2 shuffles to a zone.
2. The major knock on reference points is if you go to different rinks where the points are different because of odd rink dimensions. Based on op's post im assuming you only play at 1 rink, so thats not a problem. Also, its not something to be constantly checking, its more of something to be generally aware of and to check if you think youve lost your angle. In game its more of an automatic thing. Also, I would argue that once goalies get to a certain level where their traveling around with the exception of very low level travel that you get to a point where you have a feel for the reference points and will inately know if there off. That is, your aware of the reference points but positioning is based more on feel and experiance.

[old.goalie]

In additon to the excellent ideas already mention and not to make things to simple, but I use my skate to make a mark(s) just outside of the paint.

left side center right side

with practice I am able to pick them up with my peripheral vision. That combined with the belly button rule has enable me to become pretty consistent with my angles.

when in the b'fly they are easy to see so you know where you are in relation to the post(s) etc.

[The Wall33]

Originally Posted by CubanPuckstoppr

I know Wellsie, and respect his opinion, and am grateful for his contributions here, but I wish to present two counterpoints
dealing with different crease paint

problem losing my angle's on glove side ALLSTARTHREAD



And in support of Wellsie I present this, (anybody that works with SieveD on a regular basis needs support.

See the

Science of Hockey: Making Saves: page 3

once at the link scroll down to the Knowing where you are on the ice section (there’s a real video clip to go along too)


Personally I prefer most reference based on the net out, but will not complain if a goalie in on top of the crease, or recovering form a scramble, or "just lost" and uses a landmark as a reference, but IMHO this needs to be the exception.

Cuban, thanks for the links - I had not read that angle debate prior to tonight- quite the powder keg!

Let me clear one factual error from the other thread - Ian Clarke DOES advocate the use of forward reference points for angle development. It was in his From The Crease series and is still posted on his website drill book (I just checked a few minutes ago).

I have no problem with an initial tapping off as the play develops (assuming you have an inside-out original stance). However, once you are outside the radius that allows you to 're-tap' the posts clearly some other source of mapping must come into play.

Most of us old dogs who have played the game for many years gain an intrinsic understanding of where we are on the ice, based on years of experience. We know that a 1 inch mini shuffle equates to X inches of net coverage because we have made saves in that exact spot on that exact angle on countless occasions. Regardless of whether or not we are consciously aware of it, I believe that at some level we are picking up on physical cues on the ice or around the arena.

My suggestion is not to rely too heavily on physical markings once the play is in the defensive zone. Forward reference points are a great way to establish initial major angles and even some minor angle adjustments. They can also help you reorient after a scamble play has left you disoriented. Importantly, these markings must be tested and understood during warmups or practice sessions.

I do not believe that the tapping off method is the only way to teach angles nor do I believe it is a good method. It has some viability for inexperienced goalies since it acts as physical crutch and comfort source. Since you cannot keep moving back to tap off every time the puck changes position it seems illogical that the posts are the sole source of reference. Logically other reference markers or the experience of the goaltender must come into effect.

Where I believe both methods converge is the need of the high performance goaltender to transcend the use of any markers or posts to gauge their position. Good goalies simply know where they are and where they need to be.

I don't always agree with everything every NHL goalie coach teaches and this is clearly one area that I have personally tested and suceeded with so I am sticking to my guns.

Wellsie

[Bones343]

[quote=The Wall33;1221914I do not believe that the tapping off method is the only way to teach angles nor do I believe it is a good method. It has some viability for inexperienced goalies since it acts as physical crutch and comfort source. Since you cannot keep moving back to tap off every time the puck changes position it seems illogical that the posts are the sole source of reference. Logically other reference markers or the experience of the goaltender must come into effect.[/QUOTE]

I'll agree here, mostly. Clearly in the middle of a fast moving play you can't do it every time. But it is a good first move, which I think it where the problem starts. I really think that you can't think about these things too much or you are taking off your focus from the play. You really have to kind of just feel it and know.

I would bet that most goalies subconciously use reference points all the time, I am sure I do without even realizing.