The Basics of Goaltender Specific Movement (pt. 1)

[goalies-r-us]

Originally Posted by harri1

For our Top Prospects and Midget "AAA" Prep camps we provide our students with our annual manual that is updated by about 10-15 new articles per year. Last year's edition is just short of 200 pages and this year's will be about 225 pages. We are hoping to publish a book in the next couple of years and we are thinking that the piece may have to be a multi-volume work because who is going to buy a 400 page book on goaltending?

As the parent of a very young goalie (and as the person who would be shelling out the money for such a book ), my recommendation would be to not only break the book down into volumes, but also create them in different formats.

For example:

Goaltending -- What Kids Need To Know series
(written at about a 5th-grade reading level)

Beginning Goaltending -- what kids need to know
Intermediate Goaltending -- what kids need to know
Advanced Goaltending -- what kids need to know

Goaltending -- Fundamentals and Theory for Adults and Older Teens series
(written at a high-school reading level.... wait, is that the same as a 5th grade level???)

Beginning Goaltending -- basic fundamentals and theory for adults and older teens
Intermediate Goaltending -- intermediate fundamentals and theory for adults and older teens
Advanced Goaltending -- advanced fundamentals and theory for adults and older teens

and it wouldn't hurt to offer:

Goaltending -- What Parents of Young Goaltenders Need to Know


It's very frustrating to me that there's really nothing out there for kids like Dom (or just a tad older, really). There are a handful of kiddie-stories, but nothing instructional -- everything that's instructional is VERY dry reading for a kid.... even if I were to read it to him, it wouldn't keep his attention (and this is a kid who's been addicted to hockey for years and years!). While the overall market (school-aged goalies) might be small, the fact that it would be the ONLY book of its kind would give it a 100% market share!

[harri1]

geezer7178 - I have found the goalieNews issue with the "quiet eye" article you were inquiring about. The issue is Volume 3 Edition 1 of the goalieNews which features J.S. Giguere on the cover. It is about two pages in.

goalies-r-us - Thank you for the suggestions. One of the issues I have about writing a book is that fact that some of the books available such as Brian Daccord's book and Jim Corsi's book are aimed a little more at the beginner goaltender. Of course, we will have to present beginner and fundamental information such as this article but I feel our material is better suited for the intermediate to elite goaltenders. Most of our article writing is aimed at our Midget "AAA" Prep students and Top Prospects students. As of now it is hard to find the time to back track and start writing material that is easy for a grade three to seven level reader. I find that I then have to break down the information and try to make it as entertaining as possible which takes longer, for me at least, than writing for older goalies. It is all a conundrum that I am sure will come out when we meet with our possible publisher this summer. I do want to end by saying you have provided me with a lot to think about.

The way I would like to break down the book writing into volumes would be to have:

-A technical and tactical edition where we discuss the physical parts of the game such as using the angels, movement, b-fly, rebound control, playing deflections, etc.
-A game and team situational edition for our articles topics from early/late game success to being coachable to communication.
-A mental training edition
-A drill book
-A goaltender dryland training edition

So much to write about but not enough time, right now.

[harri1]

After just completing the Top Prospects and Midget "AAA" Prep Camps we would like to discuss a couple of current, strangely consistent, problems with goalie specific movement(blocker lock, gliding to posts, gliding in general).

Problem: Blocker/Trapper Lock

One of the newest problems we are beginning to see amongst our high performance goalies is something we have come to affectionately call blocker lock. Blocker lock occurs when a goaltender in an attempt to have a compact stance, locks the large thumb protection(sidewall) found on most new blockers, flush against the pad. Although the goalie has gained compactness in their stance they often lose the usefulness of their stick when moving on their feet. This is particularly true when a goaltender is shuffling and to some degree true when using a powerpush/modified t-push (we call this move a swoop as the gaining of depth before the set reminds us of a swooping motion).

When a goaltender is shuffling properly the hands and stick must be quiet, meaning they must remain level and not be used to aid with gaining momentum. Also the hands and stick must be forward of the body for proper balance and to close lanes to the corners through proximity(not excessive trapper height). When shuffling properly to the goaltenders glove side the toe of the stick should be in line with the inside edge of the boot of the leading/gliding leg pad. Inversely, the heel of the stick should be close to in line with the inside of the boot of the pad on the leading/gliding leg when moving to the blocker side. Focusing on the placement of the stick in this way when moving while up helps to eliminate the 5-hole opening that must occur for directional movements.

When moving to the blocker side the blocker locked to the pad will keep the stick in proper alignment in a somewhat natural way. What happens when a goaltender has their blocker locked to their pad is not good when moving to the glove side. If a goalie is moving to the glove side and their blocker is locked to the pushing leg pad the stick then follows the movement of the pushing leg rather than have the toe of the stick linedup with the lead/glide leg pad boot. This locking of the stick to the trial leg means goalies have lost the use of their only piece of equipment that can help cover up the hole opened when moving.

On the trapper side the effect is a lot less noticeable but still detrimental. If a goalie has their trapper locked to the pads they are giving up space to the top corners by pulling out of the lane the puck would need to travel to hit a top corner. Also, the goaltender can lose mobility of the arm including less range of motion for cushioning the puck in an attempt to catch the puck. Finally, the goaltender may lose squareness of the hands when using a swoop(power push) thus requiring an extra movement when arriving into the new position. **Remember: The less extra movement we have, the less we can mess up!!**

When a goaltender is swooping in general the eyes and head needs to turn first and then the hands and stick must lead the body in an attempt to keep square to the new position/destination of the puck. Blocker/trapper lock stops the hands and stick from being square during transit, so to speak. A well performed swoop means that the hands and stick will travel and arrive as square with the puck as possible. Blocker and trapper locks will make the goaltender use an extra movement or two in order to bring the hands and stick square to the puck. Unfortunately, the game moves too fast and will not always leave goaltenders with the time needed to completely square up. So, let's fix the problem so we can become more efficient and consistent with GSM.

Solution

In order to remedy blocker/trapper lock the hands must be held in front of the body while in stance(NO DOUBLE COVERAGE!!!). Keeping the hands forward will actually make the goaltender more compact and take up more space without the goaltender opening gaping holes through the body. When the hands are held in front the goaltender must get used to moving with the thighrise of the leg pads easily moving behind the gloves so as not to interfere with the proper placement and use of the stick and gloves. Is it really that simple? Yes. Goalies make sure that you are not employing a blocker lock by keeping the hands forward and allowing the lower body to work separately from the upper body.

Discussions on gliding to the posts and gliding in general are actually covered in this link Finding the FSP(Fundamental Save Position) .

[deamonpainter33]

I remember back when i was playing high school hockey that when you start your movements to the puck your blocker should NEVER be trapped next to your leg like what you were just explaining. I never could stand that anyways.

If, say I am a tad about the top of my crease starring a high point shot to my right and the puck is passed quickly to the slot for a one-timer or a snap shot by a center. If the blocker was stuck on my right leg, it would never stay square to the shot and allowing for more of an angle for him to go high blocker before my blocker does get square....as I move to cut the slot off. So in correctness, If this situation happens shouldn't I follow the pass with my eyes, head, then shoulders/torso and my glovehand and blocker should begin squareness and the legs and feet as well. I see this as one fluid and quick motion though. So just in case this guy decides to try to go top blocker on me as i shift to the top center of the crease...momentum going twoards the left circle sorta...he won't catch that corner as easily and the blocker would be freeier to make that save motion?

Also, glove and blocker of course, out further to allow line of sight for when the puck does rise or whatever, you can see the puck into your glove or blocker?

Sorry if that sounds a bit jumbled up but I just wanted to throw out a game situation to your wonderful logic

[harri1]

deamonpainter33 - Your post works very well to illustrate what I was talking about especially since you are using your own wonderful logic (I love these discussions). When it comes to preparing for a high shot you definitely want the hands held forward and steady, for the simple fact that the hands are then closing lanes the puck could use to enter the net and that glove saves are more effective, I believe, if the hands are infront for easier tracking and to keep squareness. If the hands are back there is greater likelihood of creating a funnel through the arms or many goalies will pull there shoulder back in an attempt to make an old school Bill Ranford (bless his soul) high trapper/blocker save thus taking them off square.

I also agree that the EYES LEAD THE HEAD, THE HEAD LEADS THE SHOULDERS(and hands) AND THE SHOULDERS LEAD THE REST OF THE BODY idea is much more fluid in game situations. This idea is something we stress with increasing importance when we work with our goalies doing net orientation drills(1 1/2 hours/day of our camps) where the pucks/targets are static. By ensuring this happens with net orientation drills in the mornings the students are more tuned in to staying visually attached with the puck when they see the elite level shooters in the afternoons. Thus creating a smoother and more instinctual puck tracking regimen.

As far as squareness of the blocker when tucked to the pad in a static ready stance is concerned that does not usually seem to be an issue when, surprise, the goalie is static. Where the blocker lock is most dangerous is when the goalie must move laterally to the glove side. If the goalie is over and set before the open player recieves the pass then the blocker lock is not usually an issue. Unfortunately, opposing teams do not always give a goaltender enough time to fully set on every play; which brings me to my last point...

I like how you broke down the issue with a high shot but our biggest issue we have, which we explain to our students, is that the stick is not available to save the goalie's rear end on a quick play or even one where the goalie is close to being set. Even though most goalies play a hybrid style of game over 75% of all shots in a game are still under the bottom 2/3 of the net. No matter if a goalie wears RBK, *******, Vaughn, Brian's, DR, Cooper for all I care, there is still going to be room for a puck, that is sliding on the ice perfectly five hole, to go in. So, the only tool to help us with this dilemma is a strong disciplined stick when moving in all directions taking us back to the problem with locker block.

Great input and discussion deamonpainter33, we look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks.

[deamonpainter33]

Originally Posted by harri1

I like how you broke down the issue with a high shot but our biggest issue we have, which we explain to our students, is that the stick is not available to save the goalie's rear end on a quick play or even one where the goalie is close to being set. Even though most goalies play a hybrid style of game over 75% of all shots in a game are still under the bottom 2/3 of the net. No matter if a goalie wears RBK, *******, Vaughn, Brian's, DR, Cooper for all I care, there is still going to be room for a puck, that is sliding on the ice perfectly five hole, to go in. So, the only tool to help us with this dilemma is a strong disciplined stick when moving in all directions taking us back to the problem with locker block.

Great input and discussion deamonpainter33, we look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks.

You know, I've always had this problem keeping my stick to the ice as i move moreso when i was younger. Since i started back up 2 years ago i feel myself getting into that habit again. Especially when i'm going after a low shot or for in close attempts.

So even without a blocker problem this issue with the stick can still arise. I know one method that's been helping me a bit more and its what a coach told me a while back called "****ing" the blocker. It involved the wrist being bent to straighten the blocker and square it up more. For some reason this helps my stick blade stay on the ice better. Just have to learn to not over do it.

Thanks for your insight you are quite intelligent! If i didn't live so far away i'd love to attend one of your goaile camps for adults


***edit***
they bleeped that statement out! ha i love server scripts sometimes...!

[harri1]

deamonpainter33 - Thanks again, I am an English teacher first, goalie coach second, so I better be intelligent but still to be publicly called intelligent may be a first!

Yes, stick issues are not always related to blocker lock. Usually stick issues come from goalies using their hands to help them move or unknowingly just lacking in body control. Your idea of ****ing the blocker or squaring it up usually helps to alleviate stick squareness issues as well. I have always believed that a goalie with good stick discipline can feel it in the forearms if their stick is on the ice properly. Just like everything else, reps are key to making the movement and positioning automatic. Perfect practice makes perfect!

Well, that's all for now.

[SpecialBlend]

Hi again Harri,

Here's a question about skating and push angles. In the example images, imagine what angle your right foot would be at if you needed to push to the left post during a breakaway. The push is in the green arrow direction, the blue arrow is the resulting direction combined with the backwards movement straight back towards the net.

i) This is what I think probably should happen with your skate to facilitate a rotation, push, and add extra backwards flow at the same time. Almost a shuffle combined with a rotation, then push.

ii) Even if you push straight at the boards with your feet facing center ice, the backwards motion combined with the side push will make you travel in a path towards the left post. The trouble with this is you rely completely on your built-up backwards speed to get far enough back to the post. This is what I'm used to doing in a panic.

Maybe in my panic, I don't think I have enough time do a rotation/push opposed to just a straight push, since you can't immediately put weight on your push foot when you need to rotate.

Are these the only techniques for pushing for this situation? Some other way I'm not thinking of?

Thanks,

Bryan

[harri1]

Hello SpecialBlend - Another great set of questions. I think what I will do is try to discuss how we teach playing a breakaway and hopefully everything else flows from there.

First, we always start with the basics of the y-theory for playing breakaways with a small change as compared to how the y-theory and breakaways are often taught, traditionally.

In the past, goalies were introduced to the y-theory by having the goalie come out to within a couple of feet of the hash marks when playing a breakaway as you are describing. Basically, the tail of the "y" is, traditionally, the longest line in the y-theory for breakaways. As the player retreats I have often heard goalie coaches tell the goalie that they should backup at half the speed of the shooter so they do not open the corners early. What we see with teaching such over aggressive initial depth is that goalies often end up with an excessive fade with feet that are way too busy. This excessive fade makes it hard for the goalie to force the player into one option or another; shoot or deke. If a goalie fades excessively they will open the corners for a shot while their feet are busy(a lethal combination). On the other side the goalie with excessive initial depth may be vulnerable to a breakaway at top speed (think Pavel Bure on a breakaway). One other problem with teaching goalies to play a y-theory with a long tail (excessive initial depth) is that most breakaways in a game do not generate for goalies to have enough time to gain the kind of depth they were taught or practiced countless times. In an attempt to play the breakaway with the highly aggressive initial depth the goalie will try to get out quick which leads to the goalie having to fade excessively quick using very busy feet. If the feet are too busy then the goalie is not quite set at any point which makes the goalie vulnerable to any type of play. Basically, playing breakaways with excessive depth usually do not work out for a goalie if the breakaway happens on a quick turnover at the goalie's own blueline or closer.

What we try to tell our goalies is that they need to only come out 2-3 feet, from the top of the crease, max. for initial depth as most goalies need some backwards momentum to get back to the post. Basically with a shorter tail for the "y" the goalie is now poised to fade at a more reasonable rate and is not as vulnerable to a quick developing breakaway. The goalie is more comfortable because their body has not been conditioned for excessive initial depth. Now, the timing of the flow is not based on half the speed but is a different read. The goalie should aim to quiet the feet so both the skates are on a railroad track by the time the goalie is at the top of the crease. Essentially, the goalie's skates should be quiet and set, with a little backwards momentum once their heels get to the top of the crease at around the time when the player is going to make their play, either a shot or deke. By quieting the feet to an almost set (railroad track) position at the top of the crease the goalie is not fading excessively thus making themselves available to play either option well. By quieting at the top of the crease the goalie should still be able to push with the deke and make it back towards the front of the post no problem. The goalie has a better chance of staying on their feet if a player tries more than one fake/deke. **Remember: the goalie is not at a complete standstill but the feet have stopped sculling/c-cutting.**

In terms of "Illustration i" you would not want to fade away from being on angle with the puck. If your feet are quiet by the top of the crease the foot would make a natural and quick adjustment much the same way a goaltender changes their foot position when transitioning into a t-push. The move occurs on the spot and then like your previous discussion on rebound control the eyes lead the head, head leads the shoulders and shoulder/hands lead the rest of the body. Strong visual attachment will be key as this will cause you to stay square to the puck, maybe even throw the back shoulder(which happens naturally with strong visual habits), which is a necessity in playing a breakaway.

For "Illustration ii" it is NOT advisable to use excessive backwards fading to aid with momentum to attempt to help you propel to the post. This movement leads to a body position that may have moved towards the post but the body position is square to the center ice dot when the puck has clearly moved angle taking away the number one priority of the FSP (centre of the net). Also when a goalie is off square they lose proximity with the puck which is a necessity when playing breakaways, especially a fast breakaway where an outstretched limb may be needed for the save.

One last thought… does your panic in a breakaway scenario come from an attempt at excessive initial depth, leading to discomfort with your tools available for this type of play? In the end strong visual attachment and quiet feet at the top of the crease will start you down the right path where your pushing foot will make a quick, natural rotation on the spot, for proper rotation necessary to propel you in the trajectory of choice.