Functional skating development is key for young goalies.

“If a shot takes less than a second to stop, even with 40 shots against in a game, that’s less than a minute making saves.”

All head coaches need a plan for goalie development and we are going to help empower you to run training sessions confidently. This series of drills focuses on a unique setup called the “Zipper.” These drills I took from Steve Androlewicz of Racine Goalie Academy in St. Louis, MO. I love these drills as they can be done in a team or camp/clinic setting. Each movement in the pattern mimics movement a goalie would use in the crease to adjust their angle/squareness/depth. Success in goaltending and making the save is directly connected to their stance, balance, edge work and efficiency of movement.

Glossary: 

• Angle – The position of the puck relative to the centre of the net.
• Squareness – The goalie’s position relative to the puck and the centre of the net 
• Depth – The goalie’s position in the crease 
• Dot Angle – The in-zone face off dot angle in relation to the centre of the net (middle post). This angle is very common with sustained offensive in zone puck control. Can also be known as the “funnel zone” off the rush (Valiquette, MSG Network). 

Drill 1

We start with basic movements: shuffles and t-pushes. Start with forward movement, diagonal from puck to puck. This creates the zipper pattern as we move through the drill. We want the goalie to visualize moving from the post to the opposite dot angle. You want to make sure that the goalie initiates all movements with their eyes, then rotate (identifying the new “shot angle”), squaring their torso and then adjusting their feet so they are moving directly to the next puck. The focus is for the lead or glide leg to arrive just outside of the puck, allowing the goalie to square up on the puck. The back leg or push foot needs to SNAP or quickly recover back under the body by mid movement. Many young goalies tend to “drag” their push foot, elongating the movement, putting them off balance and then setting in a low/wide stance when stopped.

Drill 2

Butterfly movements and recovery. The start and finish of the movement is identical to that in video one (Shuffles and T-pushes). The forward movement with a butterfly slide is more to focus on foot work. The goalie needs to focus on control, this forward sequence is more about edge work and balance/recovery. The forward slide would not happen in a game specifically, but the skills are translatable. The second half of the drill or moving “top down” would be game specific, when tracking back to the post on a rebound or pass to the opposite dot angle. The key to success here is the goalie sealing the ice, being able to quickly transition into a tight butterfly and then recover all within the space provided. Many young goalies struggle with butterfly mechanics and balance in a tight space. 

Drill 3

Out of the box skating. I like finishing with these “Crosbys or Eagle” turns. There are many coaches who ask about their goalies doing “team” or “player” skating. I firmly believe there needs to be a balance. Goalies need time to hone their craft, but they also need to be pushed outside of the box or their comfort zone. Goalies need to work on edges, balance and transitions as much as the players. These skills will help play in traffic around the net (fighting for sight lines) and when playing the puck. Playing the puck is as much a part of every goalie’s game as the butterfly. It is 100% mandatory for a goalie to be comfortable coming out of their net and stopping dump ins or rims.

Forward – The goalie moves through in a C-cut pattern, without lifting their skates. The goalie needs to maintain balance in their stance, young goalies will want to focus only on the footwork. Form/stance is a critical component of goaltending as it is the foundation in which we create saves.

Backwards – Similar to the forwards skating the goalie is moving through the pucks in a zipper pattern using C-cuts and keeping their blades on the ice. The backwards skating is harder to master as the goalie is tracking through their arm/elbow for the next puck, executing a 180 degree pivot and then quickly looking through opposite arm/elbow. As the goalie pivots they must remain in an athletic stance (spine angle matching their shin angle), Shoulders forward over their knees and hands in front. When tracking down for the next puck the goalie should be looking down through their arm, keeping their chin low and eyes over the puck. If the goalie is looking over their shoulder they will be on their heels, shifting their weight over their heels, sacrificing balance for sight lines.