Goalie Coaches
Top 5 Goalie Coaching Strategies
- Put the pegs in the net all the time
- Modify drills to ensure goalies are included; simple tweaks to drills can make a huge difference. Intentionally involve them more than just a shot at the end
- Make shots in drills more like game situations. Screens, traffic, off angles. Avoid having multiple drills that end with shooter on a breakaway
- Use a marker on the ice: draw creases, label points 1,2,3,4,5 to assist with angles for younger goaltenders
- Regularly (every practice) work on goalie skating (t-pushes, shuffles, butterfly slides, etc); frequently can be done at the start of practice when everyone else is doing skating drills
- Attend Weekly goalie clinics with your goalie; leverage and learn from goalie coaches what your goalies can work on and get specific drills
What Makes a great Goalie coach?
HYHA is investing in our goalie program. We ask that our coaches be intentional about incorporating goalie specific drills into every practice.
Average Goalie Coach
Let’s the goalie go to the other end and have someone shoot on him or her while the other players work on something else.
Good Goalie Coach
Follows a season plan and makes sure the goalie is given a chance to develop every skill needed to be successful through making sure that every practice starts with a goaltender-specific skating drill and one purposeful drill with shots on the goalie before the team drills begin.
Great Goalie Coach
Follows a season plan for the goaltender, allowing 10 minutes at the start of every practice for goaltender development. Incorporates the week’s goaltender skill into team practice and keeps an open dialogue with the goaltender about it. Finds one NHL video clip showing a goaltender successfully using the skill in a game and shows it to the goaltenders prior to the practices. Great coaches follow up and reflect on each stage with the goalies and their parents to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Goalie Drills By Level
Understanding Goaltending Depth
It is critical that goaltenders understand and master the concept of depth control. Especially at a young age (and size), controlling depth and angles will result in more saves and build confidence.
Defensive Depth
When the puck is in this area the goaltender is either on the post or is tracking the puck behind the net.
Conservative Depth
When the puck is in this area the goaltender is aware of a potential lateral play or is recovering to be set on a rebound.
Base Depth
When the puck is in this area the goaltender will have his or her skate blades on the top of the crease (red outline of the crease). This is the depth is where goaltenders should be prior to most shot attempts against them.
Aggressive Depth
When the puck is in this area the goalie reaches the aggressive depth to address the play as the puck enters the defensive zone.
