Goaltending Keys |
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The five keys a goaltender needs to keep in mind whenever they are setting up to make a save are;
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1.) Always square your hips and shoulders to the puck. To have the best chance of stopping the puck, use your body's largest profile to cover the most net. No matter
where the puck is in its flight to the net, make sure your body is square to
it at all times.
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2.) Always keep your hands up and out. Many goaltenders who use
down save movements suffer from a tendancy to drop their hands down
next to their leg pads as they go to the ice to make a save. Goalies who
have developed this bad habit may get beat up high quiet often. Concentrate
on keeping your hands up and out, and you will make more saves.
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3.) Your chest goes at the puck. When you are trying to stop the puck
your momentum should be towards the puck. If it is not, perhaps you are not quite
as confident as you should be, and are pulling away from the puck. This could
present problems during rebound situations. Your weight will be skewed away from the
puck and you could wind up on your backside, unable to recover to make the save
on the rebound shot.
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4.) Watch the puck throughout the save. Many saves are made by
even the best goaltenders at the very last minute. A puck can change direction
any number of times on its way to the net. Keep your eye on each shot all the
way into your equipment. If you take your eye off the puck you can be assurred
it will wind up in your net.
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5.) Keep your stick down. Lots of goaltenders make the mistake
of picking the blade of their sticks up off the ice as they move in and around their
crease. A quick low shot can very well result in a goal against the goaltender who
makes this mistake. A stick off the ice further complicates a goaltender's stance,
making them hold thier chest too high, and throwing off thier balance. Make sure you
keep that stick blade on the ice when following the play around your zone.
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This site was constructed as an exercise for an Internet Interfaces class at the School of Communication, Information, and Library Science SCILS in the MLS program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
This site was designed with images and content available in;
It is also based on years of personal experience of playing and watching hockey. |
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| Last updated June 2001 | |