In this edition of Chalk Talk, we focus on a fundamental skating skill for goaltenders.
As with all players, skating is a key fundamental skill for goaltenders and will greatly impact a goaltender’s overall development and enjoyment of the game. The challenge is for coaches to integrate their goaltenders into their practice plans and include position-specific drills.
Goaltender specific skating drills should focus on developing inside edge work. The key is to advance the goaltender's ability to move in a quick, efficient and balanced manner.
The following four drills can be run at the beginning of practice while players are completing their warm-up or during skating or skill work.
C-CUTS:
When to use it: To control angle and depth in the crease and combined with other skating movements (t-push, shuffle and slide). Example: Coming out of the crease or backwards movement for a breakaway.
Drill 1 - Goaltenders positioned mid crease. 3 pucks positioned (1 on the left and right face-off dots and 1 mid-slot.). Goaltender will use rapid c-cuts moving forward to the edge of the circle and back to the middle of the net.
Drill 2 - Goaltender will start on the wall between the blue lines and will follow lines focusing on forward c-cuts and backward c-cuts.
Drill 3 - Goaltender will start at the bottom of the circle in section 3 and c-cut from the bottom of the circle to the top ensuring that the Goaltender uses a single foot stop and compact stance both at the bottom and top of the circles. This drill will be executed 1 line forward and 1 line backward.
Drill 4 - Goaltender will start inside the blue line and will focus on forward c-cuts and backward c-cuts towards the goal line.
Recovery: Goaltender will focus on quick mini transitions from c-cut to single foot stop to balanced stance.
Key Teaching Points (KTP):
• Establishing a solid flow forward and backward
• Ensuring that the Goaltender has a quiet upper body throughout the movements
• Use of a single foot stop and start using the front 1/2 of the skates
Key Execution Points (KEP):
• Start in athletic stance; whole skate blades stay on the ice
• Goaltender should stay in stance at all times and attempt to move at medium speed during these drills
• Be sure to use the single foot stop and start ensuring that the Goaltender corrects to a compact/athletic stance
• Forward C-cut: Weight is on heel of skates to push forwards staying on the inside edges of skates
• Backward C-cut: Weight is on toes of skates to push backwards staying on the inside edges of skates