Back to Basics: Drill #1a Introducing the crease arc

Coaches and teams can get Upper Echelon's team goalie coaching package information under the PROGRAMS tab of the website!!

 

Here is UE's first drill sheet that will help the coaches and their goalies get off on the right skate.  I particularly like this drills and I use it, not only in the beginning of the season, but throughout the season as a warm-up or refresher.  Also, the drill have a lot of applicability to any age level, from novice to major midget, as I think that it is necessary for goalies to constant practice their basic in-crease movements and get comfortable with their angles and basic on-ice markings like face-off dots.

 

In my later drills, you will also find me referencing this drill or at least the numbers that describe the angles or positioning points for goalies.  These numbers act as a bit of shorthand for any required crease movements for drills, so please make sure you are familiar with it and get your goalies to know it well also.  For example, I may have a drill where I want a goalie to set up on one post, t-push to the top of the crease, make a save like a butterfly, and then t-push to the other post.  The shorthand pattern would be written like this:

 

(7)--->t-push--->(3)--->butterfly--->t-push recovery--->(6)

 

Essentially that shorthand is describing a movement pattern where the goalie starts on her left post (position #7), t-pushes to the top of the crease (position #3), executes a butterfly (either on command or in response to a shot), and then utilizes a t-push recovery to go to the right post (position #6).

 

 I have had success with this numbering system as a way to remind goalies how and where to set up during drills with teammates during practice.  This is really useful for young goalies, as I can shout out a number, when I find they are off angle, and they will quickly reset to the proper or required angle.  This is helpful when the drill is flowing and you don't want to step near the crease to point out where you want the goalie to play.  You can just bark an order.  If you keep using it throughout the season to quickly communicate positioning to your goalies, it will become automatic for them.

 

Please download the pdf in from the download tab under the "Back to Basics" folder.  Enjoy and email me if you have any questions.