| Have you ever heard a coach or parent yell "cover | | | | With the goalie in correct angle to the puck, but still on |
| that angle"? This article is dedicated to exploring what | | | | the goal line, make note of the open net that is visible. |
| that all too often used statement really means. | | | | This will convince those goalies that like to play deep in |
| Anyone who has ever uttered those words, needs to | | | | their net that they are giving up a whole lot of scoring |
| do the following. Go out onto the ice and have a goalie | | | | space. Now gradually have the goalie move out |
| stand in the middle of the net, at the top of the crease, | | | | toward the puck, stopping every couple of feet. Be |
| perfectly in line with a puck about 10 feet away in the | | | | sure to point out how the open net is diminishing with |
| slot. Now take a good look at the positioning and the | | | | each move forward. When the goalie reaches the |
| open net the goalie is giving up. There should only be a | | | | point where only six inches remain open at each lower |
| few inches of room in all four corners. Once you have | | | | corner, they have reached the correct location to play |
| satisfied yourself that the goaltender is in the correct | | | | an oncoming shot. This location will almost always be |
| position, take a walk over to the players bench and | | | | right at the top of the round crease. If the goalie |
| stand where the coach stands during the game. Take | | | | comes out any further than this point they are risking |
| a good look at the goalie remembering that he/she is in | | | | the possibility of a deke or making it impossible to |
| perfect position. What you will see will astound you! | | | | recover/react to a pass across. With the goaltender in |
| The entire net will be wide open, your first thought will | | | | correct position reinforce the importance of "lining up |
| be that anyone should be able to beat your goalie in | | | | with the puck" by having each player (forwards too - |
| their current position. Then the light bulb will go on! It is | | | | then they will know what to look for) get down to ice |
| impossible to tell if the goalie is properly lined up with | | | | level and look at the goalie from exactly where the |
| the puck from any place in the arena, except directly | | | | puck is, the scoring locations will be few. Then have |
| behind the net. This will be obvious because as you | | | | someone stand where a player would be if carrying |
| already knew, the goalie IS IN THE CORRECT | | | | the same puck, the results are not as dramatic as the |
| POSITION. (This is becomes even more magnified | | | | coach's view on the bench, but they are similar. Now |
| from the fan's points of view, or an elevated | | | | it's time to prove just how important correctly lining up |
| viewpoint.) | | | | with the puck is. Have the goalie (still in correct position) |
| To properly teach your goalie how to play an angle, | | | | move six inches to either side. Repeat the looking |
| we have found "the rope drill" to be highly effective. | | | | process. What will be noticeable is that for every inch |
| Following is an explanation of this drill: get a 30 to 40 | | | | a goalie is out of position to his/her left or right, two |
| foot length of rope and tie the ends to the top of each | | | | inches will open up. Meaning if the goalie is twelve |
| post (two ropes may also be used and tied to the top | | | | inches too far to his left, twenty four inches would be |
| and base of each post.) Have a goalie get into position, | | | | open on the right. Take this one step further by having |
| starting at the goal line. The rope should be pulled to | | | | the goalie line up with the shooter and repeat the |
| form a "V" and a puck should be placed at this point. | | | | looking process. BIG MISTAKE!! But common. |
| Always instruct your goalies to keep the puck straight | | | | Have fun with this drill and involve the whole team. |
| in front of themselves and that if in correct angle | | | | Move the puck location around and continue to use the |
| coverage positioning, the puck, their belly button and | | | | rope. You will notice that the deeper the puck is into |
| the centre post in the net should all line up (another | | | | the corner, the deeper the goalie should be. Teach |
| rope may be used to further demonstrate this.) | | | | them to envision the ropes at all times. |