| Being a hockey goalie is one of the toughest positions | | | | may seem so, the answer is not what you expect. |
| in sports. Think about it, they have to have perfect | | | | You should always be able to thrust your stick across |
| form for an entire game. If they mess up, they lose. | | | | the net in a smaller fraction of time than it would take |
| You could really think of a goaltender's eyes in two | | | | for you to thrust yourself across the net. This is the |
| completely different ways. | | | | reason that we highly recommend first moving the |
| The first way is....You already have two eyes on your | | | | stick to where the puck will hit the net prior to your |
| head, so the third one s the blade of your stick. | | | | whole body. By doing this, you will also shrink the |
| The second way is....One eyes is your glove, one eye | | | | amount of time that the net is left completely open. In |
| is your blocker, and one eye is the blade of your stick. | | | | turn, of course, the likelihood that a shot goes in is |
| Truthfully, I don't know which one of these is more | | | | smaller. |
| commonly thought of. However, the big picture is all | | | | So, some good ways to practice this concept and |
| pretty much the same. The stick is the goalie's third | | | | incorporate it into your training is this: |
| eye. This means that it must be following wherever | | | | What you need: Half of an ice rink, a net, a whistle, |
| the puck is, even before the rest of the body can do | | | | your pads, 2 shooters, and a couple of pucks. |
| so. The stick is important because you can make stick | | | | What you do: Have one person stand near the post of |
| saves even if you are not even near the puck. It | | | | your net with all of the pucks in front of him and a |
| should be thought of as an extension of your limbs, not | | | | whistle. Have the other shooter stand somewhere in |
| a burden to be dragged around. This mentality is | | | | front of the net (preferably somewhere near the |
| essential if you want to become a great goalie. It may | | | | hashmarks).You muat be positioned on the opposite |
| seem insignificant at first, but, consider this: | | | | post from where the pucks are and facing the corner. |
| If your mentality is that of the stick being just a weight | | | | You must not be able to see either of the two players, |
| to carry around, you will most likely drag it behind you | | | | or the pucks. The player with the pucks will make a |
| when you move across the net. Considering what | | | | pass to the player at the hashmarks. When he does |
| we've just learned, this is obviously not so good. If your | | | | this, he will blow a whistle. At that point, you will turn |
| mentality is that of a "leading limb", then you will most | | | | around and make the save. |
| likely move the stick first and let your body follow it. | | | | This drill is great because eventually you will learn that |
| Many people ask whether it would be ideal for your | | | | the easiest way to stop shots during this exercise, is |
| body and stick to move at the same time. Though it | | | | to lead with your stick and follow with your body. |