With just 50 minutes to run a practice and 10 to 20 players on a team, what can a coach do to help the goalies? We pose this and other questions to Darren Kruisselbrink, an assistant professor of kinesiology and the former goaltending coach at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.

NM: What is the biggest challenge when working with young goaltenders?

DK: At the novice and atom levels, one challenge is getting goaltenders to feel comfortable coming out of the net. The concept of taking away net space by playing the angle tends to be easier to understand than the idea of taking away net space by moving forward. The majority of goaltenders I have worked with like to stay back in the net. They tend to be too conservative.

NM: Why is it so important for goaltenders to come out farther if they have a good angle on the puck carrier?

DK: At younger ages, a lot of situations seem to come from players rushing the puck to the net. Goaltenders need to feel comfortable coming out on a rush to take away the net from the puck carrier. The objective is to give the shooter less net to look at.

NM: How can the coach help the goaltender with this?

DK: Coaches can use all kinds of approaches to train their goaltender. There main objectives are to:
+ Help goalies with their position on the ice in relation to the puck carrier. Coaches can help goaltenders find reference points (lines on the boards, markings on the ice) to use so that they know where they need to position themselves in relation to the puck carrier. Coaches can also take the goaltenders out of the net and get them to lie on the ice with one eye lined up behind the puck. When the goaltenders gain perspective from an offensive point of view, it can be quite helpful.
+ Incorporate rush drills that stimulate game situations. Use breakaway drills with back pressure (a player to chase the puck carrier). Ensure breakaways are timed to allow the goaltender to freeze a possible rebound, recover to their ?ready stance? and get into position for the next breakaway.

NM: Depth and angles are part of good positioning. What other factors should coaches consider to help goaltenders develop basic skills?

DK: I try to emphasize two points when working with goaltenders and coaches:
+ Goaltenders should be in their ready position (stance) before the opposition crosses the defensive blue line;
+ The Velcro factor, which is terminology used to define stoppage of play off an initial shot. Stoppage of play means freezing the puck or deflecting it out of the rink. Stoppages help reduce the number of shots on net by reducing second-shot opportunities and eliminating the continuation of play. Freeze the puck more often and it?s like goalies are made of Velcro!

Remember the points made by coach Kruisselbrink:
+ Goaltenders need some help in feeling comfortable with the concept of depth. They must come out of the net a bit.
+ Coaches should pay attention to offensive situations on the ice during a game (how frequently they occur).
+ Design offensive drills that stimulate game situations to prepare your goaltenders for what they will face.
+ Help goaltenders focus on getting into their ready stance before the puck carrier crosses the blue line.
+ Remember the Velcro factor. Freeze the puck!!



Dr. Clint Steele is the founder & president of Better Hockey (betterhockey.com) and has trained hundreds of athletes from all over the world from youth players to NHL and other pro level players. In addition Dr. Steele has either consulted or been the strength and conditioning coach for multiple teams throughout his career. His website, www.betterhockey.com, contains hundreds and pages of articles, video clips, audio interviews with experts, drills, pictures, training programs and more for on ice and off ice development.