An excellent goaltender on your team can play a vital role in earning your team a victory. A great goaltender can keep his team in the game even when it is being outplayed by an opponent. A goaltender must be prepared emotionally and physically to keep the puck out of the net at all costs. A goaltender needs to understand the shooter's instinct in order to be at his best.
Improve Reactions
Improve your reactions by taking shots from two teammates in practice. One should be stationed at the right face-off circle and the other should be at the left face-off circle. On the coach's whistle, the players should take turns taking shots at you. This will get you used to sliding from side to side within the goal crease and will allow you to develop your quickness and movement skills while blocking shots. Each player should take 10 shots. Have them take a 30-second break and then take 10 more shots.
Stopping Slapshots
This warmup is done prior to the start of nearly every college or professional game. Have all your players line up across the blue line. Each player will fire a slap shot -- one at a time -- against you. In this drill, you won't have to contend with rebounds or screen shots, but it will give you the confidence to know you can handle hard shots from the point.
Square Up
Playing well in goal requires you to square up to the shooter. This means that you will face the shooter directly to cut off the angle he has when shooting the puck. When you are directly in front of the shooter, you cut off his view of the net. Come out of the net and approach the shooter to cut off that view even further -- this gives you a better chance to block the shot. You are in a better position to make quick movements with your catching glove and goalie stick to stop the puck.
Video
Many teams at the high school, college and professional level videotape practices and games. If you re playing at these levels, review those videotapes with a critical eye to find areas that you can work on. For example, you may see that you are standing too upright and that may make it difficult to make a quick kick save. You need to play the game in a balanced position that may require to get you a little lower in your stance. Watch video to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. If you are playing at the youth level or there is no videotape available, your team's goaltender coach can work with you on your form. By making observations and taking notes, he can point out your weaknesses and strengths so that you can make changes in the next practice or game.
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