what DOES A BILLINGSLEY GOALTENDING WORKOUT LOOK LIKE?
Welcome!
Please arrive as early as possible for your session so that you are ready and dressed 10 minutes before you go on the ice. So make sure you have loosened up and are mentally and physically ready to work hard for the entire session.
Preparation is the key to success. Whether that be preparing for a test at school, or a big playoff game, or the next shot, we have to be prepared to perform at our best.
Just "showing up", without any preparation will lead to mediocre results and inconsistency.
"Failing to plan, is planning to fail."
To that end, I am sharing the complete breakdown of every drill we're going to do, and more importantly, WHY we're doing them.
I've also included videos from professionals that demonstrate proper technique. I've also attached a tryout plan that includes suggestions on how to maximize your tryout. (tips, hints and what coaches/evaluators are looking for).
Doing a pre-practice preparation, will mentally prepare you for what is ahead and maximize our time on the ice. Please find some time before the session to have a look at the plan and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I am here to support you in your goals.
Please arrive as early as possible for your session so that you are ready and dressed 10 minutes before you go on the ice. So make sure you have loosened up and are mentally and physically ready to work hard for the entire session.
Preparation is the key to success. Whether that be preparing for a test at school, or a big playoff game, or the next shot, we have to be prepared to perform at our best.
Just "showing up", without any preparation will lead to mediocre results and inconsistency.
"Failing to plan, is planning to fail."
To that end, I am sharing the complete breakdown of every drill we're going to do, and more importantly, WHY we're doing them.
I've also included videos from professionals that demonstrate proper technique. I've also attached a tryout plan that includes suggestions on how to maximize your tryout. (tips, hints and what coaches/evaluators are looking for).
Doing a pre-practice preparation, will mentally prepare you for what is ahead and maximize our time on the ice. Please find some time before the session to have a look at the plan and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I am here to support you in your goals.
SESSION DETAILS
We will all meet in the dressing room (parents are welcome too) to discuss expectations, answer any questions, and get our minds and body's switched on.
- 0:00-0:04 - Meet @ center ice for warm up stretches.
- 0:04 - 0:09 - Skating warm up (T-push and rotational c-cut)
Net 1: Blue line (Home, Left side)
DRILL:
Start from a seal on the right post. Quick look at shooter out front. T-push to the top of the crease. Shot from the top, make the save.
KEY POINTS:
This drill focuses on our ability to get track a puck passed from behind the net. We must be making a move that gets our body towards the middle of the net, with as much of our body facing the shooter as quickly as possible. Often times, this save is made because of excellent positioning, versus reaction.
Start from a seal on the right post. Quick look at shooter out front. T-push to the top of the crease. Shot from the top, make the save.
KEY POINTS:
- Seal post with skate.
- Quick look is so we know the line we'll need to take when/if the pass travels out front. You ,may need to do multiple times depending on how long the puck is behind the net.
- Explode off post, leading with your knee. Snap front leg closed so your pad gets square as soon as possible.
- Lead with your head, rotate your shoulders to the shooter. Stick, glove(or blocker) lead. So when you arrive, you're square. Get on top of the puck!
- Arrive on your feet - react!
- Follow ALL rebounds, getting our chest facing the puck.
This drill focuses on our ability to get track a puck passed from behind the net. We must be making a move that gets our body towards the middle of the net, with as much of our body facing the shooter as quickly as possible. Often times, this save is made because of excellent positioning, versus reaction.
Advanced OPTION for NET 1: RVH/POST PLAY
Goalies can choose to add this sequence into the above drill.
Net 2: Blue Line (Visitor, Left side)
DRILL: NEW! COLOURED PUCKS SHOOTING STATION (HAND EYE WORK)
From Butterfly, shooter will shoot pucks from behind a screen to glove hand and blocker, then stick saves using 8 different colours of pucks. As the player shoots, goalie must focus, watching the puck closely and call out the colour of puck before he makes the save.
KEY POINTS:
This drill works on proper technique and develops our hand eye coordination. By letting your eyes be patient and track the puck, a goalie will be hyper focused on the puck, thus training our hand eye coordination. Proper rebound control is key. Glove save should have no rebound. Shots to the blocker should be directed to the corner.
*Turning into the shot, and tracking with your head gets you in a ready position to move should there be a rebound.
From Butterfly, shooter will shoot pucks from behind a screen to glove hand and blocker, then stick saves using 8 different colours of pucks. As the player shoots, goalie must focus, watching the puck closely and call out the colour of puck before he makes the save.
KEY POINTS:
- Rehearse the save you're about to make.
- Focus on the shooter, and watch the puck closely. Call out the colour as soon as you see it. Follow it to your gloves/ stick.
- Lean TOWARDS the shot, not away from it.
- Glove up, Blocker turned down(point knuckles towards the ice)
- Turn your head as your eyes track the puck all the way from the shooters stick, into your glove, or off your blocker
This drill works on proper technique and develops our hand eye coordination. By letting your eyes be patient and track the puck, a goalie will be hyper focused on the puck, thus training our hand eye coordination. Proper rebound control is key. Glove save should have no rebound. Shots to the blocker should be directed to the corner.
*Turning into the shot, and tracking with your head gets you in a ready position to move should there be a rebound.
Net 3: Far End (Furthest from gallery)
TRACKING THE PUCK / STAYING SQUARE
DRILL: Goalies will follow the shooter around the zone, tracking the puck using shuffles, and t-pushes to ALWAYS have his/her chest facing the puck. Shooter will shoot at any point, so be ready!
KEY POINTS:
In my opinion, THIS is the most important drill of our entire session. Goalies that can stay in a ready crouch, and stay square while tracking the puck around the zone are goalies that make a lot of saves. You are always ready, and you are always as big as you can possibly be.
As a coach, this is the number one thing I am looking for when choosing between goalies. Goalies that can track a puck and stay square while doing it are extremely valuable.
KEY POINTS:
- STAY SQUARE! What this means is do not let the shooter get "beside" you at any point. The logo on your Billingsley Goaltending jersey should always be facing the shooter. Think of it as the goalie on your chest needs to be able to see the shooter/puck
- Be Patient. Wait for the shooter to make the first move.
- Hold your edges (Stay on your feet as long as possible)
In my opinion, THIS is the most important drill of our entire session. Goalies that can stay in a ready crouch, and stay square while tracking the puck around the zone are goalies that make a lot of saves. You are always ready, and you are always as big as you can possibly be.
As a coach, this is the number one thing I am looking for when choosing between goalies. Goalies that can track a puck and stay square while doing it are extremely valuable.
Net 4: Blue Line (Visitor, Right side)
DRILL: Start at centre, slide right, dig in, push back to centre, hold your edges. Save the shot.
KEY POINTS:
WHY?
This drill simulates a scramble in front of the net. We need to cover the bottom of the net, but keeping our gloves up gives us coverage up high. As the puck scrambles, we need to be able to move side to side (laterally), while staying square. When at all possible, we want to get our feet and hold the edges. We have more save options from our feet!
The key to watch in the video is how well he stays low - even though he gets to his feet.
KEY POINTS:
- Tight butterfly. Pad together. Glove up and out (Think of being on top of the puck)
- IMPORTANT - Lead with head! (watch video) This gets us moving in the right direction.
- Lift far leg, dig in to the ice, and drive hard to the side. Weight should move towards slide, not away from it.
- Slide, leading with glove (remember: up and out)
- Dig in with sliding leg, to stop slide.
- Drive your leg back towards the middle of the net. *Watch those gloves! Don't let them drop! Keep them UP and OUT.
- BASIC MOVE: Push back to centre, stay in butterfly.
- ADVANCED MOVE: slide back, and get to feet.
WHY?
This drill simulates a scramble in front of the net. We need to cover the bottom of the net, but keeping our gloves up gives us coverage up high. As the puck scrambles, we need to be able to move side to side (laterally), while staying square. When at all possible, we want to get our feet and hold the edges. We have more save options from our feet!
The key to watch in the video is how well he stays low - even though he gets to his feet.
Net 5: Blue Line (Home, Right side)
DRILLS: Skating drills.
KEY POINTS:
1. Short, explosive T-pushes around the crease, both ways 2x.
KEY POINTS: Focus on "SNAPPING" that lead leg so your pad gets facing the front as soon as possible. Lead with the stick and rotate the shoulders. (Listen to Carey Price explain it in the video below)
KEY POINTS:
- FACT: Goalies should always be the best skaters on the team. Not the fastest, but the BEST. That means a goalie can move around the crease, get up and down quickly, be in perfect balance, and use his/her edges to move efficiently.
- Do the skating drill as though you were in the middle of a game.
- Shuffles and T-Pushes are the key to quick movements around the crease and keeping square. These drills will practice the techniques needed to rock the drill in NET 3!
1. Short, explosive T-pushes around the crease, both ways 2x.
KEY POINTS: Focus on "SNAPPING" that lead leg so your pad gets facing the front as soon as possible. Lead with the stick and rotate the shoulders. (Listen to Carey Price explain it in the video below)
2. Four square. Start on feet, butterfly, pivot, slide right. Pivot, push back to feet. Butterfly. Pivot, slide right. (do complete square, then go the other way.)
KEY POINTS: Watch Hellebuyck's head as he turns and slides. It always leads him. He is super quick to get back to his feet after the slide. Gloves always lead the goalie.( Remember: Up and OUT)
KEY POINTS: Watch Hellebuyck's head as he turns and slides. It always leads him. He is super quick to get back to his feet after the slide. Gloves always lead the goalie.( Remember: Up and OUT)
3. Start at top, shuffle left. back to top. 3x3. Start at top, shuffle left. back to top. 3x
KEY POINTS:
KEY POINTS:
- This one simulates a penalty kill situation where the puck is being moved around the blueline. Short, Tight movements.
- Gloves never drop or sway, they are always leading.
- Slight head turn.
- Watch his knees. Knees lead the movement, foot follows, not the other way around. Use your knees!
Net 6 - Close End (Closest to gallery)
DRILL:
This is a multi-skill drill that works on everything we've done in the other nets, plus we've added a tight angle (or called, 'dead angle')
KEY POINTS:
SHOT 1. Top of crease, Get set early, gloves out, deep in your knees. Make the far side leg save in a tight butterfly, heels out beside you, not in behind - this makes the push slide much more difficult. Be ready for rebound.
SHOT 2. Quickly Slide to the next puck, leading with your head, and glove or blocker. Get your shoulders turning so your chest faces the rebound puck
SHOT 3. Walk out from the corner, so seal the post, RVH (if you choose) or get outside the post and face the shooter. No matter what you choose, be ready for a dead angle shot, or to slide along the goal line as the shooter walks out front.
If he's too close, remember to have an ACTIVE STICK! Poke the puck away but make sure we don't lose our body position. No sliding forward on our belly!
SHOT 4. Pass out from the corner to top of slot, shot. (See drill on NET 1)
This is a multi-skill drill that works on everything we've done in the other nets, plus we've added a tight angle (or called, 'dead angle')
KEY POINTS:
SHOT 1. Top of crease, Get set early, gloves out, deep in your knees. Make the far side leg save in a tight butterfly, heels out beside you, not in behind - this makes the push slide much more difficult. Be ready for rebound.
SHOT 2. Quickly Slide to the next puck, leading with your head, and glove or blocker. Get your shoulders turning so your chest faces the rebound puck
SHOT 3. Walk out from the corner, so seal the post, RVH (if you choose) or get outside the post and face the shooter. No matter what you choose, be ready for a dead angle shot, or to slide along the goal line as the shooter walks out front.
If he's too close, remember to have an ACTIVE STICK! Poke the puck away but make sure we don't lose our body position. No sliding forward on our belly!
SHOT 4. Pass out from the corner to top of slot, shot. (See drill on NET 1)
A NOTE ABOUT POSITIONING
The ABCs of Depth (courtesy of USA Hockey)
- Defensive Depth: When the puck is in this area the goaltender is either on the post or is tracking the puck behind the net.
- Conservative Depth: When the puck is in this area the goaltender is aware of a potential lateral play or is recovering to be set on a rebound. Also, while the puck is in the opposite end of the ice rink or near the center red line, the goaltender should be in the center of the crease between defensive and conservative depth, ready to move to aggressive depth as the play nears the defensive zone.
- Base Depth: When the puck is in this area the goaltender will have his or her skate blades on the top of the crease (red outline of the crease). This is the depth is where goaltenders should be prior to most shot attempts against them.
- Aggressive Depth: When the puck is in this area the goalie reaches the aggressive depth to address the play as the puck enters the defensive zone. Aggressive depth is also used when the goaltender reads the play and anticipates a shot. If the goaltender has time, a quick push to aggressive depth prior to the shot will cut down the angle the puck has to the net.
ANGLES
I'm always asked how to work on angles with young goalies. As a young goalie myself, I used to always check my angles off the offside dot. Most time's the correct angle was on the corner of the hash-marks of the face off circle. But not all rinks are built the same. So I would always check the correct angle by moving out and checking each of my sides to make sure I could see the same amount of net. Then, I'd make a small mark on the ice with my stick. Obviously it would disappear, but it was a way for me to mentally "mark the spot".
When a player came in to the zone, I'd check where he was in relation to the offside circle and my mark, and adjust accordingly. It wasn't perfect, but it did the trick for me.
I've found this visual reference diagram (weisstechhockey.com) that I think is a great tool to show young goalies. It's a lot to remember, but I'd suggest printing it out and laminating it, then bringing it to practice so that our goalie can work on these in down times at practice.
When a player came in to the zone, I'd check where he was in relation to the offside circle and my mark, and adjust accordingly. It wasn't perfect, but it did the trick for me.
I've found this visual reference diagram (weisstechhockey.com) that I think is a great tool to show young goalies. It's a lot to remember, but I'd suggest printing it out and laminating it, then bringing it to practice so that our goalie can work on these in down times at practice.
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