11 Visual Targets for Hockey Goalies



Use visual targets to help goalies play the angles properly

Angles are, arguably, the most important part of a goaltender’s game. If you cannot manage your angles appropriately, it will be more difficult to make the simple saves. Using these 11 visual cues on the ice will assist goaltenders, at all levels, to manage where they are on the ice.

11_cues

11_cues_seq211 Visual Cues: Sequence 1
1 & 11 – Goal Line
2 & 10 – Board-side Hashmarks
3 & 9 – Defensive Zone Dots
4 & 8 – Blue Line on the Boards
4 & 7 – Neutral Zone Dots
6 – Straight up the Middle

11 Visual Cues: Sequence 2
1. Spray paint lines on the ice that match up with the visual cues
2. Set up pucks further out along the visual cues (spray paint dots to keep the set-up)
3. Players shoot from the spray painted dots, goalie uses spray painted lines to judge angles

Notes:
In this drill I discuss marking the ice using rope and paint. This is not absolutely necessary to work with the visual cues but will help a younger goalie correct his or her position within a practice. After doing this once or twice, you shouldn’t have to do it anymore unless the goaltender continues struggling with angles.

Another good idea is to take video of the goalies telescoping in and out. You can then show them the video so they can see how the angles change while they move in and out at the cue. This will definitively teach them how angles work. All of this seems very simple and basic, yet almost all goalies struggle (even some of the most experienced) with angles at some time in their career. Work on this and you will definitely be a better goalie.

Regards,

Hands


USE THIS DRILL IN YOUR OWN PRACTICE PLAN:



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