5 Tips for Goalies

1. Watching the ball through all passes and most importantly through the whole flight of the shot from the shooters stick into the goalie stick pocket is the key to good saves - Ball toss and making saves with an attack stick is the best drill for this.

2. Nothing makes a goalie smoother or faster than setting up with his top hand to the side of his eye and DRIVING that hand and the bottom hand away from the body with the top hand leading to the ball (in a line from the eye to the ball). This short push of both hands helps get the feet moving too and sets up the keeper to make the save with both hands and elbows in front of the chest during the whole save. Ball Toss is the best drill for this.

3. Playing on the balls of the feet and using the step to move the hips forward simultaneously with the hands so that the step/hip movement helps get the hands to the ball quicker

4. Watching the ball in the air on passes and in the shooters stick is one of the best concentration tricks. It helps in getting the keeper set up and squared up prior to the shot coming. If the shooter hides the ball (behind his back or helmet) then look for the lip of the stick and as it appears so will the ball. - We practice this with the shooter 5-6 yards from the goalie receiving cross crease passes and then hiding the ball before shooting.

5. Keep the stick flat to the ball until it hits the pocket, that way the most stick area is facing the ball to make the save. Trying to cradle-catch the ball when saving is not as productive as keeping the stick face facing the ball. The approach that DRIVES the top hand to the ball with the stick face facing the ball is the most productive approach.