Tips for Goalies


It’s not easy working between the pipes. As a goalie, the margin for error is slim and the potential for glory isn’t much better. On top of that, you have to constantly deal with your teammates and the ‘media’ calling you weird! Yes, goalies have a difficult job to perform, but you can take your game to the next level with just a few insights and tips and enjoy a new level of confidence in your game. Here are the SSC’s Top 5 Goalie Tips!

1. BE FLEXIBLE: Learn good stretching techniques. Read up on techniques online, or try and track down Miikka Kiprusoff.  Now we’re not just talking warm up stretches, but rather stretches to increase your overall flexibility. You don't need to spend a ton of time on it each day, but over time you will increase your range and mobility within the crease and open up new options for stopping shots.
2. BE DECISIVE WITH YOUR STICK: Learn to maximize your goal stick as a tool. We all know the value of a good poke check, but you can also use it to break up passes, block pass-outs and wraparounds from behind the net and so on. Learn how to time these moves to take the opposing players by surprise. You will feel less at their mercy, and they will learn that they can’t dipsy doodle in front of you all day.
3. HAVE NO SHAME: Release your inner Dominik Hasek. It’s beneficial to be a technically sound butterfly goalie (Patrick Roy), but at the end of the day it is all about getting yourself, or some part of yourself, in front of that shot. Never worry about how it looks and always make the attempt. It may look and feel less than graceful at times, but nothing makes you look better than making that game changing save.
4. PLAY THE SHOT, NOT THE SHOOTER: Some players will try to fake and fool you, but simply don't play along. No matter how good a player is, the ball still has to obey the laws of physics. 
5. DON’T CATCH WHAT CAN HIT YOU: As exciting as that big glove save can be, if you are reaching to make saves more often than not, either you, your defense or possibly both are doing something wrong. If you have to reach for a shot, that probably means you are out of options if you give up a rebound. Stay centered and square to the ball and keep its 'view' of your net blocked. Then if they get a rebound you can still flash out the glove, or kick out a pad sprawl into a snow angel and so on as you work through your save options. Just don't give it up all at once.