Goaltender butterfly and rebound control

Setup

1. A goaltender in full goalie gear in the net. Shooters and rebound players in full equipment.
2. A coach (CO) or an accurate shooter in the slot with a supply of pucks; rebound players (P1, P2) near the bottom of each faceoff circle.
3. Warm the hips and groin properly before any butterfly work.
4. With two goaltenders, alternate sets: one works while the other rests and watches.

How it runs

1. Start with six to eight butterfly drops without a shot: knees together, pads flat on the ice, gloves out in front, stick covering the five-hole.
2. Low shots at controlled pace from the slot. The goaltender drops on the release and angles the stick and pads to send the rebound into the nearer corner.
3. After each save the goaltender recovers to the feet and seals the post on the rebound side; a rebound player picks up the puck and passes it back to the shooter.
4. The next shot comes only when the goaltender is square and calls ready. Sets of six shots, then rest and water; four or five sets.

Coaching points

• Track the puck all the way onto the pad or stick: eyes lead, head follows.
• Seal the ice: no gap between the pads, or between the pads and the ice.
• Steer with the stick angle. Rebounds go to the corners, never back into the slot.
• Stay tall in the butterfly, chest up and hands forward, not sitting back on the heels.
• Recover with the leg that faces the next play, then push square to the shooter.
• If a puck can't be steered, smother it and freeze it.

Common mistakes

• Dropping before the release and giving the shooter the top of the net.
• Stick blade square to the shooter, so the rebound comes straight back out.
• Recovering slowly or on both knees.
• Shooters going high or hard before the goaltender is ready.