Goaltender stance, shuffle and T-push

Setup

1. The goaltender is in full goalie gear: helmet and cage, throat protector, chest protector, pads, blocker, glove, pants and skates. Shooters wear full equipment.
2. Three shooters (or a coach moving between spots) with pucks: one at the top circle, one in the high slot, one at the bottom circle.
3. Shooters use low wrist shots only, aimed at the pads or the low corners. No slapshots and nothing high in this drill.
4. Two goaltenders can share the net and swap every five shots.

How it runs

1. Start with movement only: the coach points to a shooter and the goaltender moves to face them, holds the stance for a second, then recovers to the middle.
2. Short moves across the top of the crease use the shuffle; longer moves post to post or out to the top of the crease use the T-push.
3. Add shots: the goaltender moves, sets square and calls ready, and only then does the pointed-at shooter shoot.
4. After each save the goaltender controls or clears the rebound, then the coach points to the next shooter.
5. Rounds of about 30 seconds, then a rest and water. Keep the shots at a pace the goaltender can set for every time.

Coaching points

• Stance: feet a bit wider than the shoulders, knees bent, chest up, glove and blocker in front of the body, stick on the ice.
• Shuffle: small pushes off the inside edge of one skate; the pads stay square and the stance stays the same height.
• T-push: turn the lead skate to point where you're going, push hard with the back leg, then stop square on the angle.
• Lead with the eyes and the head; the body follows the eyes.

Common mistakes

• Standing up tall during the movement and being late to set.
• Over-sliding past the angle on a T-push.
• Dropping the hands or the stick coming off the ice while moving.