Short Side angles.

Most folks here have said they give the post just a little touch with their glove before moving out to cut the angle, so they know they're in the position they want.

I generally stand in the middle of the crease arc when the play is not in my zone, and try to keep my chest pointed at the puck when it is.

Along with what Hockey School Dropout said, learn visual clues as well. The hashmarks on the inside of the face off circles are good. Practice using them as angle reference points, then turn around and see where you are compared to the net, make adjustments when needed.

Like HSD said, I tend to tap my posts ever-so-slightly just as a physical cue, and then use visual clues to maintain my positioning, like rfleming said. You can see the taps in this video:



It sounds like you're somehow getting off your angle once you're out in the middle of your crease. Visual cues are good, but you need someone to tell you where you are in the net. When I'm instructing a new goalie for the first time, what I like to do is first skate around with the puck for a little and have them follow me in the crease, and then I'll stop, get down at puck level, and look at where they are in the net. Easily four out of five times they'll be to one side or the other, so I correct them, and then keep doing that drill. Eventually they learn to use visual and physical cues to maintain a good angle. If you can, the next time you're at a drop-in, stick and puck, or perhaps in a pregame, get one of your friends or teammates to literally get down on the ice and look up from the puck's perspective and see if you're off your angles. Then have him direct you to a better position, and then keep that in mind in your games.

Originally Posted by synesthete

It sounds like you're somehow getting off your angle once you're out in the middle of your crease. Visual cues are good, but you need someone to tell you where you are in the net. When I'm instructing a new goalie for the first time, what I like to do is first skate around with the puck for a little and have them follow me in the crease, and then I'll stop, get down at puck level, and look at where they are in the net. Easily four out of five times they'll be to one side or the other, so I correct them, and then keep doing that drill. Eventually they learn to use visual and physical cues to maintain a good angle. If you can, the next time you're at a drop-in, stick and puck, or perhaps in a pregame, get one of your friends or teammates to literally get down on the ice and look up from the puck's perspective and see if you're off your angles. Then have him direct you to a better position, and then keep that in mind in your games.

A similar way of this drill is have the person skating around with the puck leave it there when they stop, they come take your place and you go out to the puck. It's a little harder to see all the holes because they obviously don't have on all the goal pads, but you can see the angle well. Me being a visual learner, that helped me a lot.

I want to try that getting down to puck level and seeing what holes I'm leaving. I always forget the whole "think about the puck's perspective" philosphy when playing.

Great video. Oddly enough, the other goalie is short and is playing outside the crease to cut down angle. He's got really good positioning.
Compare 4:32 and 4:40, you can see a huge difference in pad height.

Originally Posted by caveman27

Great video. Oddly enough, the other goalie is short and is playing outside the crease to cut down angle. He's got really good positioning.
Compare 4:32 and 4:40, you can see a huge difference in pad height.

are you serious about his positioning??


on the positioning side of things... this can be done on your own, without the need of anyone else..very similar to what everyone else is saying.

Now if you saw the other thread about being tied to the crossbar -- this may or may not apply, depending what you think.

Anyways if you place a puck on the center of the goalline, keep a few on the net, then have some farther out that you are essentially moving to...grab a puck and do your movement drill but when you stop at the target puck, drop in your butterfly and place the puck in your hand directly in the middle of your body on the ice.

heres a vid :

now, he is just going straight out, but you can incorporate shuffles, t pushes or anything..any play can be simulated..

then just go out and look...if you are on angle, the pucks should line up -- simple, and can be done alone or with a skater skating around.

Originally Posted by caveman27

Great video. Oddly enough, the other goalie is short and is playing outside the crease to cut down angle. He's got really good positioning.
Compare 4:32 and 4:40, you can see a huge difference in pad height.

He's pretty short.. didn't really realize it until we were standing there before our game tonight. Funny enough, he came up to me as we were walking in near each other and asked if I brought the camera again.. he really enjoyed it. I'm glad I didn't bring it tonight, though, as we were both TERRIBLE.

how short though??

should be no reason anyone would play that far out..even if he is sayyy 5'5..

if you don't mind me asking..i think you stated in a previous post but, where did you get the cameras? and were they expensive..I enjoy being able to watch but just have a handheld hard drive recorder.