Bring It

The goaltending position has evolved so that all goalies need to learn to move laterally when they are down, while staying in position to stop the puck. Once the goalie has gone down to make a save, the quickest, most efficient way to respond to subsequent shots is to stay down and move while still down on the ice. To do this effectively, a goalie must drive off the inside edge of the back skate on the drive leg (the leg that is driving or pushing the goalie laterally).

It is crucial, when moving laterally while down, that the goalie learns to recover the back leg quickly or “bring it” quickly underneath them after the drive off the back skate. The “bring it drill” will really help goalies to learn this important skill.

Explanation of the Drill

The coach has a puck in the low slot, below the hash marks and in the middle of the ice. The exact positioning will depend on the age and ability of the goalie. For young goalies the coach will be just in front of the crease. For older and more advanced goalies the coach will be farther out. The goalie starts centered in the net, deep in the crease in proper stance with his or her skates just in front of the goal line.

On a signal from the coach, usually a stick tap, the goalie sculls out towards one of the faceoff dots on a diagonal (moves in stance driving off their heels with their skates remaining on the ice) until their skates are at the top of the crease, where they stop and butterfly so that they are square to the faceoff dot. On a second stick tap from the coach, the goalie then moves, while down, and does a back skate drive (pushes off the back skate) and a partial recovery (recovers to a butterfly and not a standing position) so that the goalie is square and centered to the coach’s puck in a butterfly.

Once the goalie is square and centered to the puck, the coach then a) shoots on the goalie; b) moves the puck to the trapper side of the goalie and shoots; or c) moves the puck to the blocker side of the goalie and shoots. The goalie must react to the puck. The goalie will stay in a butterfly to block the quick shot or the goalie will move while down and do a back leg drive and partial recovery to stay centered and square to the puck and to block the shot after the coach moves the puck. The goalie stays down throughout the drill. On this second movement, while down, it is again crucial that the goalie is able to “bring it”, that is to quickly recover the back or drive leg to bring it underneath them. This is crucial as it is important that the goalie fills any holes when they are moving or in “transition” between set positions.

One of the most vulnerable areas after the goalie drives off the back skate and opens up after the push, is the five-hole, between the pads. “Bringing” the back leg or recovering the leg quickly into the body, together with good positioning of the stick, will allow the goalie to fill the five-hole. “Bringing” the back leg allows the goalie to be in proper position for a compact butterfly, filling all spaces once they have moved to be centered and square to the puck; and. This technique also puts the goalie into a position to be able to use the leg as the drive leg again, if they are going to be moving in the same direction, or the lead leg, if they are going to be moving in the opposite direction to react to the movement of the puck by the coach.

If the goalie is moving in the same direction to react to the movement of the puck, they will be using the same leg as the drive leg. If they are moving in the opposite direction they will use the other leg as the drive leg. The coach will have the goalie alternate the sides to which they are sculling out, to work on both legs as the drive and recovery leg on the initial back leg drive and partial recovery. Once the goalie has moved to be in a butterfly square and centered to the coach’s puck, the coach will move in different directions with the puck, sometimes further in the same direction that the goalie has already moved, and sometimes in the direction opposite to the way the goalie has already moved, before shooting.

The coach will want to start with two additional pucks that are on the ice in front of the crease and centered on a line from the faceoff dot to the centre of the net on each side. When the goalie sculls out on the diagonal to the top of the crease and then goes down in a butterfly they can be centered and square to these pucks. This will help the goalie to be in proper position before executing the first back skate drive and partial recovery.

Options

How the drill progresses depends on the age and ability of the goalie you are working with. With all goalies, you should build their confidence but challenge them through a progression with the drill. A good way to start, is to have the goalie work on one consistent pattern of movement so that the goalie acquires the skill of back leg drive and recovery through repetition. Start by setting up with your puck (the puck you will be shooting or moving) in front of the crease on a line between the faceoff dot and the centre of the net. Put a second puck on the ice in front of the crease in the middle of the ice. Have the goalie scull out and butterfly square and centered to your puck. Shoot on the goalie.

Have the goalie then move while down with a back skate drive and partial recovery to butterfly square and centered to the puck in the middle. Once they are in their butterfly, tap your stick and have the goalie move while down with a back skate drive and partial recovery to their initial butterfly position, centered and square to a third puck, which you now have on your stick in the same position as the first puck. Once the goalie is square and centered to your puck in butterfly position, shoot again on the goalie.

Repeat this on both sides of the net until the goalie is proficient in the skill of back skate drive and partial recovery, and importantly, in “bringing” or recovering quickly with the back leg in both directions. Then you are ready to add some movement of the puck after the second back skate drive and partial recovery. Initially, always move in the same direction as the second back skate drive and partial recovery, namely towards the goal line. Once the goalie is proficient in this skill, you can start to move in both directions. Now you are ready to try the drill with the coach in the middle of the ice with a puck and with options to move in either direction.

Coach's Tips

This is a very challenging skill to learn. Be sure to build the confidence of the goalie through progressions with the drill. You are in control of the timing of the drill through your stick taps. You control the level of difficulty of the drill for the goalie through what you do with the puck before and as you shoot it (i.e. how and where you shoot it and how quickly and how far you move the puck before shooting it). You can work many adaptations of this drill to keep any goalie of any ability challenged and developing the skill. Make sure your goalie has a good foundation with proper stance from the outset. Make sure their butterfly mechanics are solid with a wide, compact and upright butterfly.

Encourage the goalie to be “tall” in their butterfly, with their head up, back straight and trapper and blocker in proper position. Tell the goalie that you want to see the logo on their sweater at all times. Make sure your goalie is always square and centered to the puck. It is important that the goalie is always moving “eyes first” so that he or she moves their eyes and head to the puck to start the move and keeps their eyes on the puck throughout the move.

The positioning of the hands and stick are crucial. The hands are out from the body and forward when driving and moving. In butterfly position when the puck is close, the hands are low and tight to the body to fill the “six-holes” or the hole between the arm and the body. The stick blade is always centered, in front and between the goalies shoulders and leads every movement. The ability to drive off the back skate and recover that leg quickly requires good balance and efficient movement of the rest of the body.

If the rest of the body is in proper position, the goalie is able to keep their balance as they bring the drive skate in close to the body to get more of the blade of the drive skate on the ice for a stronger push. Read the player’s tips for some more great points on the technique to be developed with the drive skate and partial recovery. You will have a lot of fun with this drill, watching your goalie progress with this important skill and pushing and challenging your goalie. With more advanced goalies you can get into fun competitions with them to elevate their game!

Tips for Players

Try to be efficient in all your movements. You want to stay square and centered to the puck at all times. You should be eyes first and “head square to the puck” to initiate every movement. The positioning of your stick is crucial to assist with your movement and to fill the holes in transition (while moving) between set positions. Try to be wide but compact and tall in your butterfly. Your hands will be away from the body while moving and will help lead your drive. The position of your hands when set in the butterfly will depend on where the puck is-hands are closer and tighter to the body, the closer the puck is to you.

You have to fill the “six-holes” – the space between your arms and the body. When your technique is sound and you move efficiently, it will allow you to stay balanced and maximize your drive off the back skate and the speed of your recovery. You will be driving off the inside edge of the back skate.

The amount of the blade on the ice when you drive will vary. If you are very flexible and able to bring the drive leg well into the body and underneath you, you will be able to have more of the blade of the drive skate on the ice. Some goalies drive off the entire blade, from the heel to the ball of their foot. Other goalies drive off the front half of their blade, from the middle of the blade to the ball of your foot. The amount of blade you use will also depend on the nature of the movement.

Quick short movements while down can be accomplished by driving off the front half of the skate and sometimes only the ball of the foot. For a longer drive, you will want to bring your skate closer into your body and drive off more of your blade. The pad of the lead leg as you drive through your partial recovery must be flush on the ice. The transfer of your weight to the lead leg will allow you to recover your back leg quickly and “bring it” quickly underneath you for your butterfly.

Stay upright and tall through your back skate drive. Drive with a knee extension. Once you get more skilled at this move, you will add an ankle extension at the end of your drive for added thrust and control.

As you move into your butterfly, remember your butterfly mechanics. You want to be wide, compact and upright in your butterfly. As you move off your drive into your butterfly your weight will be evenly distributed between your legs to be balanced. When moving in and out of your butterfly, engage your core to remain upright, balanced and in proper position. Make sure your coach can see your team logo at all times! Be big and fill holes. Have fun challenging yourself and competing with your coach in this drill!

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