How To Keep Your Stick on the Ice
Common errors and solutions to help goalies keep their stick on the ice:
1. Size of Stick
Especially with younger goalies who get goalie equipment from their home association. Sticks that are too short make it more difficult for the goalie to bend all the way over consistently to keep their sticks on the ice. Sticks that are too big and heavy run can make it too hard to keep the entire blade of the stick on the ice.
2. Balance
When standing in goalie stance, and especially when going down into a butterfly, make sure the goalie is leaning forwards towards the shot.
Leaning backwards when making a save can result in the stick or blocker arm hitting the pads and lifting up when going down into a butterfly.
Flinching or lifting up before going down into a butterfly can also result in the stick coming up for just enough time for the ring to slide under.
3. Movement Side to Side
When going side to side to make a save, make sure to lead with the hands (glove and blocker and stick lead first) and shoulders. Turn the upper body towards the shot, then move the feet to get to where the shot is coming from.
Leaving the blocker hand and stick behind when moving side to side results in the feet getting there but the stick is late arriving, often making the goalie off balance and not set for the save in time.
1. Size of Stick
Especially with younger goalies who get goalie equipment from their home association. Sticks that are too short make it more difficult for the goalie to bend all the way over consistently to keep their sticks on the ice. Sticks that are too big and heavy run can make it too hard to keep the entire blade of the stick on the ice.
2. Balance
When standing in goalie stance, and especially when going down into a butterfly, make sure the goalie is leaning forwards towards the shot.
Leaning backwards when making a save can result in the stick or blocker arm hitting the pads and lifting up when going down into a butterfly.
Flinching or lifting up before going down into a butterfly can also result in the stick coming up for just enough time for the ring to slide under.
3. Movement Side to Side
When going side to side to make a save, make sure to lead with the hands (glove and blocker and stick lead first) and shoulders. Turn the upper body towards the shot, then move the feet to get to where the shot is coming from.
Leaving the blocker hand and stick behind when moving side to side results in the feet getting there but the stick is late arriving, often making the goalie off balance and not set for the save in time.