Mastering the Art of Goaltending: A Focus on Quality and Purposeful Drills with Nathan Park

Goaltending is a unique position in the world of sports, demanding an intricate understanding of the game, quick reflexes, and unwavering focus. Nathan Park, a seasoned goaltender with nearly two decades of experience, has honed his skills through college, junior-level, and NHL play. Today, he’s not only the founder of True North Goaltending, a successful coaching service based in Edmonton Alberta, but also the brains behind the DIY Goalie, a goalie content website that provides resources and knowledge to goalies worldwide.

Park firmly believes that successful coaching begins with understanding the “why” behind each drill. When training goalies, it’s vital to break down the reasoning behind each movement, enabling them to refine their technique and self-correct their mistakes. By encouraging goalies to be students of the game, Park empowers them to take charge of their own development, which is a crucial aspect of reaching their full potential.

Each drill should mimic real-game situations to help goalies improve their performance when it matters most. For example, focusing on save execution requires tracking the puck all the way into contact, positioning the body in front of the puck, leaning into the save, and avoiding unnecessary movements. These key elements help goalies maintain control and react effectively during fast-paced gameplay.

Park provided us with three effective goalie drills, let’s dive in!

 

1. The Five Puck Tracking Sequence

 

 

Objective: Improving tracking skills and quick recovery.

Execution: Set up five stationary pucks in the crease, numbered from one to five. The goalie starts in a butterfly position at the top of the crease. As the coach yells out numbers one to five sequentially, the goalie must use their eyes to move and track each corresponding puck. After tracking puck five, the goalie performs a t-push recovery to their feet and moves to the coach for a shot, followed by a potential rebound play.

Importance: This drill enhances the goalie’s ability to track the puck effectively, leading to better positioning for making saves and handling rebounds.

 

2. Three Shot Hand Warm-Up

 

 

Objective: Improving save execution and hand positioning.

Execution: The goalie starts on one post and t-pushes out to the top of the crease. The coach shoots three pucks high to the side opposite to where the goalie came from (i.e., blocker post results in three glove shots). The first shot is taken while the goalie is standing, the second while they drop down to make the save, and the third with the goalie remaining in a butterfly position. After the three shots, the goalie performs a t-push recovery to the starting post and repeats the drill in the opposite direction.

Importance: This drill helps goalies work on their save execution, hand placement, and tracking skills, ensuring a smooth and consistent save technique.

 

3. Cross Crease Push with Small Adjustment Back

 

 

Objective: Improving lateral movement and angle management.

Execution: The goalie starts on one post and t-pushes up to the top of the crease, getting set on the near face-off dot. The coach then drags the puck laterally across the ice and shoots at any time. The goalie must follow the coach’s movement with small adjustments while maintaining their angle. The coach can shoot at any time as they cut across the ice, followed by a potential rebound play. The goalie resets on the other side for the next rep.

Importance: This movement-focused drill helps goalies practice proper lateral pushes, maintaining angles, and making small, precise adjustments to keep their positioning intact.

 

Park’s wealth of experience and passion for goaltending shine through his coaching philosophy and the carefully designed drills he recommends. The three drills mentioned above serve as valuable tools for goalies of all ages to refine their skills, improve their performance, and ultimately elevate their game to new heights!

 

Written by Kelsey Dold in collaboration with Nathan Park 

July 27, 2023

 

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