One of the challenges for a minor hockey coach is to train young goalies at the same pace as the other players on the team. The coaches limited experience and lack of ice time makes it important to have a four-year (ages 8 to 12 ) development plan to teach skating techniques, basic technical skills, physical attributes to develop off ice and evaluation methods,

SKATING
Skating is the most important aspect of hockey and the goalie is no exception. The goalie must be one of the best skaters on the team.   A young goalie who learns to skate properly can achieve:
>>  Good balance
>>  Speed and agility, Two attributes needed for easy and precise moves.
Among other things, these qualities will make it possible for the goalie to:
>>  Increase his speed of movement
>>  Follow the puck more efficiently
>>  Boost his confidence and motivation
>>  Move out of net
>>  Reduce fatigue during game and practice
>>  Learn basic techniques specific to role of a goaltender

I am a firm believer in having your goalies state the regular practice drills with the rest of the team.
Expect your goalie to do all the pivots, stops and starts, and crossovers. They will not be as fast and as agile as the other players but they should do as well.

THE BASIC STANCE
The goaltender's first concern should be the proper basic stance from which ALL movements will begin. A strong skating foundation is essential to establish balance and agility.  The term basic stance refers to that position that will establish proper balance and allows maximum ease in movement.  The basic stance for any goaltender should provide proper balance by taking into consideration the positioning of the arms, legs, and stick; the degree of crouching and distribution of body weight.

>>  Body weight should be evenly distributed on the balls of the feet
>>  Feet should be approximately shoulder width apart
>>  Legs should be bent at knees
>>  Catching glove should be approx. knee high, opened and at side of pad
>>  Stick hand glove should be in same position at side of pad
>>  Stick should be at very slight angle with blade flat on the ice approx. 6-7 inches in front
of pads.
>>  Crouch slightly, bending your upper body at waist.

DRILLS
Basic stance-movement and recovery agility:

To test your goalies balance and stance ask your goaltender to get into his basic stance.  When they are ready, push in at his stick and skates with your stick. If they topple forward this will show that their upper weight is to far forward and an adjustment in their basic stance may have to be made.  Have goalie move back and forth, side to side, up and down, always keeping his arms, legs, stick in the basic stance. Make sure the stick blade is on ice at all times during this movement. During any agility drills, make sure they return to basic stance.  Recovery drills, have goalie lay on their back/belly, upon a signal, return and recover to basic stance. This can be taught in stages.  Look for puck, get to their knees, get to their basic stance centering on the puck.

-------Peter's Puck Stop-------

GOALIE LINKS:

   THE NETMINDER !

He takes the blame for losses, and watches his offensive teammates bathe in all the glory of victory. The thankless job of netminding is just that, thankless.  However there is something that pushes these guys to continue deflecting pucks...A love for the great game of hockey.

Mikes Goaltender page:  Great tips and Links.

 THE GOALTENDER HOME PAGE

Probably the largest goaltender page on the net.