Goalie: Deflections Drill

This drill works both as reading pucks that go from behind the net to out front as well as working on quick reaction tips and deflections.

HOW TO:

Turn the net to face the boards and about 3 feet away. For younger or newer goalies, you can pull the net farther away, for more experienced goalies, you can put it closer. The distance from the boards changes the reaction time and angle of deflection.

The goalie will start on a post.

The shooter will shoot the puck against the boards with the purpose of deflecting it into the net.

The goalie will have to make a reactionary save selection to determine the angle on which they must attack the puck to make the save.

VARIATIONS:

Works from both a near post (goalie and shooter are on the same post) and far post (goalie and shooter are on opposite posts.

Make it random so the goalie has to follow post to post

NOTES/POINTS OF FOCUS:

Determining whether they need to drive to or drive across. The shorter the angle of defection the more a goalie needs to drive to instead of across the goalie line.

Quick, reactionary saves

Reinforce covering pucks that are near them (even though there won’t be pressure)

Also works on eye tracking