I do not give on ice tips very often, but this one applies to both on-ice and off-ice agility training for goalies. Do you always start your agility drills from the same neutral standing position? In a game situation, do you always make a save from the same neutral ready position? Ideally, yes, but practically – NO WAY! So this Rapid Response Goalie Training tip gives you some different positions from which to start your agility drills to help you react in a quick and efficient way from different postures.
Try these different starting positions:
- Small hops – do 3 small hops then go into the drill
- Lying on your stomach
- Lying on your back
- Kneeling with one knee down
- Catch and pass a Medicine Ball 3 times then start the drill (might be tough to do on the ice J)
- Facing away from the location of the drill (back to the drill)
- Kneeling on both knees
- Shuffling side to side until your partner yells “Go!”
You don’t need me to tell you that hockey is not predictable – you already know that. Once you have the basics of your agility drill patterns down, challenge your neuromuscular system by varying the starting position. Ideally you will always be in proper position to make a save, but realistically that is not going to happen, so why not through in a few of these variations to help you brain and body process the information for a quick response when the time comes.
Hope this helps shake things up a little and boost your agility in the crease!
Cheers,
Maria
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