Goalie Drills

Click Here to see a short video clip of "wall ball"

Color balls- Three to four balls with large color circles on balls. Goalie faces back of goal. When coach yells "turn", goalie turns-coach shoots the ball and goalie makes save as he yells out the color of the ball. Helps with concentration on the ball.

Windshield stick- Goalie windshields his stick from stick side to off-stick side as fast as possible. Coach can yell "stop", coach shoots ball, goalie makes save. To make this drill harder, coach does not have to yell "stop". Coach can just shoot ball during goalie windshield movement. Works on hands speed and stick control.

Backboard toss- Coach tosses in ball, goalie makes save and uses backboard at other end of the gym as a throwing target. Works on throwing accuracy.

Crease run- Goalie runs around the outside of the crease at full speed. While he is running he must concentrate on seeing the coach. At any point the coach can shoot the ball at the goal and the goalie must make a save. Works on foot speed, conditioning and the tracking of the ball.

Ski jumpers- Goalie can use a line or stick to do two-footed jump over stick. Not trying to jump high but to jump as many times over the stick as possible in a given time frame. Works on conditioning and body control

Walking the line- Line should separate body. Simulate making save in all 6 areas that goalies need to make saves. Slow down and practice good technique! I recommend that you have someone with some goalie background watch you do this because if you are doing something wrong you do not want to keep doing wrong! Somebody should be present to correct any technique mistakes.

Wall ball drills- Using the wall, you can simulate shots off the wall to practice your technique. Also can help with stick work. Face wall; face coach-turn-make saves drills.

Star balls- Coach shoots the star ball (bounce shot) to get a "crazy bounce" off of the floor. Star balls are more effective when bounced out in front of the goalie. Works on getting goalie to attack the ball so that the "crazy" bounce will not occur.

Pipe to pipe drill- Two coaches on both sides of the goal about three yards away. Coaches use hands to toss balls just inside of the pipes one at a time. Goalie starts on one post, coach shoots, goalie makes save and works on "flat" step along goal line and leading with the stick to the far post. Other coach tries to beat the goalie to the inside. (Between goalie and post) Goalie works on post to post technique ("flat" step) and leading with the stick to the far post. Works on the technique listed and conditioning drill.

Chase and get back drill- Coach rolls ball out to side. Goalie runs out of goal to get the ground ball throws ball to coach, and sprints back to goal. Coach can shoot to make goalie dive to make save or can wait until the goalie gets back and then shoots. Works on composer after bad clearing pass and conditioning!

End line chase- Coach shoots ball wide (on purpose) and goalie sprints to chase ball to end line.

Deflection drill- Put gloves, helmets, anything you can find in front of goal. Coach shoots at these "obstacles" to try and get a deflection. Goalie must react and make save.

Good Luck and Work Hard!!

Top of page