Hockey Goalie Drills

You see, most coaches come right from work to the rink. A lot of times they just don't have the time to draw up a practice plan for their practice the night before. 

This is why Pass the Puck started 10 years ago. To help coaches with their teams. Today, you can jump on the site and download any drill that you see on the site free of charge. 

All you have to do is just sign up. Yes, if you are looking at this page, you are already a member. But that we would like for you to do is send this page to a friend. Copy and paste anything you would like to send to friends. 

Don't stand on the ice wondering what drill to do next. We have this already set for you. Just go to the link that provides you with our 25 week coaching planner for both full ice and half ice practice plans. 

This way when you are at work, all you have to do is just print it out and take it with you.

Let peer pressure work for you!  When I first started coaching hockey, I had all the players stand in a circle.  Big mistake! 

One time, a player that was behind me was mocking me and doing a little dance.  You should have seen the expression on the faces of the kids in front, they were holding back like deer's caught in head lights.

However, I could see past the kids in front of me and see the guy behind me dancing in the reflection on the glass.  The only problem was...the kid that was dancing, was the captain of the team. 

I pointed over my shoulder while looking ahead and told him that I had eyes in the back of my head. So, I had all the player get down and give me 50 push up's except for the captain. 

The captain stood up and kept cadence by counting off.  When we were done, they all hit the showers in the dressing room.  I never had a problem with them again.

I learned to place the players on the goal line and have them count off 1,2,3 from left to right...right down the line.  When running your drills, have the one's go first, then the two's and the three's go last with the goalies.

Bench Management: If you start the game with your team in the right side bench, the attacking zone will be on the left.  Place your wingers in the bench on the left hand side. 

This will give them a quick start to the attacking zone.  Have an assistant coach or team official work that door.  Have the defenseman exit into the defensive zone and have the extra goalie or assistant coach work that door as well. 

Have both lines enter the bench over the boards at center of bench. This will help keep the team from taxiing for position. Remember, a maximum of four team officials shall be permitted on the bench.

In the second period, you will find yourself with the attacking zone close to your bench. (like the one to the left)  In this case, you want your defenseman as close to the defensive zone as possible. 

Have them enter over the boards and exit to the defensive zone.  Because your wingers are positioned on the bench deep in the attacking zone, have then exit over the boards closer to the blue so they can quickly get on side. 

Taxiing is a coach's worst nightmare!  Why, you ask?  Because, if you have a player on the ice, waiting next to the open door while someone is coming out.  A player on the other team can put you into a short handed situation by passing the puck to the player that is waiting. (taxiing for position) 

This will cause a "too many men on the ice" situation and you will play short handed for the next two minutes.  However, if the "too many men on the ice," occurs with less then two minutes left to play, the other team will and can be awarded a penalty shot on your team. See "Official Rules of Ice Hockey: Rule 205 Changing of Players.

Teach your players to watch the player they need to change with and NOT always the puck. During a substitution of the goalie, he doesn't have a leeway within ten feet of the bench.  The "Official Rule" for players changing on the bench goes like this:

Players may be changed at any time from the players' bench, (here's the good part) Provided that the players or players leaving the ice "shall always be at the players bench" and out of the play before any change is made.