GOALIE TIPS

7. The Basic Stance

There are six main points which make up a solid goaltending stance;

1. Gloves out on a plane in front of the body.
2. Weight evenly distributed across the balls of the feet.
3. Low Position (Strong knee bend).
4. Squareness to the puck at all times.
5. Stick Positioning.
6. Skates on the inside edges of the blades.

1.) Gloves should be on a plane in front of the body. This does not mean that your gloves need to be directly in front of your body. Instead they should be on a plane in front of your body. When your are correctly in your stance your knees will be flexed and your rear end will extend backwards, by placing your gloves out on a plane in front they will act to bring your bodyweight evenly across the balls of the feet.
2.) Weight evenly distibuted across the balls of the feet. Balance is one of the crucial attributes a goaltender requires to play at a high level. Since a majority of moves that a goalie will make begin from their basic stance, balance and control are paramount. One of the best ways to insure your stance is solid is to make sure your bodywieght is evenly distributed across the balls of your feet.
3.) Low position. Low position refers to a strong bend in the knee. Knee bend allows the goalie to use the full power of their leg muscles to execute the many save movents and positional adustments the game requires. Without a low position in thier basic stance, goalies are only limiting the full power their legs could provide to explode into these movements.
4.) Squareness to the puck at all times. A goalie should try to keep their shoulders, hips and feet facing the puck at all times. If the goalie does not "square up" to the puck, they will not be able to respond in any direction. When a goalie is square to the puck with thier weight evenly distrubited, it is possible to react in any direction the puck is shot.

5.) Stick positioning, flat, firm, and out in front of the body. The stick should be seen as one of your most important tools. Think of watching a goalie during a game who has lost his stick during a scramble, they will desperatly try and get it back. Again, in the stance the stick needs to be out in front of the skates, and placed firmly on the ice.
6.) Skates on the inside edges of the blades. The final point to remember when in your goaltending stance is to stay on the inside edges of your skates. Edge control is one of the most fundamental skating skills that goalies need to master. Because goalies are generally skating in and around the confined area of the goal crease rapid starts and stops are a must. Only being on these inside edges