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Goalie shuffle and align

Use small lateral adjustments to remain aligned with a puck that changes position in front of the net.

10U · 12U · 14U+Intermediate7 minutes2–2 players
Original drill diagram
Goalie shuffle and align: player positions and movement G2
2 moves the puck between the two cones. G adjusts laterally in front of the right-hand net. Solid arrows show lateral movement; no shot or pass occurs. Original schematic; not to scale. Circles with numbers or letters mark players. Other markers and arrows are explained in the caption; some diagrams show puck or ball movement instead of skating. Red arrows show shots. Follow the written setup for spacing.

How to run it

Equipment: Skates, Hockey protective equipment, Goalie equipment, Stick, Pucks, Cones, Net

  1. Goalie G starts near the top of the crease facing player 2, who holds one puck 18 feet in front of the net. Place two cones 4 feet apart around player 2’s starting spot.
  2. Player 2 slowly carries the puck from one cone to the other without shooting. G tracks the puck and uses short shuffle steps to stay on its line to the middle of the net.
  3. At either cone, player 2 pauses for two counts. G finishes moving and checks that the chest faces the puck before the next carry begins.
  4. Complete four side-to-side trips, then pause together to discuss one adjustment. Repeat for three sets within seven minutes; player 2 remains the feeder for this station.
  5. Count pauses where G is still, balanced, and aligned. This version has no shots, so the goalie can concentrate on movement without predicting a release.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Eyes move, feet follow, settle.” Track the puck through the whole change.
  • Use several short adjustments instead of one large move that overshoots.
  • Keep the upper body quiet enough to see the puck clearly.

Common mistakes

  • G moves before the puck. Try: vary the feeder’s pause length.
  • G crosses too far past the puck line. Try: shorten each shuffle and check alignment at the pause.
  • G follows the feeder’s chest. Try: have the feeder move the puck across the body while standing still.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: reduce the feeder’s travel to 2 feet and hold each endpoint longer.
  • Harder: the feeder pauses at an unannounced midpoint as well as the endpoints.
Research context & source notes

Background sources for this drill’s skills and teaching principles.

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