Depth for small goalies....

Summary

The video explains the challenges and strategies of goalies in hockey, focusing on height, stance, and positioning. It emphasizes that while taller goalies cover more net area over the crossbar, smaller goalies can compensate through better positioning, tracking, and play reading. The script highlights the importance of a goalie’s depth and ability to seal the back door, noting that overly aggressive play can be a disadvantage for shorter goalies. Additionally, it discusses the differences in limb length and reaction times between tall and short goalies, shedding light on how these factors affect performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Goalies need to play farther out to take up more net, especially smaller goalies.
• 😀 The crossbar is four feet from the goal line, which means goalies need to cover four feet from their knees to their shoulders when in a butterfly position to prevent pucks from going over their shoulders.
• 😀 Smaller goalies need to come out slightly more to cover the same space, but tall goalies naturally take up more net area, especially in height.
• 😀 Stance and positioning are key for smaller goalies to compensate for their height disadvantage.
• 😀 Tall goalies have an advantage in covering more net area, especially over the bar, due to their height.
• 😀 Smaller goalies can bridge the gap by being better at positioning, tracking, and reading plays.
• 😀 Aggressive play can put smaller goalies at a disadvantage, especially when sealing the back door.
• 😀 The distance from A to B remains the same for all goalies, meaning smaller goalies have to cover shorter distances with their limbs.
• 😀 Tall goalies may struggle more with shots below the glove due to the longer distance their hands need to travel to make the save.
• 😀 The majority of goals scored on goalies result from poor angle squareness, tracking, or depth, not necessarily from depth in positioning.

Q & A

Why do smaller goalies need to play farther out of the crease?

Smaller goalies need to play farther out to cover more of the net. By moving out, they reduce the chance of the puck getting over their shoulders while in the butterfly position.

How much space should a goalie cover from their knees to their shoulders to prevent the puck from going over them?

A goalie needs to cover a total of four feet from their knees to their shoulders in order to eliminate the possibility of the puck going over their shoulders when in the butterfly position.

What happens when a goalie moves from the goal line to one foot outside the blue line?

As soon as goalies move from the goal line to one foot outside the blue line, their shoulders are typically covered by the crossbar, meaning they are effectively covering the high part of the net.

How do height and stance affect a goalie’s ability to cover the net?

Taller goalies will generally cover more area above the crossbar due to their height, giving them an advantage. However, stance plays a significant role, and smaller goalies can compensate for their height disadvantage with better positioning, tracking, and play-reading.

Why should goalies not confuse height with net coverage width?

Tall goalies may cover more area above the bar, but this doesn’t mean they cover more of the net overall. The key difference is that taller goalies may take up slightly more space above the crossbar, but they do not necessarily cover more of the net horizontally.

What disadvantages do smaller goalies face when overly aggressive in sealing the back door?

Smaller goalies can struggle with sealing the back door if they are overly aggressive because the distance they need to cover (from A to B) remains the same for all goalies, but their shorter limbs make it harder to close that gap quickly.

How does limb length affect a goalie’s performance on shots below the gloves?

Taller goalies have a disadvantage when stopping shots below the gloves because they have longer limbs, which require a greater distance to travel to make the save. In contrast, smaller goalies, with shorter limbs, can react more quickly to low shots.

What is the main reason goalies get beat on straight shots?

Goalies are most often beaten on straight shots due to issues with angle squareness, depth, or tracking, rather than positioning or size.

What role does positioning play in the performance of smaller goalies?

Smaller goalies can compensate for their size disadvantage by improving their positioning. Better positioning allows them to cover more of the net and react more effectively to incoming shots.

Can a smaller goalie be as effective as a taller goalie, and if so, how?

Yes, smaller goalies can be just as effective as taller goalies. While they might lack the natural height advantage, they can bridge the gap through superior positioning, tracking, and reading the play, making them capable of performing at a high level.