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Elite Rebound Control
! Goaltending and rebound control is comparable to golfing and the short
game. Rebound control skills are similar to putting and chipping in that they
never can be perfected yet require constant vigilance to maintain or
improve.
! We often hear about the poor goalie being scored on after the 3rd of 4th
whack at the puck. The implication here is that he was left exposed by his
defence. The responsibility for rebounds lies with the goaltender not the
defenseman ! Don't allow your goaltending future to be dictated by the
quality of your defense.
In "Goaltending Fundamentals" we introduced rebound control and here we
want to step it up by looking at some advanced techniques and by
understanding the cognitive side to rebound control.
Advanced Techniques & Tactics
A) Paddle / Blocker Use
!
On shots just above the pad we have to be able to get down with the
blocker or use the paddle of the stick to angle the puck to the corner
! When using the blocker, you must be careful to maintain stick position
because a deflection here will probably drive back under you. The
purposeful use of the paddle on these shots is a vanishing skill. As long as
the pad backs up the save the goaltender can get some very precise results.
B) Gut Trap Shift
! As we have learned in our previous discussions, the "L" theory can be
very helpful in understanding basic rebound control. We learned that shots
inside the "L" should be controlled with possession and shots outside the "L"
should be directed to the closest corner.
Pro goaltenders also develop the ability to shift laterally as they drive
into a gut trap. In doing so, they move the "L" sideways which allows them to
get puck possession of shots that otherwise would have to have been
directed to the corner.