Crease Footwork
Drill Information
- Start on the post at Position 1.
- T-push from 1 to 2, arriving square and set.
- Shuffle from 2 to 3, maintaining angle and depth.
- T-push from 3 to 4 to return to the opposite post.
- Repeat the sequence in reverse:
- T-push 4 - 3
- Shuffle 3 - 2
- T-push 2 - 1
- The goalie continuously moves through the pattern, focusing on clean edges, balance, and controlled stops.

Coaching Focus Points
Movement Quality
- Explode on the first push - powerful but controlled T-pushes.
- Arrive set at each point; no drifting or sliding into position.
- Stay low and loaded in the hips to maintain balance.
- Keep chest and shoulders square to the imaginary puck location.
Body Positioning
- Hands out in front to maintain balance and readiness.
- Stick centered on the ice, blade flat.
- Head leads the movement - eyes arrive first, body follows.
Crease Awareness
- Maintain consistent depth (don't drift backward).
- Visualize the puck at the top of the zone to stay square.
- Check posts with quick shoulder/head turns when returning.
Tempo & Conditioning
- Work at a pace that challenges footwork but preserves technique.
- Prioritize clean mechanics over speed early in the drill.
- Increase tempo only when movement quality is consistent.
Drill Progressions
Progression 1 - All T-Push
Replace every movement in the pattern with a T-push. Pattern T-push 1 - 2 T-push 2 - 3 T-push 3 - 4 Reverse the same sequence back to 1 Reinforces clean mechanics, builds explosive first pushes, emphasizes arriving set at each point Lead with the head and shoulders, push with full extension, recover under control, hands stay active and forward

Progression 2 - T-Push With Butterfly
Add a controlled butterfly at each arrival point. Pattern T-push 1 - 2 - butterfly T-push 2 - 3 - butterfly T-push 3 - 4 Reverse the sequence with the same pattern Connects movement to save execution and builds recovery strength and balance Arrive balanced before the butterfly, keep chest tall and hands active through the drop, lead with head and shoulders

Progression 3 - Butterfly With Power Push
Now the goalie drops into a butterfly at each point and uses a power push recovery to move to the next point. Pattern T-push 1 - 2 - butterfly Butterfly at 2 - power push to 3 Butterfly at 3 - power push to 4 Reverse the sequence back to 1 Builds explosive lateral movement from the butterfly, trains game-realistic recovery patterns, reinforces strong edge engagement and hip control Seal the ice cleanly on each butterfly, load the pushing leg before exploding laterally, keep shoulders level during the power push

Progression 4 - Start Facing the Boards, Recover to Post, Hinge to RVH, Then Begin Previous Sequence's Pattern
Pattern 1. Goalie starts on side of the net, set on knees facing the end boards 2. Goalie pivots and moves back to the post using controlled backward C-cuts 3. On arrival at the post, goalie performs a hinge into RVH on the strong-side post. 4. Goalie exits RVH into position 2 of sequence On the hinge Seal the post with pad, hip, and shoulder Stick blade stays active to protect the middle On the RVH exit: Push out with the inside edge Arrive in stance with square chest and balanced weight Begin the footwork sequence only after achieving a clean, stable stance.

Skills Focus
Fundamental Skills:
- Skating

This drill and the website on which it is hosted were developed as part of USA Hockey's Goaltending Gold certification program. For more drills and goaltending content, visit GoalieGen.com. All drills created and organized in CoachThem.


