Goaltending in ice hockey

ICE HOCKEY TRAINING Reading time : 9 min Updated October 14, 2026
Contents
The goaltender is a pathway of their own, with a programme (Hockey Canada's Canadian Goaltending Pathway), equipment and teaching. Before 11, no federation read wants a full-time goaltender: Hockey Canada recommends rotating all players at U9 and USA Hockey writes “no fulltime goalies” at 8U. The SIHF reminds coaches that a goaltender is mostly trained in the team's practice.

A pathway of their own

Hockey Canada recommends, by age: at U9 to U11, “Try Goaltending” sessions offered by the association; at U13, an association goaltending coach offering small-group sessions; at U15 to U18, a goaltending coach guiding the development. The stated reason is to avoid early specialisation, by letting everyone try the position.

Goaltending · Hockey Canada

The save cycle, in five areas

Every shot runs through the same five areas, and the cycle starts again after puck control.

Hockey Canada’s goaltender save cycle: find the puck, movement, position, save selection, puck control. Five boxes joined by arrows, from left to right. 1: find the puck, eyes first. 2: movement, getting into position. 3: position, stance, angles, square to the puck, depth. 4: save selection. 5: puck control, rebounds and recovery. An arrow leaves the last box and returns to the first. 1 Findthe puck 2 Movement 3 Position 4 Saveselection 5 Puckcontrol then the cycle starts again

Source: Hockey Canada, Canadian Goaltending Pathway (2022-23), p. 17: find the puck, movement, position, save selection, puck control.

Hockey Canada's programme is organised in three levels:

  • Level 1: skating; stance (athletic position, balance); moving skills (T-push, shuffle, C-cut, pivot); positioning (angles, square to the puck, depth); save selection (basic saves with the stick, glove, blocker and body, breakaways); basic puck control (rebound control, freezing the puck); stickhandling.
  • Level 2: advanced skating (advanced C-cuts, pivots into the T-push, shuffles, butterfly, power slides, recovery); eye skills; advanced hands; advanced puck handling (setting pucks, outlet passes, rims); the ten scoring situations: clear shots, entries, net drives, breakaways, rebounds, low and high shots, east-west plays, plays from below the goal line, deflections, screens.
  • Level 3: defensive team play (defensive zone, penalty kill, odd-man situations), offensive team play (breakouts, rims), hockey sense.

Over a season, Hockey Canada's beginner programme gives 75% of the time to movement and positional skills, 20% to save movements and 5% to tactics. Its stance sheet writes a layered stance (stick, hands, head, shoulders and hips stacked), weight on the balls of the feet and the inside edges, “not too wide”, the stick grip at the top of the paddle.

Who plays in goal

Federation, categoryWhat the text writes
Hockey Canada U7players can play goal in practices and games with no goaltender equipment required; “No full-time goaltenders”
Hockey Canada U9recommends rotating all players through the goalie position rather than selecting full-time goalies; two goaltenders per team
Hockey Canada U11full-time goaltenders allowed; they rotate for an equal amount of playing time, “as close to 50/50 as possible”
Hockey Québec M9teams should rotate their players through goal; a full-time goalie may be designated if they wish, and should also play out
USA Hockey 8U9 to 13 players a team, “no fulltime goalies” (program-structure document); the 10U plans carry a goalie plan for the first sessions
FFHG U9, U11, U13in third-ice tournaments and in U11 matches the goaltender may not be removed for an extra skater (in U13 matches, they may); with two goaltenders each plays one period of a U13 match
SIHF U9goaltenders optional by agreement, small goals allowed; it is recommended not to recruit a “fixed” goaltender
England Ice Hockey U12two netminders who alternate by line or by shift

In a 2020 webinar (old), the SIHF writes that a goaltender's training takes place not only in special goalie sessions but above all in the team practice; the ÖEHV asks that goaltenders never be forgotten when a session is planned.

The goaltender's equipment

Three texts print sizes. These are competition rules: in championship games the DEB does not allow goaltender equipment to be measured, and the FFHG applies the IIHF sizes through an annex that was not read.

ItemIIHF 2026/27Hockey Canada 2026-28USA Hockey 2025-29
Leg pads28 cm wide at most (Rule 11.2)27.94 cm (11 in.) wide, 96.52 cm (38 in.) long11 in. wide, 38 in. long
Catching gloveperimeter 114.5 cm at most; heel to top of the T trap 46.0 cm at mostbase 20.32 cm (8 in.) wide; heel to top of T 46 cm (18 in.); circumference 114.3 cm (45 in.)cuff 8 in. wide; circumference 45 in.; heel to top of T 18 in.
Blocker20.5 cm x 38.5 cm at most20.3 cm (8 in.) x 38.1 cm (15 in.)8 in. x 15 in.
Head and neckmask approved by the IIHF that a puck must not penetrate; U18: neither puck nor stick bladeCSA helmet and CSA facial protector (blue D1 sticker); the BNQ throat protector is still required even with a mask attachmenthelmet and full facemask required; HECC neck protector for every classification except Adults

For youth, the SIHF does not allow ordinary “Cat Eye” masks for U18 and younger and does allow “CAT EYE LEGAL JR” (2025/26 equipment leaflet: the 2026/27 edition was not found).

Safety and health

  • The puck to the head: the 2026-2028 Hockey Canada Rule 6.18 stops play when a goaltender in U13 or below is struck in the head by the puck.
  • Concussions: in an Alberta youth cohort at U13 to U18, goaltenders have fewer game injuries than forwards (rate ratio 0.54) and fewer concussions (0.57); several articles of that cohort were corrected online for an exposure-coding error, so read these figures as an order of magnitude. Among American university women, goaltenders account for 14.2% of concussions, against 2.9% of men's concussions.
  • Hip and groin: among Swedish elite goaltenders, 69% reported a hip or groin problem over a season, 83.1% of them from overuse (Wörner 2019). No goaltender-specific prevention programme was found.

The drills of this guide

Try goaltending: every child takes a turnTop-down view of a net with a child in goal (navy ring). Facing it, a feeder with a puck sends easy shots at the net (step 1). The next child, in gold, waits beside it and takes over after a short turn (step 2). No dimension marked.212a net (a mini-netfor the youngest)easy shots, one at a timeafter a short turn,the next one takes overin goalthe next childa feeder ora few shooters
goaltenderskatercoach or support playershotskating

Try goaltending: every child takes a turn

A goaltending trial for the youngest: every child takes a turn in the net, in practice and in games, so that no child is fixed as the goaltender.

u9 One station Skaters and goaltender low 15 min
Drill detail
Set out
A net (a mini-net for the youngest) · a feeder or a few shooters · soft or light pucks
What it trains
Trying the net, every child taking a turn, in practice and in games, so that no child is fixed as the goaltender too early. Shooters take easy shots, one at a time.
Published frame
The goaltender is set before each shot. Every child takes a turn, no child is fixed as the goaltender: Hockey Canada recommends rotating all players through the goalie position at U9, and so does Hockey Québec M9.
How it runs
A goaltending trial for the youngest: every child takes a turn in the net, in practice and in games, so that no child is fixed as the goaltender. Hockey Canada recommends rotating all players through the goalie position at U9, Hockey Québec M9 rotates players through goal, and USA Hockey 8U has no full-time goalies. A net (a mini-net for the youngest), a feeder or a few shooters, soft or light pucks; the child in goal wears the kit your federation requires. Shooters take easy shots one at a time. The child in goal takes the stance, moves and tries to stop the puck; after a short turn the next child takes over. The goaltender is set before each shot.
Players
2 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
Hockey Canada recommends associations offer « Try Goaltending » sessions from U9 to U11, to give players a chance to try the position and to avoid specialising early. Hockey Canada U7: players can take a turn in goal in practices and games with no goaltender equipment required; a U9 team plays with a goaltender in full equipment. FFHG third-ice U9 and U11: the goaltender cannot be pulled for an extra attacker. SIHF U9: goaltenders are optional by agreement, and the SIHF recommends not recruiting a « fixed » goaltender. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey). Shooters wear the skater kit: a helmet with face protection and a neck laceration protector.
Harder
Add the first movements from the stance and movement drill: a shuffle across the crease.
Easier
Soft pucks and a mini-net, with the shooter at a short distance and shots along the ice only.
Goaltender stance and movementTop-down view of a net with a line of markers in front of it. The goaltender (navy ring) stands on the line in the stance. He or she moves to one side (step 1) and returns to the stance (step 2), then to the other side (step 3) and returns (step 4).G1234the netcrease or a line of markersT-push, shuffle,C-cut, pivotback to the stanceafter every movement
goaltenderskating

Goaltender stance and movement

A goaltender technique station from Hockey Canada's Level 1 curriculum: the stance and the movements between the posts (T-push, shuffle, C-cut and pivot).

u9u13 One station Goaltenders low 15 min
Drill detail
Set out
A crease or a line of markers across a net · no shooters at first · a stick for the goaltender
What it trains
The goaltender’s stance, layered, then the movements across the net: T-push, shuffle, C-cut and pivot, returning to the stance after each movement.
Published frame
Stance: stick, hands, head, shoulders and hips stacked, weight on the balls of the feet and the inside edges, not too wide (Hockey Canada stance sheet).
How it runs
A goaltender technique station from Hockey Canada's Level 1 curriculum: the stance and the movements between the posts (T-push, shuffle, C-cut and pivot). In the beginner programme 75 % of the time goes to movement and positional skills. A crease or a line of markers across a net; no shooters at first; a stick for the goaltender. Take the stance: layered, with stick, hands, head, shoulders and hips stacked; weight on the balls of the feet and the inside edges; not too wide; the stick grip at the top of the paddle. Then move across the net with the T-push, the shuffle, the C-cut and the pivot, and return to the stance after each movement.
Players
1 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
The Save Cycle has five areas: find the puck, movement, position, save selection, puck control. This station works the stance and the movement. « Stance is not too wide » (Hockey Canada stance sheet). Goaltender training happens inside the team practice as well as in goalie sessions: the SIHF says a team practice is always a practice for skaters and goaltenders. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey).
Harder
Add a shooter at a set spot and a puck to follow (see the angles and saves drill).
Easier
The stance and one movement only, with no net.
Angles, depth and basic savesTop-down view of an end zone with its net and goaltender. Three shooters, each with a puck, stand at different places of the zone and shoot at the net (steps 1 to 3): the goaltender sets according to the angle of each shot.123the goaltender sets:angle, square tothe puck, depthshooters at severalplaces of the zone
goaltenderskatershotpuck

Angles, depth and basic saves

A positioning and save-selection drill on Hockey Canada's Level 1 skills: angles, squaring to the puck, depth, and the basic saves with the stick, the glove, the blocker and the body, then breakaways.

u13u17 One zone Goaltenders medium 15 min
Drill detail
Set out
One zone with a net and a goaltender · shooters at several places · pucks
What it trains
Positioning and save selection: the angle, squaring to the puck, the depth, then the basic saves with the stick, the glove, the blocker and the body. Shooters shoot from different positions in the zone.
Published frame
Not a rapid-fire drill: the goaltender must have time to get set before the shot is taken (USA Hockey goaltender games). Finish the block with breakaways.
How it runs
A positioning and save-selection drill on Hockey Canada's Level 1 skills: angles, squaring to the puck, depth, and the basic saves with the stick, the glove, the blocker and the body, then breakaways. Shooters shoot from different places and the goaltender is set before each shot. One zone with a net and a goaltender; shooters at several places; pucks. Shooters shoot from different positions in the zone. The goaltender finds the puck, moves to position (angle, square to the puck, depth) and selects the save: stick, glove, blocker or body. Finish the block with breakaways.
Players
2 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
Not a rapid-fire drill: the goaltender must have time to get set before the shot is taken (USA Hockey goaltender games). The five areas of the Save Cycle: find the puck, movement, position, save selection, puck control. Hockey Canada recommends small-group sessions with an association goaltending coach at U13, and from U15 to U18 an association goaltending coach who guides the developmental process. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey). Shooters wear the skater kit: a helmet with face protection and a neck laceration protector.
Harder
Add traffic: a teammate screening in front of the net.
Easier
Slower shots from a fixed spot, one type of save at a time.
Rebound control and freezing the puckTop-down view of an end zone with its net and goaltender. The first shooter shoots (step 1). The goaltender directs the rebound to the side, away from the slot (step 2). The second shooter, placed on the other side, moves in on the rebound (step 3).12123the goaltender freezes thepuck or directs the reboundaway from the slotthe second shooter attacksany rebound that stays in play
goaltenderskatershotpassskating

Rebound control and freezing the puck

A rebound drill: the goaltender controls rebounds and freezes the puck, the Level 1 skills of rebound control and freezing pucks.

u13u17sen One zone Goaltenders medium 15 min
Drill detail
Set out
One zone with a net and a goaltender · two shooters · pucks
What it trains
Rebound control and freezing the puck, two Level 1 skills: the goaltender freezes the puck or directs the rebound away from the slot, and a second shooter attacks any rebound that stays in play.
Published frame
The goaltender has time to get set before each shot: this is not a rapid-fire drill. Rotate shooters and goaltenders.
How it runs
A rebound drill: the goaltender controls rebounds and freezes the puck, the Level 1 skills of rebound control and freezing pucks. USA Hockey's handbook has 14 goaltender games whose stated purposes include rebound control, trapping, vision in traffic and reaction to tip-ins. One zone with a net and a goaltender; two shooters; pucks. A first shooter shoots. The goaltender freezes the puck or directs the rebound away from the slot. A second shooter attacks any rebound that stays in play. Rotate shooters and goaltenders.
Players
3 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
Level 1 names two skills for this block: rebound control and freezing the puck. The goaltender must have time to get set before each shot: this is not a rapid-fire drill (USA Hockey handbook). At sen, advanced puck handling (setting pucks, outlet passes, rims) belongs to Hockey Canada's Level 2. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey). Shooters wear the skater kit: a helmet with face protection and a neck laceration protector.
Harder
Add a second attacker at the net, then tips and deflections.
Easier
One shooter, slower shots, freezing the puck only.
Decorative strip: a fine outline of an ice hockey rink seen from above (the centre line, the two blue lines, the face-off circles); this drill has no diagram.

The ten scoring situations

A block that walks a goaltender through the ten scoring situations of Hockey Canada's Level 2 curriculum: clear shots, entries, net drives, breakaways, rebounds, low and high shots, east-west plays, plays from below the goal line, deflections and screens.

u17sen One zone Skaters and goaltender high 15 min
Drill detail
How it runs
A block that walks a goaltender through the ten scoring situations of Hockey Canada's Level 2 curriculum: clear shots, entries, net drives, breakaways, rebounds, low and high shots, east-west plays, plays from below the goal line, deflections and screens. One zone with a net and a goaltender; shooters and a few teammates for the plays; pucks. Set up each situation as its own round and run them in turn: clear shots; entries; net drives; breakaways; rebounds; low and high shots; east-west plays; plays from below the goal line; deflections; screens. Rotate shooters. The goaltender is set before each shot.
Players
3 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
The ten situations are Hockey Canada's list. Its Level 2 goaltender skills are advanced skating (C-cuts, pivots into T-push, shuffles, butterfly, power slides, recovery), eye skills and advanced hands. Not a rapid-fire drill: the goaltender must have time to get set before each shot (USA Hockey handbook). Hockey Canada's Level 3 adds team play: the defensive zone, the penalty kill and odd-man situations. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey). Shooters wear the skater kit: a helmet with face protection and a neck laceration protector.
Harder
Combine two situations in one repetition, for example a screen with a deflection.
Easier
One situation per round, with shots from a fixed spot.
Goaltender puck handling: setting pucks, outlet passes and rimsTop-down view of an end zone. Pucks arrive behind the net. The goaltender stops and sets them, then makes an outlet pass to a skater along the boards (step 1) or, the other choice, rims it along the boards (faint line). A second skater waits in the corner.1pucks shot ordumped behindthe netoutlet passor a rim along the boardsskater alongthe boardsskater inthe corner
goaltenderskaterpassthe other choicepuck

Goaltender puck handling: setting pucks, outlet passes and rims

A puck-handling drill for goaltenders from Hockey Canada's Level 2 curriculum: setting pucks, outlet passes and rims, with stickhandling from Level 1.

u17sen One zone Skaters and goaltender medium 15 min
Drill detail
Set out
One zone with a net · pucks shot or dumped behind the net · skaters as outlet options along the boards and at the corners
What it trains
The goaltender’s puck handling of Hockey Canada’s Level 2: setting the puck, an outlet pass or a rim along the boards. A goaltender who plays the puck starts the breakout: the skaters need a lane and a call.
Published frame
Dumps and rims go to an area where goalies cannot play the puck (Hockey Canada). The skaters show a lane.
How it runs
A puck-handling drill for goaltenders from Hockey Canada's Level 2 curriculum: setting pucks, outlet passes and rims, with stickhandling from Level 1. Level 3 puts breakouts and rims in offensive team play. One zone with a net; pucks shot or dumped behind the net; skaters as outlet options along the boards and at the corners. Pucks are shot or dumped behind the net. The goaltender stops them, sets the puck and either passes to a skater as an outlet pass or rims it along the boards. Skaters show a lane.
Players
3 or more, including 1 goaltender
Coaching points
Level 2 lists setting pucks, outlet passes and rims as advanced puck handling; Level 1 lists stickhandling. Hockey Canada's constraint for dumps and rims: they go to an area where goalies cannot play the puck. A goaltender who plays the puck starts the breakout: the skaters need a lane and a call. Goaltender kit: a helmet with a mask a puck cannot penetrate and, for U18 and younger, a stick blade must not penetrate it either (IIHF, SIHF, DEB); a neck laceration protector as for skaters (BNQ-certified throat protector at Hockey Canada in minor and female hockey, even with a mask attachment; HECC-certified at USA Hockey). Shooters wear the skater kit: a helmet with face protection and a neck laceration protector.
Harder
Add a passive forechecker who pressures the first pass.
Easier
Stationary pucks and a pass to a set target.

Frequently asked questions

When can a child become a full-time goaltender?
The texts read rule it out for the youngest: Hockey Canada advises against a full-time goaltender at U7 and U9 and allows one at U11, Hockey Québec M9 lets a child become one if they wish and also play out, the SIHF advises against it at U9. The age at which to specialise is a club decision.
Can the goaltender be replaced by an extra skater?
It depends on the format: the FFHG forbids it in U9, U11 and U13 tournaments and in U11 matches, and allows it in U13 matches; the IIHF rulebook allows it and handles the goaltender's change within the same time frame as a regular line change, with no extra time.
Is there an injury-prevention exercise programme for goaltenders?
No: the literature review of 14 October 2026 finds none tested with an injury outcome, for the hip, the groin or the goaltender's lower back. See the off-ice conditioning guide.

Sources

Hockey Canada: Canadian Goaltending Pathway (2022-23), Goaltending: Stance Mechanics (undated), U7, U9 and U11 pages, Playing Rules 2026-2028 (Rules 2.2, 3.5, 6.18). Hockey Québec: Guide des opérations M9. USA Hockey: Small Area Competitive Games Handbook (goaltenders, pp. 53 to 59), 2025-29 rules (Rule 303). FFHG: cahier des charges U9 U11 U13 2026/27. SIHF: Reglement Spielbetrieb NAFS 2026/27 (Art. 112 and 113), 2025/26 equipment leaflet, webinar “Integration des Torhüters im Teamtraining” (18.6.2020). ÖEHV: Rot-Weiss-Roter-Faden. England Ice Hockey: junior rules 2026-27. IIHF: Rules 5.3, 11 and 82.1. DEB: Durchführungsbestimmungen Nachwuchs 2026/27. Health: Eliason et al. 2023 and 2024, Rosene et al. 2017, Wörner et al. 2019. Content checked on 14 October 2026.

Last updated: October 14, 2026
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