The 80/20 Rule for Goalie Training

Breaking things down leads to perfect technique, perfect technique leads to great play!

A goalie’s technique needs to become automatic, so when the time comes to attack a shot, it’s second nature. It takes a ton of reps to get there, but more importantly, it takes a ton of GOOD reps. We’ve also got to keep in mind that reps with “bad” technique actually UNDERMINE the good ones. This is why goalies should aim for an 80/20 breakdown in their training.

When we talk about the 80/20 rule for goalies, we want 80% of the “reps” to be in a controlled environment that gives them a chance to consistently execute the rep with good, explosive technique. Reps don’t need to be live shots; they can be steps in walk-the-line, saves in ball toss, and warm-up shots (done the right way)! But the majority of a goalies reps SHOULD NOT be live 1v1/2v2 drills and a coach “warming them up” with full-pace shots all over the cage. 

It is important to see these live-play situations to put it all together and become an elite goalie, but too often, goalies spend much more time getting thrown into the fire than actually building their foundation and setting themselves up for success. As goalie or goalie coaches, this is one of the reason that goalie-specific drills and training are so important. These tools are what allow us to balance our competition with our training and perform that much better when we DO go live!