Hockey Session (Transition Phase): 4-2-1 Drill

Drill

Objective: Provide a fast-paced and mentally-demanding drill for goalkeepers.

Set Up: 

• Arrange two ball piles at 45-degree angles from the goal and about 3-5 yards inside of the circle edge
• Set up a shooter on each ball pile — utilize two shooters or a shooter and a second goalkeeper
• Place two cones on the edge of the circle as a target for goalkeepers to clear below

• There are four balls total in each repetition — shooters alternate and get to choose whether they shoot or pass for the other player to take a shot
• Coaches discretion whether to play rebounds or not
• For example: ball 1, shooter A takes a shot; ball 2, shooter B passes the ball to shooter A, shooter A takes a shot; ball 3 shooter A passes to shooter B, shooter B takes a shot; ball 4 shooter B takes a shot

• Encourage your goalkeepers to be set and balanced for each shot
• Emphasize good footwork to change angle and be set quickly if the ball is passed
• Work on one-time clears to the least dangerous areas of the circle (below the cone targets)

• For more advanced goalkeepers, play out rebounds
• For beginner goalkeepers, give them time to adjust and get set before each ball and between passes
• For intermediate or advanced goalkeepers, shorten the time between balls, try one-time shots from passes passes
• Vary your shots, both in type and distance from the goalkeeper