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5000 Puck Goalie Challenge
The 5000-puck challenge is a program designed originally for players to improve their shooting skills. Stop It Goaltending has adapted the 5000-puck challenge to meet the needs of goaltenders. This challenge is now goalie specific and intended to improve the goalies ability to play, pass, and clear the puck. We have also made the challenge age appropriate and goalies can participate in the program through each level of development. The general concept of the 5000-puck challenge is to shoot 100 pucks per day, five days per week, for ten weeks at home. It is important for goalies to learn the proper technique of clearing and passing the puck properly therefore we have the younger goalies using player gloves and a player stick and then advancing into goaltender specific equipment. Goalies will need a bucket of pucks (ideally 25), a shooting pad (specific shooting pads can be purchased at a pro shop or online… or a shooting surface can be purchased at a Home Depot) as well as gloves and a stick. If you have a net a home this would be great but if you don’t you can use tape against a solid surface should as concrete.
Level Position Suggestions:
Mites: Mites should use player gloves and a player stick. It is also beneficial to have the Mites use the blue puck until they are able to lift the black puck consistently with proper technique.
Squirts: Squirts should use player gloves and a player stick. It is important at a young age to learn the technique of shooting and with the lighter player stick, as opposed to a goalie stick; the participant will have a better chance of ingraining the correct muscle memory.
Peewee Minor: Peewee Minors should use player gloves and a goalie stick to participate in the 5000-puck challenge.
Peewee Major: Peewee Majors should use a goalie glove on the catching hand and a player glove on the blocker hand and use a player stick. This stage of utilizing the goalie glove to shoot is extremely important. (Please note if the goalies skill using the player stick is proficient then utilize a goalie stick)
Bantam Minor: Bantam Minors should use a goalie glove and blocker on and use a player stick. (Please note if the goalies skill using the player stick is proficient then utilize a goalie stick)
Bantam Major and above: Goalies at the bantam major level and older should utilize goalie gloves and a goalie stick to participate in the 5000-puck challenge.
Week #1
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks 5 days this week to reach a total of 500 shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #1: Shot all pucks low, using your forehand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net. It is very important to generate speed of the stick blade. Please note that form and accuracy come before attempting quicker shots.
· All shots should be on the forehand.
· Hands proper length apart on the stick.
· Square body to target.
· Shoot off back leg.
· Cup the puck with blade of stick.
· Keep your head up.
· Follow through will dictate the height and accuracy of shot. (Finish with blade pointing to your target).
· Puck starts at the middle of the blade and moves to the toe as you shoot.
· Position fingers of glove at either 4:00 (Traditional grip) or 1:00 (Glove pointed up)
Week #2
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks 5 days this week to reach a total of 500 shots for the week.
Shooting instruction for week #2. Place one stationary puck in middle of the shooting area. Before taking your shot stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot around the stationary puck with you shoulders square to the target. Handle the puck counter clockwise; so go from forehand to backhand and then to forehand again. You should end up toe curling the puck towards your body before releasing the shot. Shot all pucks low, using your forehand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net. See shot instruction from week #1.
Week #3
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks in 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #3: Shot all pucks low, using your backhand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net. Like the forehand, it is very important to generate speed of the stick blade. Square your shoulders to the puck and parallel to the target. Remember that form and accuracy come before attempting quicker shots.
· Hands held approximately 12 to 15 inches apart.
· Shot begins with the puck at the side of the body and behind the back foot.
· The blade of the stick is to be cupped over the puck.
· Keep your head up.
· Transfer weight from back skate to front skate as you shoot.
· Start with puck in the middle of the stick blade while moving it to the toe during shot.
· Follow-through with a straight blade or closed blade.
Week #4
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #4: Place one stationary puck in middle of the shooting area. Before taking your shot stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot around the stationary puck with you shoulders square to the target. Handle the puck clockwise; so go from backhand to forehand and then to backhand again. You should end up pulling the puck towards your body on the backhand before releasing the shot. Shot all pucks low, using your backhand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net. See shot instruction from week #3.
Week #5
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #5: Shot all pucks high, using your forehand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net. It is very important to generate speed of the stick blade. Remember that form and accuracy come before attempting quicker shots.
Week #6
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #6: Shoot all pucks high, using your backhand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net.
Week #7
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #7: Place two stationary pucks, parallel with your glove side shoulder and 2 feet apart. Before taking your shot, stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot in a figure eight direction around the stationary puck with your shoulders square to the target. Handle the puck so you end up toe curling the puck towards your body before releasing the shot. Shot all pucks high, using your forehand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net.
Week #8
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting instructions for week #8: Place two stationary pucks directly square to both shoulders and parallel with the target. Before taking your shot, stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot in a figure eight direction around the stationary puck with you shoulders parallel to the target. Handle the puck so you end up pulling the puck towards your body before releasing the shot. Shot all pucks high, using your backhand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net.
Week #9
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting Instructions for week #9: Place two stationary pucks, parallel with your glove side shoulder and 2 feet apart. Before taking your shot stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot, in a figure eight direction around the stationary puck with you shoulders square to the target. Handle the puck so you end up toe curling the puck towards your body before releasing the shot. Alternate by shooting pucks high and low, using the forehand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net.
Week #10
Goal: Shoot 100 pucks each day for 5 days to reach 500 total shots for the week.
Shooting Instructions for week #10: Place two stationary pucks directly square to both shoulders and parallel with the target. Before taking your shot, stickhandle the puck you are about to shoot in a figure eight direction around the stationary puck with you shoulders parallel to the target. Handle the puck so you end up pulling the puck towards your body before releasing the shot. Alternate by shooting pucks high and low, using your backhand, while trying to hit the center bar of the net.
Congratulations! 5,000 shots in 10 weeks.
Suggestions:
· Make a chart and put it up on the wall so you can keep track on your totals throughout the ten weeks.
· Once you have strong technique and power you can keep track of how many direct hits you get on the center bar.
· Use common sense with age appropriate levels based on present skill level.
· Turn the music up to create a fun an energized atmosphere.
· Tape boxes on wall as targets.
· Have a buddy do the puckhandling and then pass you the puck to shoot and then switch off.
· Take pride at the completion of each week.
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