Purpose:

To eliminate the lower portion of the net while maintaining balance and recovering ability.

Body Position:

• Chest – Up so shooters can see the logo of the jersey.  Improves balance and net coverage.
• Shoulders - Parallel to each other and level to maintain proper chest positioning. Goaltender should have a slight lean toward the puck to give maximum puck vision.
• Pads – Extended to the sides with inside of pads flush on the ice and knees together.
• When dropping into a butterfly the goaltender should quickly drive knees onto the ice.
• Butt Up – Helps with the following:  Keep chest up and maintain balance.  Improves net coverage and keeps knees on the ice. Maintains positioning for proper and quick on ice or full recoveries.
• Gloves should be out in front of the body creating good balance.  Gloves should also be placed just outside the width of the goaltender’s chest with elbows slightly outside of the body creating no double coverage (See specific glove sheet).  On shots in tight a goaltender should bring elbows in and to the side of the body eliminating any holes and forming a wall.  On shots from 1 foot away a goaltender can extend arm and angle glove above the puck.
• Stick – 8 to 12 inches in front of skates resting on a slight angle allowing for proper cushion on shots at stick and coverage of five hole. Never hold stick perpendicular to the ice.

Benefits of a Proper Butterfly:

•  Allows goaltender to be balanced and under control.
•  Proper balance limits excessive and/or wasted movement.
•  Leads to more efficient movement and recoveries.

Tendencies:

Goaltenders sink butt back to the heals of skates.

This causes:

• Poor recovery and balance.
• Limits net coverage.
• Separates knees opening a hole between the legs.
• Stick is extended too far out in front of the goaltender’s knees.  This creates a ramp for pucks to go over goaltender’s shoulders.
• Sinking chest and shoulders limits net coverage.