T-Push Transition: Shoulders & Hands on a Level Plane

STAYING LEVEL THRU THE PUSH

Let’s zoom in on this key skill detail—
keeping your shoulders and hands on a level plane throughout your movement.

This is one of the most important transitional elements when executing a push.
It keeps your upper body controlled, your hands loaded and active, and your movement connected.

As you move, your hips stay level, guiding you cleanly into the shooting lane—
so you arrive balanced, set, and ready for the next save.

Why It Matters:

• Maintains balance and structure
• Keeps your upper body quiet and controlled
• Supports efficient, connected movement
• Improves puck tracking and save execution

When It Breaks Down:

• Hands drop or pull back
• Hips rise and fall, losing a stable, level path
• Push leg extension shortens, reducing power through the movement

Most goalies try to fix this by simply doing more reps—
hoping it corrects itself over time.

But with a purposeful training approach, development becomes intentional.

By using a Mental Performance Mapping image before training, goalies create a clear picture of the skill—
so as they repeat each rep, they can recognize breakdowns, make adjustments in real time, and progressively improve execution.

BUILDING THE MIND–BODY CONNECTION

Real development begins before you step on the ice.

By following a structured preparation process, you create a clear mental blueprint of the skill—
one you can apply, recognize, and adjust in real time.

1. LEARN & UNDERSTAND

Start by seeing what correct looks like.

• Where are your shoulders positioned?
• How do your hands sit relative to your body?
• What stays consistent through movement?

Technical Instruction Video: ‘Pivot for Direction’
🔗 https://goalietoolbox.com/videos/faw-t-push-push-to-transition/

Practice Overview:
This drill introduces the foundation of directional movement—showing how proper shoulder alignment and hand positioning support a clean pivot into your push. It sets the base for staying level through transitions.

2. VISUALIZE THE FORM & FUNCTION

Before you step on the ice:

• Picture your hands loaded and active
• See your shoulders staying level
• Feel your hands forward and out in front
• Visualize your T-push with your upper body staying connected

Progression Drill:
Start the T-Push
🔗 https://goalietoolbox.com/videos/standing-high-crouch-stance-default-foot-spacing/

Practice Overview:
This drill connects the key components of efficient movement:

• The pivot that aligns your body into the shooting lane
• The push driven from a fixed, coiled leg
• Clean leg separation with controlled upper body positioning

Key Reminder:

Build your internal performance map.
Watch it. Understand it. Then visualize how it should feel.

3. MAP IT AT HOME

Isolate the skill. Slow it down.

• Use a mirror or wall as a reference
• Move laterally under control
• Keep your shoulders and hands aligned throughout

Focus Cue:

“Quiet upper body. Controlled movement underneath.”

Isolation Drill: Level Hands Into Stride
🔗 https://goalietoolbox.com/videos/find-your-landmarks-loaded-hands/

Practice Overview:
This drill reinforces hand positioning and shoulder alignment as you move into your stride—helping you feel what “level and connected” actually means before adding speed.

👉 This is where you practice downloading the skill chunk before training execution.

4. APPLY IT ON THE ICE

Now this is where you train the skill when transferring from preparation practice to training execution.

Coach Yourself During Reps: 

Eyes lead → Shoulders follow → Pivot and push → Carry the basket → Arrive set

• “Carry the basket—keep it level.”
• “Hips stay level through the push.”
• “Torso stable with a slight forward lean.”
• “Hands and elbows stay out front and active.”
• “Arrive in the shooting lane with proper foot spacing (shoulder-width apart).”

After Each Rep, Ask:

• Did my hips stay on a level plane?
• Did my hands stay loaded and out front?
• Did my shoulders remain stable and connected through movement?

Self-Led Skill Drill: T-Push Transition – Carry the Basket
🔗 https://goalietoolbox.com/videos/t-push-transition-carry-the-basket-for-spaced-hands-self-led-skill-drill/

Practice Overview:
This drill calibrates hand spacing and reinforces consistent glove and blocker positioning throughout the entire transition. Your hands stay active, just outside shoulder width, allowing

TRAIN WITH THE STRUGGLE

Improvement happens when you learn to work through the struggle.
That’s how confidence is built—
not because everything is perfect,
but because you know how to fix it.

Confidence isn’t built in perfect reps.
It’s built in how you respond when things break down.

Train Different | Train Better