The RVH in hockey goaltending: sealing the post against pucks behind the net. With prerequisites, milestones and an honest look at hip and knee load.
The RVH (Reverse Vertical-Horizontal) is a post technique: the post-side knee is on the ice, pad and skate lie close to the post, the outside leg lies horizontal, and the position seals the post when the puck is behind or beside the net. It replaces standing up when an attacker comes from behind.
The honest answer to “Is the RVH the modern standard?”: it is widespread, but not free. A measurement of 26 goaltenders showed that butterfly and RVH compared with standing had clearly higher hip internal rotation (16.6° and 22.2° versus 5.2° standing) and the knee was more abducted in the kneeling stances; the authors conclude that butterfly and RVH show riskier kinematics for common hip, knee and ankle injuries in goaltenders [1]. In a survey of 132 goaltenders and 43 coaches, 40 % rated post play in the RVH as very or extremely demanding for hip and groin, and the butterfly save 25 % [2]. In 14 goaltenders, hip internal rotation when decelerating while skating even reached the highest value [3].
On the RVH technique itself I have read neither an association nor a study description. The steps below are coaching practice and marked as such; only the load is documented.
The RVH protects the net, but it makes your hip pay the price.
That is why it is a pro skill: not because it looks so hard, but because it only makes sense on a stable foundation (practice). Once butterfly, slide and recovery are secure and your coach has assessed the hip, the RVH is a tool. Before that it is a shortcut with risk.
Before you practise, you know the price: higher hip internal rotation and knee external rotation than standing [1]. A warm-up is compulsory. Milestone: you name three things you must do before practising (warm-up, coach, equipment), and you decide after how many repetitions you pause.
Practise the position at the post without a puck: post-side knee on the ice, pad and skate close to the post, the outside leg horizontal (practice). Milestone: your coach confirms on video that no gap remains between post and pad.
Go from the stance into the RVH, slowly. Your gaze goes to the puck first. Milestone: ten clean entries in which you reach the posture without wobbling. Switch sides after five entries.
Practise switching between RVH and butterfly as the puck moves around the net. Milestone: five switches in a row without the hip sagging outwards.
Your coach plays pucks behind the net, you stay tight at the post. Milestone: seven out of ten pucks stay out without you having to fight with your hip.
The RVH is among the riskier kinematics: high hip internal rotation and knee abduction [1]. In the butterfly the knee was under 1.45 times body weight on landing, and the hip reached the passive limits of internal rotation [5]. Practise the RVH only with a coach, limit the repetitions and stop immediately if your hip, groin or knee hurts. Repeated end-range hip internal rotation is considered a plausible trigger for hip problems in ice hockey goaltenders [3]. This guide explains and motivates, it does not replace supervised training or a coach.
Train the RVH in short blocks and switch sides regularly. If you always practise the same side, you always load the same hip. This is coaching experience, not a study.
A post technique: the post-side knee is on the ice, pad and skate lie close to the post, the outside leg is horizontal, and the position seals the post against pucks behind or beside the net.
It stresses hip and knee heavily: butterfly and RVH showed higher hip internal rotation than standing and are considered riskier kinematics for typical goaltender injuries [1].
Both are post techniques with the knee on the ice. The measurement showed that the knee was more abducted in the kneeling stances (VH, butterfly, RVH) than standing [1]. Your coach shows you the exact differences.
Only after a secure butterfly, slide and recovery and with a goalie coach. In the survey, 40 % rated post play in the RVH as very or extremely demanding [2].
With a warm-up, limited repetitions, practising on both sides and a coach. Stop if it hurts.
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