Defining RVH
If you watch modern hockey, especially at the NHL, college, or high-level youth level, you will regularly see goaltenders drop into a position along the post with one knee down while protecting the bottom of the net. This technique is commonly called the RVH.
But what does RVH actually stand for, and why has it become such an important part of modern goaltending?
What Does RVH Stand For?
RVH stands for Reverse Vertical-Horizontal.
The name comes from the positioning of the goaltender's pads when protecting the post.
In the RVH position, the goaltender drops the post-side knee toward the ice, using the pad, skate, body, and upper-body positioning to seal the short side of the net.
The technique is considered the "reverse" of the older VH — Vertical-Horizontal — technique, which was commonly used by goaltenders before the RVH became popular.
While the terminology describes the pad positioning, the important thing for young goaltenders to understand is that the RVH is essentially a post-integration technique designed to protect the net against attacks from sharp angles and from below the goal line.
When Do Goalies Use the RVH?
The RVH is most effective when the puck is located near the goal line, below the faceoff dots, or behind the net.
For example, imagine an attacking player carrying the puck toward the goal from the corner.
The shooter has several options:
Shoot short side
Walk the puck toward the front of the net
Pass across the crease
Pass into the slot
Attempt a wraparound
The goalie needs a position that protects the short side while also allowing them to react to a pass or move toward the middle of the net.
That is where the RVH becomes extremely useful.
How the RVH Protects the Post
When properly executed, the RVH creates a strong seal along the bottom of the net.
The goaltender uses several parts of the body together to eliminate openings.
The skate and pad help seal the bottom portion of the post while the goaltender's upper body protects the space above the pad.
The goalie must also maintain strong control of the stick and hands.
Simply getting into the RVH is not enough.
The goaltender still needs to remain square to the puck and properly positioned to prevent openings between the body, arm, pad, post, and ice.
Why Has the RVH Become So Popular?
Modern hockey is extremely fast.
Players are also better than ever at attacking from behind the net and creating scoring opportunities from bad angles.
The RVH gives goalies a position that can help them remain compact while protecting against several different threats.
One major advantage is that the goaltender can maintain a strong connection to the post while still being prepared to move laterally.
If the puck carrier makes a pass across the crease, the goalie can push out of the RVH and attempt to arrive at the next save position.
This ability to transition from the post to another position is one of the biggest reasons RVH has become such an important skill.
RVH Does Not Mean "Drop Down Every Time"
One common mistake young goalies make is believing that they should immediately enter the RVH whenever the puck gets anywhere near the corner.
That is not the purpose of the technique.
A goalie who enters the RVH too early can actually create additional scoring opportunities for the attacking team.
For example, dropping too soon may make it more difficult to challenge a player who moves higher into the zone.
It can also create openings in the upper portion of the net if the goaltender's body positioning is poor.
The RVH is a tool, not a default position.
Great goaltending is about recognizing when to use each technique.
Reading the Puck Is Just as Important as Technique
A goalie should constantly evaluate where the puck is located and what the attacking player is capable of doing.
Questions a goalie might mentally process include:
Where is the puck?
Is the player a shooting threat?
Is there a passing option across the crease?
Can the player walk toward the front of the net?
Is someone open in the slot?
Could the puck carrier attempt a wraparound?
The answers to those questions help determine whether entering the RVH is appropriate.
This is why goaltending involves much more than simply learning positions.
Goalies must learn to read the game.
Proper Post Integration Is Critical
A successful RVH also requires good post integration.
The goaltender needs to understand how their skate, pad, knee, stick, shoulder, and body interact with the goalpost.
Poor positioning can leave small openings that skilled players will immediately recognize.
Some common problems include:
Leaving space between the pad and post
Allowing the upper body to lean away from the post
Dropping into the RVH too early
Losing sight of the puck
Keeping the hands too passive
Failing to recognize a backdoor passing threat
Struggling to push out of the RVH when the puck moves
These details are why RVH positioning should be practiced repeatedly with proper coaching.
The RVH Must Connect to the Next Save
Perhaps the most important part of learning the RVH is understanding that the position rarely represents the end of the play.
The puck can move at any moment.
A pass might go into the slot.
The puck carrier might attack the front of the net.
A rebound could move across the crease.
The goalie therefore needs to be able to exit the RVH quickly and efficiently.
A technically perfect RVH position does not help much if the goaltender cannot move into the next save.
Modern goaltending requires positions to flow together.
Should Young Goalies Learn the RVH?
Yes, but it should be taught as part of a larger goaltending foundation.
Young goalies still need to develop the fundamentals of:
Skating
Balance
Angles
Depth
Tracking
Butterfly technique
Rebound control
Post integration
Lateral movement
Reading plays
The RVH should complement those skills rather than replace them.
A young goaltender who understands why and when to use the RVH will ultimately be much more effective than a goalie who simply memorizes the position.
Final Thoughts
RVH stands for Reverse Vertical-Horizontal, and it has become one of the most recognizable techniques in modern goaltending.
It is primarily used to protect the post when the puck is attacking from sharp angles, near the goal line, or from behind the net.
But learning the RVH is about much more than simply putting a knee on the ice.
Goalies must understand positioning, post integration, puck tracking, play recognition, and how to transition into their next save.
Like any goaltending technique, the RVH works best when a player understands not only how to use it, but when to use it.
Developing that decision-making ability is one of the biggest steps a young goalie can take toward becoming a smarter and more complete goaltender.
