How are the holes numbered in a hockey goal?

Answer 1

The "5-hole" is the slang term used to describe the opening between a hockey goalie's legs.

Top Left is 1. Top Right is 2. Bottom Left is 3. Bottom Right is 4.

The "5-hole", between the goalie's legs, is the only hole referred to by its number, though.

Answer 2

Different offensive techniques and schemes may call for slight variations, but universally true is even numbers 0-8 on the right and odd numbers 1-7 on the left. The are probably two major of classifications of "hole definition" I'm sure someone will probably post in some others, but I these two cover the vast majority... Hole 0 will be the right butt cheek of the center, 2 right cheek of the right guard, 4 right cheek of the right tackle, 6 right cheek of the right tight end, 8 outside (usually sweep) the tight end. -- OR -- Hole 0 will be the right butt cheek of the center, 2 left cheek of the right guard, 4 right cheek of the right guard, 6 left cheek of the right tackle, 8 right cheek or outside the tackle. It just depends on the offense, but everyone is clear on all of this. Hole assignment can also vary within the same offense by "series" like belly vs dive, but that's a whole different post. Left is just the opposite. Again, it will vary by the tactics employed, but this is generally true. This will also vary by offense, but, (usually) the QB is #1 back, 2 is the running back (or running back #1 in a 2 running back scheme), 3 is the fullback, and 4 is the other running back in a multiple running back alignment. So...34 dive (or 34 belly or 34 option, or 34 whatever) would be a fullback hand off to the 4 hole, 27 sweep would be a running play (sweep dictating the type of handoff and blocking scheme) to the running back to the outside left etc. On the goal line, 10 keep or 11 keep would be quarterback to the slight left or right of the center.... you get the idea.