OBO CLOUD Kit Sizing

Just a few small tips I’d like to share for buying new OBO kit.

I recently upgraded my body armour and thigh pads to the OBO Cloud Range, (very good by the way). The first time i brought kit i got it straight from the internet, the sizing worked pretty well so it was alright. This time because of the cost i wanted to be absolutely sure the kit fit before anything was payed for. Luckily my chemistry tutor, (Who plays cricket) told me about a company that had competitive prices and a show room in London. They were very helpful and ordered it all in for me to try.

Now heres the tips.

CLOUD Body armour – don’t rely solely on the OBO sizing of arm length, every one is unique so work out what size you are by them then order the sizes around it as well to try on, i measured as a small and ended up in a medium.

CLOUD Hot Pants – wide waist = Tall is unfortunately the principle most companies work on, my waist size was for a hight of 5’10 -6’2, I’m 5’6 at the most. Try the different sizes, the waist stretches and it has a belt, and I’ve been told by other keepers that it’s better they be too small around the waist than having them catch on the leg pads

ROBO Overpants – A bit of a grey area, medium hotpants doesn’t always mean medium over shorts, because of how they wrap the size varies, if you’re at the larger end of medium like me you might want the large over shorts, it just allows for more flexibility.

Just try before you buy, if you can’t get it ordered to try, ask other keepers in your club or even on other teams you play (We do tend to be nice people us keepers), if they have what you’re after ask them if you can quickly try then to get a size idea, hopefully they’ll let you, (just remember to do it after the match when you have time).  If all that fails, post an article and hopefully other people maybe able to help you estimate, last thing you want to do is pay out on expensive kit that doesn’t fit.

OBO Size Guide Link

Arm Guards or Elbow Guards

Hey guys,

i’m thinking of buying the ROBO body armour and I asked myself a question…and i couldn’t answer it myself so…i thought i would ask for some opinion…

What would you advise…the obo arm guards(that are sold separately)

robo-body-armour

or the new obo elbow guards

robo-elbow-guard

……….i am 14 years old…and i play u16’s club hockey (Pembroke Wanderers) and I am the second choice senior keeper of my school….. The style of play i use is  For short corners I tend to log if its a hit  and i stay up when its a drag. And the odd 1vs.1 I tend to slide… and take the crap out of the player.

What would be the best for me?

Beta Testing Review – Bobbla.

My review of the new OBO BOBBLA.

Hey guys. Here’s my final report on the last of the three products in Obo’s new training product range, the Bobbla. To be quite honest, when i first started using this unusual product i was not very impressed with it. I thought it a little simple and not as valuable and relevant as the Flicka or D’flecta. However after using it for a bit longer and talking with my coach about the use i discovered that skills used with the Bobbla were actually more relevant than either of the other two training products.

IMG_0757Pictures of the Bobbla. The egg shape gives it its trademark bobble.

When using the Bobbla, the idea is to look at and practice the basic kicking techniques which are essential to goalkeeping. The Bobbla is rolled at the goal and the keeper kicks it away from the goal. Just like in a simple warm up. However the Bobbla makes each part of that ‘simple’ warm up much harder. Instead of staying on the ground as an ordinary hockey ball would, the Bobbla bounces and spins as it rolls giving an unpredictable bobble as the keeper goes to kick. This means the keeper is forced to concentrate much harder on their timing and basic kicking technique. By using the Bobbla my coach was able to pick out that my left foot was not as skilled as my right foot at kicking, a common problem for a lot of keepers, i have since corrected this and both feet are fairly even.

IMG_0750Here is a beautiful picture of the Bobbla in action. The egg shape has made the ball bounce up as i am about to kick.

The unpredictability of the bobble also speeds up the reaction time of the keeper and keeps them focused on the ball. Because the final direction of the ball was always uncertain i found that the best strategy was to wait until the last minute to kick. This improved my reactions, foot-eye coordination and my timing. Because the ball was traveling slower and moving about i had to focus on the ball the whole time and this improved my concentration. A weakness of mine has always been the slower, bouncy shots and the training with the Bobbla was perfect for erasing that problem from my technique.

From my experience, i found that the Bobbla is most useful for correcting and reinforcing the basic goalkeeping kicking techniques. The flaws in my technique have been somewhat ironed out and the constant repetition has improved my kicking muscle memory and confidence. I believe that this product has a lot of potential for coaches and goalkeepers everywhere. I found it extremely beneficial to my game and was able to make much better use of my coaching sessions.

To see the product in action check out the product information video:

Beta Testing Review – Flicka.

My review of the brand new OBO FLICKA.

As part of the Beta Testing Program i have been training with the Flicka extensively and have a range of feelings about it. I found it most useful for increasing my hand-eye coordination and my ability to track the ball through the air at different rates. The Flicka is designed to simulate aerial saves such as flicks and dragflicks. The ball is caught in the hook and flung so that the ball flies off towards the goal. Its a lot harder than it looks but when you get it it works great.Flicka and ball.

I found the Flicka a very good training product for increasing my confidence and ability when making glove and stick saves. Focusing on clearing the ball wide also improved my basic save technique and skill as a keeper. The Flicka was not as much use to me as it could be to others. I am already technically proficient and i was able to handle most of what the Flicka could throw at me. I found it more useful for creating muscle memory for getting to the ball, saving the ball and clearing the ball wide. I also found it very useful for increasing my skill with stick saves. By standing off to my left and trying to use only my right hand to save the flick i very quickly increased my stick save confidence.

IMG_0724

Moving to make a stick save.

I think this tool would be most useful for improving younger, less experienced goalkeepers who perhaps have slight flaws in their technique. The Flicka is better than a player flicking as quite often the player telegraphs which direction the flick is going. With the Flicka this is impossible to judge and so makes the save purely reactionary. The emphasis on making the save and clearing the ball also incorporates a degree of muscle memory which further enhances the keepers technique.

I also think the Flicka would be very useful for goalkeeper coaches. The coaches ability to control the speed and direction of the flick would greater allow them to control the training of the goalkeeper because sometimes field players cannot quite understand what the coach wants. This would allow the coach to individually tailor each flick to get the desired effect and get the desired reaction.

IMG_0721Moving to my left to make a glove save. Notice the technique involved in using the Flicka.

If you want to see the flicka in action check out the product information video:

Beta Testing Review – D’flecta.

My review of the brand new OBO D’FLECTA.

Throughout this year i have been given the opportunity to train with and test the D’flecta, one of the new training products that Obo is bringing out on the first of December this year. I have used it in many different drills and using it has improved my reactions and confidence in making deflection shot saves.

dflecta

In basic use the D’flecta sits on around the penalty spot area. It can face either way (one side giving more height that the other) and a field player or coach hits or pushes a ball along the ground at it. When the ball hits the D’flecta it goes in any direction, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes wide and sometimes it stays on its original course. You cant judge this so its all about reactions. The trickiest part of the D’flecta i found was when the ball missed the D’flecta but was still going for the goal. Often i would get caught waiting for the ball to move and forget about making the basic save. This keeps you thinking about your angles and the basics.

When i first started using the D’flecta i was astounded at how many i was missing. However this was soon fixed as i started to train using the D’flecta regularly and incorporate it into more drills. By the end of the month i had improved drastically. I was stopping most of the deflections from the mat and was playing much better. Regular use of the D’flecta speeds up your reactions and agility. It is an excellent product to both warm up and train goalkeepers. It teaches you that the ball can come towards you from any direction at any time.

IMG_0778

In this photo the ball has deflected high and left off one of the D’flectas.

The D’flecta can also be moved around the circle to simulate different deflections from different angles. It can be incorporated into drills to simulate game scenarios. E.g. a straight shot from the top followed by a push at a D’flecta mat set up around the circle somewhere simulates a save then a deflected return. These sort of drills improve agility and basic positioning.

IMG_0784This photo shows a ball recently deflected off the D’flecta, i have to move to my left to make the save.

In summary, i have found the D’flecta mat to be an excellent training product and also a lot of fun. It has improved my game in a short space of time and i recommend it to any other goalkeeper or coach out there who wants to improve. if you want to see the product in action take a look at the Obo Training Product Introduction on YouTube at the URL below .

http://www.youtube.com/user/obogoalkeeping#play/all/uploads-all/2/BGyAv6H9kdY.

OBO Training Flicka Beta Test Review

The Flicka Stick

flicka

The hollow in the stick allows better control of the ball which enables the player/coach to control the speed and direction of the shot to a greater degree than is possible with the conventional hockey stick.

When I first started to use the flicker stick most of the shots veered to GK’s left (flickers right). Many players I asked to test the stick also seemed to have the same problem when starting off. This problem was easily corrected by releasing the ball sooner than what you would do with the conventional hockey stick.

I would advise anyone using the flicker stick to concentrate on control of the ball at slow speed before trying high speed flicks as I and a number of other players experienced some difficulty with accuracy when initially using the stick. Pay attention to the area behind the goals to ensure player/spectator safety.

Once you have mastered the technique you will be able to place the ball anywhere in the goal from any position in the circle and give the goalkeeper an excellent workout.

Goalkeepers facing drag flicks at penalty corners will benefit hugely as the pace of the ball is far greater with the flicker stick than with the conventional hockey stick. This makes for improved aerial saves, overall agility, hand eye co-ordination and reflexes.

Another point in favour of the stick is that the person using it does not have to use a large amount of energy to give the goalkeeper a good workout.

The hollow in the stick allows better control of the ball which enables the player/coach to control the speed and direction of the shot to a greater degree than is possible with the conventional hockey stick.

When I first started to use the flicker stick most of the shots veered to GK’s left (flickers right).  Many players I asked to test the stick also seemed to have the same problem when starting off.  This problem was easily corrected by releasing the ball sooner than what you would do with the conventional hockey stick.

I would advise anyone using the flicker stick to concentrate on control of the ball at slow speed before trying high speed flicks as I and a number of other players experienced some difficulty with accuracy when initially using the stick.  Pay attention to the area behind the goals to ensure player/spectator safety.

Once you have mastered the technique you will be able to place the ball anywhere in the goal from any position in the circle and give the goalkeeper an excellent workout.

Goalkeepers facing drag flicks at penalty corners will benefit hugely as the pace of the ball is far greater with the flicker stick than with the conventional hockey stick. This makes for improved aerial saves, overall agility, hand eye co-ordination and reflexes.

Another point in favour of the stick is that the person using it does not have to use a large amount of energy to give the goalkeeper a good workout.

Deflective mat

This all weather mat is made of a durable rubber compound which is designed to deflect the ball off fin-like protrusions in unpredictable directions and heights when placed in front of the goals.

The boomerang shaped mat remained secure on the turf regardless of the speed or amount of shots deflected off it.

This is a very portable and convenient piece of equipment and a great aid for goalkeepers.

Shots need to be hit flat on the surface of the turf in order to get optimum defections. Younger players had a problem making contact with the mat as they felt it was too short, this could be contributed to skills still being developed.  This problem can easily be rectified by using two mats next to each other.

Some senior players were hitting shots over the mat but this posed no problem to goalkeeper as the shots were still accurate, this also made for variations in the shot and goalkeepers had to watch the ball at all times and not focus on the mat.

The mat was also placed at various distances from the goalkeeper depending on ability/experience of individual.  Speed variations also affected the flight of ball when making contact with the mat. The mat was used in conjunction with other drills involving more players eg. One hitter from circle edge, players on either side of goal getting rebound shots.

After personal use I found that the mat performed as it was designed to do and improved my overall performance. The feedback from various other coaches and goalkeepers

who used the mat during training sessions confirmed this opinion.

This mat is designed to improve agility, deflective shot saves and reaction time of the goalkeeper.  It’s a great asset and should be considered as an essential piece of training equipmeThe Flicker Stick

The hollow in the stick allows better control of the ball which enables the player/coach to control the speed and direction of the shot to a greater degree than is possible with the conventional hockey stick.

When I first started to use the flicker stick most of the shots veered to GK’s left (flickers right). Many players I asked to test the stick also seemed to have the same problem when starting off. This problem was easily corrected by releasing the ball sooner than what you would do with the conventional hockey stick.

I would advise anyone using the flicker stick to concentrate on control of the ball at slow speed before trying high speed flicks as I and a number of other players experienced some difficulty with accuracy when initially using the stick. Pay attention to the area behind the goals to ensure player/spectator safety.

Once you have mastered the technique you will be able to place the ball anywhere in the goal from any position in the circle and give the goalkeeper an excellent workout.

Goalkeepers facing drag flicks at penalty corners will benefit hugely as the pace of the ball is far greater with the flicker stick than with the conventional hockey stick. This makes for improved aerial saves, overall agility, hand eye co-ordination and reflexes.

Another point in favour of the stick is that the person using it does not have to use a large amount of energy to give the goalkeeper a good workout.

Deflective mat

This all weather mat is made of a durable rubber compound which is designed to deflect the ball off fin-like protrusions in unpredictable directions and heights when placed in front of the goals.

The boomerang shaped mat remained secure on the turf regardless of the speed or amount of shots deflected off it.

This is a very portable and convenient piece of equipment and a great aid for goalkeepers.

Shots need to be hit flat on the surface of the turf in order to get optimum defections. Younger players had a problem making contact with the mat as they felt it was too short, this could be contributed to skills still being developed. This problem can easily be rectified by using two mats next to each other.

Some senior players were hitting shots over the mat but this posed no problem to goalkeeper as the shots were still accurate, this also made for variations in the shot and goalkeepers had to watch the ball at all times and not focus on the mat.

The mat was also placed at various distances from the goalkeeper depending on ability/experience of individual. Speed variations also affected the flight of ball when making contact with the mat. The mat was used in conjunction with other drills involving more players eg. One hitter from circle edge, players on either side of goal getting rebound shots.

After personal use I found that the mat performed as it was designed to do and improved my overall performance. The feedback from various other coaches and goalkeepers

who used the mat during training sessions confirmed this opinion.

This mat is designed to improve agility, deflective shot saves and reaction time of the goalkeeper. It’s a great asset and should be considered as an essential piece of training equipment.

nt.

OBO Training D’flecta Beta Testing Review

D’Flecta Mat

dflecta

This all weather mat is made of a durable rubber compound which is designed to deflect the ball off fin-like protrusions in unpredictable directions and heights when placed in front of the goals.

The boomerang shaped mat remained secure on the turf regardless of the speed or amount of shots deflected off it.

This is a very portable and convenient piece of equipment and a great aid for goalkeepers.

Shots need to be hit flat on the surface of the turf in order to get optimum defections. Younger players had a problem making contact with the mat as they felt it was too short, this could be contributed to skills still being developed. This problem can easily be rectified by using two mats next to each other.

Some senior players were hitting shots over the mat but this posed no problem to goalkeeper as the shots were still accurate, this also made for variations in the shot and goalkeepers had to watch the ball at all times and not focus on the mat.

The mat was also placed at various distances from the goalkeeper depending on ability/experience of individual. Speed variations also affected the flight of ball when making contact with the mat. The mat was used in conjunction with other drills involving more players eg. One hitter from circle edge, players on either side of goal getting rebound shots.

After personal use I found that the mat performed as it was designed to do and improved my overall performance. The feedback from various other coaches and goalkeepers who used the mat during training sessions confirmed this opinion.

This mat is designed to improve agility, deflective shot saves and reaction time of the goalkeeper. It’s a great asset and should be considered as an essential piece of training equipment.

This all weather mat is made of a durable rubber compound which is designed to deflect the ball off fin-like protrusions in unpredictable directions and heights when placed in front of the goals.

The boomerang shaped mat remained secure on the turf regardless of the speed or amount of shots deflected off it.

This is a very portable and convenient piece of equipment and a great aid for goalkeepers.

Shots need to be hit flat on the surface of the turf in order to get optimum defections. Younger players had a problem making contact with the mat as they felt it was too short, this could be contributed to skills still being developed.  This problem can easily be rectified by using two mats next to each other.

Some senior players were hitting shots over the mat but this posed no problem to goalkeeper as the shots were still accurate, this also made for variations in the shot and goalkeepers had to watch the ball at all times and not focus on the mat.

The mat was also placed at various distances from the goalkeeper depending on ability/experience of individual.  Speed variations also affected the flight of ball when making contact with the mat. The mat was used in conjunction with other drills involving more players eg. One hitter from circle edge, players on either side of goal getting rebound shots.

After personal use I found that the mat performed as it was designed to do and improved my overall performance. The feedback from various other coaches and goalkeepers

who used the mat during training sessions confirmed this opinion.

This mat is designed to improve agility, deflective shot saves and reaction time of the goalkeeper.  It’s a great asset and should be considered as an essential piece of training equipmThis all weather mat is made of a durable rubber compound which is designed to deflect the ball off fin-like protrusions in unpredictable directions and heights when placed in front of the goals.

The boomerang shaped mat remained secure on the turf regardless of the speed or amount of shots deflected off it.

This is a very portable and convenient piece of equipment and a great aid for goalkeepers.

Shots need to be hit flat on the surface of the turf in order to get optimum defections. Younger players had a problem making contact with the mat as they felt it was too short, this could be contributed to skills still being developed. This problem can easily be rectified by using two mats next to each other.

Some senior players were hitting shots over the mat but this posed no problem to goalkeeper as the shots were still accurate, this also made for variations in the shot and goalkeepers had to watch the ball at all times and not focus on the mat.

The mat was also placed at various distances from the goalkeeper depending on ability/experience of individual. Speed variations also affected the flight of ball when making contact with the mat. The mat was used in conjunction with other drills involving more players eg. One hitter from circle edge, players on either side of goal getting rebound shots.

After personal use I found that the mat performed as it was designed to do and improved my overall performance. The feedback from various other coaches and goalkeepers

who used the mat during training sessions confirmed this opinion.

This mat is designed to improve agility, deflective shot saves and reaction time of the goalkeeper. It’s a great asset and should be considered as an essential piece of training equipment.

ent.

The Great Stick Debate! Outfield V Goalkeeper

Sticks used by outfielders are actually a good option for us goalkeepers. Their weight and strength makes them good for shot blockers and aggressive style keepers who also like to sweep the ball away with the stick. With some goalkeeper style sticks on the market too light and badly balanced, they are a suitable stick for those wanting an effective save making option.

A normal defender’s stick makes a suitable stick for a goalkeeper; the flat horizontal surface (remember, an attacker’s stick is curved for better flicks!) is capable of stopping shots, whilst the stick properties make it great for an aggressive and shot stopping style of play. Aggressive goalkeepers (myself included) often prefer a flat stick because it makes it easier to stick tackle; instead of rolling over as a goalkeeper specific stick can (due to its curved nature at the head, and more so, if it has ‘kinks’ in the middle), a defender’s stick stays firm when stick tackling, whilst the added weight gives greater clearance when sweeping the ball away.

 

Unlike the recent types light weight ‘goalkeeper’ and indoor sticks used by goalies, they have greater mass on the save; stopping the ball from pinging off (and potentially into the back of the net) during the save action, which is something the Dutch have known about for a long time. If you look at the best Hoofdklasse goalies Vogels, Stockmann, Veering and Blaak, you will notice they all use outfielders’ sticks. This gives greater rebound control, for ‘dead-stop’ saves (where the ball is stopped and dropped to the floor, to kick away), or enhanced ability in turning away the ball on the shot, to safety on the redirect. Martin Drivjer (the well known Dutch goalkeeping coach and guru) has been coaching the Spanish international goalkeepers, which is why you will see their current crop of keepers using outfielders’ sticks; with Fransisco Cortes (who plays his club hockey for Club Egara), a good example of this trend. The German goalkeepers are also aware of the benefits of using such sticks, with the majority of the Bundesliga goalkeepers making use of them. Belgian goalkeepers too are using outfield sticks for these reasons.

 

When purchasing an outfield stick, you should be aware of the way the stick curves in relation to your ability to make saves with it. A forward’s stick is often designed for drag flicking, or ball control (where the ball is kept at a distance, in a circular width away from the body), where the stick is curved, and has a greater bend (a ‘bow’) for raised the ball up with momentum when driving forward through the flick; this isn’t good for a goalkeeper, as the ball can redirect off the stick into goal. A defender’s stick, on the other hand, offers a flat blocking surface to stop the ball flat without the danger of it rebounding oddly. The width of the stick also affects save ability; a wider stick would give you more surface area for coverage when shot blocking, whereas a slimmer stick would obviously offer less.

 

Outfielder’s sticks also have a better balance on the stick, compared to some ‘goalkeeper’ designs of stick that have been produced, like the Grays, which is very unbalanced. This is why more goalkeepers are switching back to using the ‘standard playing stick’, having learnt about the advantages. Simon Mason, has recently switched over to a Mercian defender’s stick, is a good example. With a properly balanced stick, the goalkeeper has the advantage of being able to make efficient saves with the stick, able to move it into position to block, without swinging or having the stick pull down. With a good centre point, for a well balanced stick; rather than a head-heavy, or tilted stick, over weighing to one side, the goalkeeper is better placed to make accurate saves with the stick.

 

The majority of the English national premier league goalkeepers (excluding the second choice keeper) actually currently use outfield sticks: Nick Brothers, James Fair, George Pinner and Ian Scanlon all use an Adidas, whilst Chris Bristow uses a Gryphon. Allan Dick, the capped Scottish international from Azurri Kelburne, used a TK stick in his time at Surbiton. James Bailey, the touted Junior GB U21s keeper, also uses a TK stick. Goalkeepers in the national conference leagues, like Old Loughtonians’ Stuart Hendy, are also aware of the benefits and have begun using them.

 

You can also get varying weights of stick, from the large amount of different sticks available. The problem with lighter sticks is that they do not give good power, for clearances on the ground (when sweeping the ball away), or when slide tackling. With a heavier stick, in comparison, the goalkeeper can actively power away the ball. Wooden sticks are good saving tool in their blocking mass and strength of clearance. However, they can be quite heavy, therefore limiting the movement of the right hand (weighing down the arm) and save opportunities, such as making a blocking save with the rhp on a drag flick. The modern fibreglass composite designs reduce the weight; giving a more medium weight, whilst still retaining the mass and blocking features. Although the lighter they are, the less power they will have for making long clearances.

 

Ultimately, outfielders’ sticks provide a good stick for those goalkeepers who like to make stick saves, as well as being able to clear the ball with distance when faced with a loose rebound, or trying to get the ball clear when down on the ground (to get it away, or give enough time to recover). Being more ‘meaty’ than indoor sticks, they also provide more mass on the save to prevent the ball awkwardly redirecting back. Features that can’t always be provided for this by other sticks are provided by the design of the outfielder’s stick.

 

outfield stick

 

Pros

  • Lower positioning, (stick not raised up by ‘kinks’) for full contact with the ground means no gaps, and strong blocking surface against the on-ground shot

  • Easy to get hold of

  • Affordable prices

  • Greater mass within stick ensures that ball does not deflect off, but is blocked, compared with a light composite design

  • Weight provides a better clearance on the save

  • Better stick tackling capabilities; no chance of stick rolling over with ‘flatter’ design

  • Stick head gives enough coverage for making saves to the top of the stick

  • Wide variety available to suit individual preferences (including weight, length etc.)

 

Cons

  • Covers less space on low/ground shots due to shape (straight design with no added ‘kinks’ for a larger barrier against the shot); less blocking surface area for playing percentages

  • Heavy weight can mean the goalkeeper struggles to move their right arm for saves with the rhp