Category: Playing Tips

Question:

I am a college goalkeeper and I did read your tips concerning 2 v 1 situations but I had a further question. When the situation is 2 v 1 (the 1 being the goalkeeper, no other defenders) in the circle, how then do you suggest to play the ball? I know that a lot of goalkeeping is situational and experimenting is necessary but again I am looking for some guidelines as to what you would suggest. I have grown up with one method and a new one is being introduced and I am trying to decide which is more sound and effective.

Answer:

I have a pretty extensive tip on slide tackling on the site so hopefully that might provide some insights. However, in a 2v1 situation where you are the 1 I think it is important to be aggressive. However, it is very much controlled aggression. Too many keepers just stand on the goal line and let the shooter walk right in. I like to step up, but at a time where I am defending the goal and making the forward pull wide at the same time. I also need to be aware of where the support player is in the 2v1. I want to stay in the play as long as possible and make the forwards make the perfect pass if they are going to beat. In a well executed 2v1 you should get beat, but if you can buy time and force forwards to make passes they don’t want to make that buys you time and gives you a chance.

Question:

I was just wondering if you can run out of the circle and kick the ball – as I got penalised for it last time and a penalty corner was awarded. Another thing, can a keeper be penalised for using the wrong side of his stick??? Lastly, can you give me any tips on penalty flicks please.

Answer:

You do have to be careful about playing the ball out of the circle with anything but your stick. The penalty for kicking the ball out of the circle is a corner and could also be a card, either green or yellow depending on the umpire and the effect of the foul.

If you play the ball with the wrong side of your stick it is a foul. If the foul prevents a goal, the call is usually a stroke.

As far as strokes go, The biggest thing I would tell you is to give yourself a chance to save the ball. Too many keepers get freaked out on strokes and forget that it’s basically a flick from 7 yards. Make the shooter beat you. Unless you’ve seen the stroker before, know that he’s got a great stroke and know where he goes, react. A good stroke should go in. The biggest thing for a keeper to avoid is allowing bad strokes to go in. Bad strokes usually go in when you guess.

Question:

I am in my first year of goalkeeping – playing for my club and English County (Under 14s)

I played on Sunday and had a great deal of trouble from a low afternoon sun – and lost sight of the ball on one or two occasions. I wear glasses normally – but contact lenses for sport. How can I deal with the dazzle?

I did let in one or two (or three/perhaps four) goals too many – it wasn’t my best performance – how do you cope with the bad days? I’ve had plenty of good days – feeling good about my performance and my teams’, this is the first time the game went from bad to worse.

Answer:

Depending on the kind of helmet and cage you wear, there are a couple of things to try. First off, sunglasses if you can fit them under your helmet. Second, there is something called eye black that American footballers apply under their eyes that cuts glare. When the low sun is really bad, you might try white adhesive tape applied to the top part of your cage. Not so that it covers your eyes, but so it shields them. You should also get used to using your stick or glove to shield from the glare when you can.

As far as bad days, know that they can happen. The biggest thing I try to do is go back out and work with a plan to make sure they don’t happen. That starts with a journal. Keep track of goals, saves and different game situations. Assess what happened, what you did and what you might do differently. In the course of a game, I try not to think about what happened, particularly if it was a mistake. The last thing my team-mates need to see is me reacting to something I can’t do anything about. I need to keep playing and I need to keep my team-mates playing with me. Get back on the horse!

Question:

I have reached the stage in goalkeeping where I want to learn how to do the Splits. I don’t have a clue how to do them and I don’t want to try without some advice because I could injure myself. Can you give me some advice?

Answer:

I don’t know that there are a right and wrong way to make split saves. I don’t look at split saves as anything more than a reaction save. Definitely dramatic reactions, but reaction none the less. The biggest thing to keep in mind physically, is that you need the flexibility to make the save. That means you need to be well stretched. Split saves look great, but if you’re smart with your positioning you shouldn’t be in the situation where you have to make them.

As far as learning to do the splits, I’d recommend anything that stresses stretching. Yoga or any of the martial arts are great exercises for developing flexibility.

Question:

I saw your tips page on the Obo web page and would like your views on slide tackles.

I play for Winchester H.C. in the UK. I have been playing as a club goalkeeper since 1982.

This weekend I conceded 3 penalty flicks of which I saved 2. The Umpire awarded them every time I did a slide tackle on the centre forward. As most centre forwards do near goalies, he fell over. The umpires comment was that because I was making contact with the player before the ball, I was committing an offence.

I would be interested in your comments and tips as I have not had this "problem" before. Is my timing the problem or the umpire?

Answer:

As far as your “stroke” dilemna I’m a bit hesitant to pass judgement. If you do something and it’s only a problem for one umpire, my temptation is to say that it’s the umpire. On the technical front, apart from the umpire, it could be a timing problem. If you’re too close to the forward when you make the tackle, the umpire tends to only see the contact.

Question:

I read your tips on slide tackling, but what do you do if the ball is pushed under you. I can never get my timing quite right and the forward pushes the ball under me as I am going down making me look a right prat. Can you help me, I would be very grateful.

Answer:

You are right, that ball being pushed under you as you go down is the shot that you do feel like a complete idiot letting in. I think two things help, first is not just dropping, but sliding forward at the same time you go to make your tackle. Second, is the element of vision the forward has when you make the tackle. If a forward can see you coming, there are a lot of gaps for them to see. Look to line the ball up more on your body and get down from your feet to your hip quickly dropping sideways. Your aim is to smother coming out at the forward before they have the chance to release. Speed and timing are critical. Stick with it.

Question:

I have difficulty getting power into my kicks unless they are cross kicks. I was wondering if you have any tips of how to increase the power. I think it is a technique thing not a big lack of strength in the legs.

Answer:

Take a look at the kicking tip I have on the site if you haven’t already. If you have, a couple of points to reinforce, first kick through the line of the ball, rather than kicking to the ball. Weight transfer through the ball gives power. You get more weight transfer by pushing off from your non-kicking leg when you go to kick also.

You’re right, it is a technical thing and it cones with being aware of your mechanics. Make sure that your head is forward and that your kicking foot isn’t out in front of your kicking leg knee when you make contact with the ball. Practice makes perfect.

Question:

I really enjoyed your sliding tackles tips this month. As an ageing goalie who plays at a very low level of game, I have great difficulty in putting myself on the floor. I just cannot get the technique right. What would you suggest would be a good exercise to do? Apart from having too much beer before the game, whereby naturally falling over!

Answer:

Slide tackling is one of the hardest skills to practice because rarely do you get anyone who wants to practice for the sake of helping the keeper. Forwards want to score, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they want to do things repetitively or at slower speeds. Things that help a keeper master a skill.

As far as getting used to sliding, it is something that takes getting used to. I think the biggest thing is repetition. When I first work with keepers, I focus only on the technique. We slide to a target and focus on footwork and body positioning. Once the keepers start to get confidence we’ll start to work with field players and a ball at half speed. Like any new skill, you work on things in practice before you try them in a game, and probably overdo them in training so you get the reps you need.

Question:

Can you please give us some advice on ball machines that are suitable for hockey goal keepers.

Answer:

The ball machine I’m most familiar with is available from:

The JUGS Company
P.O. Drawer 365
Tualatin
Oregon 97062
USA Phone – 503 340-9997

They have a machine that is designed for field hockey, called the Jugs Jr. Pitching Machine. You can also find them on the net at:

http://www.thejugscompany.com

Question:

One of our goal keepers dives to the left as an instinctive reaction, rather than the right. Even when logging at a short corner he will dive left.

Is this something which I should attempt to coach him out of and, if so , how.

On the positive side, he has a much higher success rate at reverse side tackling and regularly surprises centre forwards.

Answer:

Next month’s tip is on slide tackling so stay tuned. Your keeper is going to have to learn to slide tackle to his strong stick side. Usually when a keeper has the problem you described, it’s because he has a dominant foot, left or right, and is way too comfortable going to a side. Work on your keeper’s footwork leading up to his slide. If he’s slide tackling to his strong stick side, his last step will be with his left foot and he’ll throw his right foot/leg down, getting his right hip down. This forces him to slide tackle on his strong stick side. As for laying down on corners, he really has to be on his stick side. He puts his post player at risk laying out the other way. Like any new skill, be patient. Don’t expect instant results, but know that there will be payoff.