Being set for the shot

When making a save, you need to be in position in time. If you are still moving, then you can put yourself off balance or turn away from the shot. Instead, it is important to cut down your movement and pre-set for the save.

If you have ever seen a goalkeeper running out in the attempt to get in front of a shot, only to miss the ball and end up allowing a goal, then you will have seen first hand the inability to save on the move; it’s simply just not possible to move a limb to block whilst moving at the same time. In contrast, if you stop moving, you will be able to make a balanced save (whereas running would throw you off balance). By limiting your movement (which often involves playing deep within the D and close to the goal line; cutting down the distance you have to move), you are able to get behind the angle and therefore stop the shot successfully. Obviously, though, whenever a breakdown occurs in the defence and the goalkeeper is forced into moving out to challenge and cover space, then you will need to move across.

Still moving

If you are moving with the play, there is very little likelihood that you will actually be able to make the save. Racing out to instantly cut the angles and pressure the shooter, you will normally end up losing balance within your ready stance. Unable to stop within the stance and properly move your legs in order to block the incoming shot, your forward momentum will carry you away from ball and the result will be an allowed goal. Staying up is more advantageous as you cover more of the goal, so you need to find a way to cut down the movement you have to make to get behind the shot.

Effectively, the only time you would purposefully choose to make an active save on the move, is when opting to slide out against the play to block; choosing to play the percentages and cover as much as possible against the shot. Whereas normally you would have no chance of blocking on the move; like moving across laterally against a passing play, which you cannot stop upright as you simply cannot move with the play in time, trying to save with a piece of equipment; forcing you to leave your feet and dive into the save.

Problems surrounding being still ‘on the move’:

  • you are still moving, so cannot stop in time, or stop your momentum, in order to be able to make a save
  • you cannot get set (in your stance, or in relation to your angles and goal positioning), if you are still moving
  • you are unable to properly balance and therefore make a ‘good’ save
  • with your momentum, you are also moving away from the shot, rather than into its path

These problems essentially mean that a successful save is impossible: the chances are in favour of the ball ending up in the goal because of loss of balance and moving away from the shot.

Pre-set

In order to get set in a balanced ready stance on the angle in time, you need to consciously get yourself prepared; getting into position before the shot. Setting before the shot, rather than setting on the shot, or trying to attempt a save whilst still on the move, allows you to make a more efficient save by being balanced in a solid ready position. Properly balanced and prepared for the save you will next have to make, you are in a better position to keep the ball out of the net. Even if you are not on the best angle, you are still ready in your stance; giving you are better chance to make the save, than if you were trying to move onto the angle and still moving when the shot was released.

Notice how the goalkeeper in this picture is in a good position, with a balanced stance, to make a save immediately, if he is forced into action.

Pointers:

  • try to minimise movement; take less steps and cut down on , so you have more time to prepare
  • get set early before the shot is released (e.g. instead of taking another step, stop and get into your stance, so that you are ready)
  • make sure you have a balanced ready stance in order to maximise your chances of making the save
  • always maintain your ready position throughout moving around in the D, so that you are already set in readiness for getting ready for a shot (minimising the time needed to get into a good stance), regardless of whether you end up facing a shot or not

Rule of thumb

– If it is a point shot you are facing, then get into a good position and be well balanced before the shot. However, if it is a passing play, then you will need to be agile to get across in time.

In essence, you don’t want to over step: still moving means that you are not ready for the save, so by being precise and conservative with your movements, you are more capable of shot stopping by simply arriving on time as it were to meet the shot – being in the right place at the right time for a successful save.

Get set!

Ultimately, you need to pre-set for shots when you are seeing straight shots at you. If you are faced with a 2 on 0, then you need to react to get across to block the ball on the pass. You need to consciously think about getting set, so that you are always moving with the play; ready to get into the correct position against the incoming shot. Try to play a smaller D so that you have less to do; moving less and being able to get on the angle quicker. Maintain a balanced ready stance all the time, so that your task is made easier by being already prepared for the save.

Whistles and strokes


Hey everyone–

I’m both a veteran keeper and an official.  I’ve got a question about your experiences with penalty strokes.

FIH rule 13.7 reads:

g.  the whistle is blown when the player taking the stroke and the player defending it are in position

h.  the player taking the stroke must not take it until the whistle has been blown

Over the course of the past few years I’ve noticed a trend where once both players are in place, the stroker is allowed to take the stroke at any time– no whistle.

This has happened frequently enough that I’ve started asking game, tournament and event organizers to clarify the stroke procedures with me (and other officials) prior to play.  I’ve never seen a modification to the FIH rules for any tournament, event or game that modifies this part of the stroke procedure and yet it seems to be a common misconception.  As an official, I make sure to handle the stroke properly but as a keeper, I’m obviously limited in what I can do in a game. I’ve asked my captain to ask officials and we’ve even appealed a goal called in the situation but it just stinks not to be able to focus on the stroke alone.

Does anyone have similar experiences, can you point me towards some explanation of this trend– am I missing some publication?–, or thoughts on how best to handle it?

Cheers!


Australia vs Korea Series Result

The Kookaburras have won the three test series against Korea in Hobart despite finishing with a 2-1 loss in the final game on Sunday. After 5-1 and 3-2 victories in the opening two games, Korea responded well to end their tour on a positive note. They are certainly a very good side and will be a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup at the end of the month.

As I mentioned in my previous post, there was a large Australian squad taken to Tasmania that included three keepers. I played the first half in game 1 and the second half in game 2, fortunately recording two clean sheets in my time on the field. Generally as a keeper in the Aussie team you only get a handful of touches each game due to the quality of the defence in front of you, so it makes every involvement you do have in the match all the more important. My favourite for the week was a save from a Korean deflection inside the final two minutes of the close win in game two. Fellow GK’s Bazeley and Burgers shared the net in game three and we all now face a week of training and intra-squad matches before we find out which two of us will be heading to India for the World Cup.

One habit that I like to follow whenever possible prior to a match is to spend some time on the field before the warm-up just visualising the game from my position. This is not always an option, particularly when playing a club game or during a tournament when the turf is being used for another game immediately prior to playing myself. However during a test series against another nation there is often time available to spend taking in some of the relevant cues from the goal, such as the impact of the sun’s glare or any potentially distracting obstacles in the background. This is particularly useful when you are playing at an unfamiliar venue, and I was caught in the act here during the Korean series in the picture I have included.

Until next time,

Rossco

Australia – Korea Test Series

The Kookaburras have played their first test for 2010 in Hobart, recording a 5-1 win over Korea in match one of three this week.

Coach Ric Charlesworth brought a squad of 25 players to Tasmania for the series as he looks to finalise the 18 that will represent Australia at the World Cup in India next month. The group includes all three keepers who represented the Kookaburras in 2009, with the intention being to share the load against Korea by playing two halves each over the three games.

I was in the net for the opening whistle yesterday and was happy that we went into the half time break 1-0 up after Des Abbott put one away for Australia after 17 minutes. The crowd in Hobart was fantastic and it was a buzz as always to represent my country, but particularly enjoyable given the great reception we received in Tasmania. It was my first game in my new Green and Gold pads that OBO made up for me, and so far so good – no goals conceded!

Nathan Burgers took over in the second half and in the end we were comfortable winners, although given Korea’s habit in the recent Champions Trophy of coming back from big deficits to salvage results we were wary of their talent right until the final whistle. Games two and three will be played over the weekend, I’ll let you know how we go!

Cheers, Ross.

What should I use to clean the inside of my mask?

qna
Question:
I was wondering if you could tell me what I should use to clean the inside of my OBO mask…
Answer:
What you use to clean your mask will depend on how dirty it’s gotten. If you’re cleaning it fairly regularly you can wash and rinse with warm water and an anti-bacterial soap. If it’s pretty grungy I would recommend rinsing the mask thoroughly, then scrubbing it with a gentle plastic brush with something like Fantastic or Formula 409, followed by rinsing and washing again with a an anti-bacterial soap. It’s important that you dry the mask after washing to keep the hardware from rusting and any mold developing.

good luck,

Jon

The self-pass

The new self-pass option is also available to goalkeepers. The goalkeeper can take advantage of this at a 16, learning to further the options of their team by freeing up a defender who would normally take the free hit.

The rules have been changed again and the free hit rule has been adapted to allow a player to pass the ball to themselves and then make a pass, in comparison to smashing it straight away (this includes goalkeepers). This new self-pass therefore allows the goalkeeper to take free hits. However, you should be thoughtful about how and when you use the move, otherwise you could end up in a spot of bother with the opposition bearing down on you looking for an easy goal. Working on technique and looking to use it wisely is a good idea to helping your team; furthering their options and freeing up a player who would normally take the free hit.

Restarting play

The self-pass is a good way of quickly restarting play from a 16. By restarting the play quickly, rather than waiting around for a defender to wait and look for options, you speed up the pace; giving your team the advantage of surprise and speed, which can lead to a goal if the team takes hold of the situation and pushes up the field. By bypassing having a defender take the free hit you save time, whilst also freeing up another player to push forward on the attack (or provide extra defence; defending back if needs be).

Technique

In terms of technique, the self-pass is essentially a simple stick and ball manoeuvre; using the stick and then kicking away with the kicker. You can set up the pass with your stick, placing the ball in front of you to get a good angle on the kick. You need to pass the ball to yourself, so knock the ball back to yourself with the stick. Having passed it to yourself, you can then kick it to a nearby defender. Make sure the pass is accurate, so that it reaches the intended recipient properly.

Goalkeeper making the free hit self-pass to an open defender.

A more difficult skill is to use the self-pass option to ‘throw’ an aerial, like a soccer (football) goalkeeper would do at goal kicks. Simon Mason is the only goalkeeper I know of that can do this successfully; having seen him practising it and going beyond the half way line (to the three quarter mark). As the rules of a ‘dangerous ball’ still apply to an aerial kicked by the goalkeeper, it is a very risky move to try and pull off, unless you have the skill and accuracy to do so. Therefore I don’t recommend you try it, even if it’s fun at the training ground!

When to

The self-pass can be used properly when looking to restart the play “off the bat” without much danger of the opposition intercepting the pass. As long as there is a defender to cover a roaming opposition player and there are no opposing players (or little danger of intercepting the pass) posing a risk to you making a pass, then you should be able to make the pass. I have seen it used like this in a National Premier league game here in England; the goalkeeper quickly restarting play within the D by kicking the ball to a team mate after a shot outside the D (where a 16 is automatically given as a result).

Be careful

Ultimately, it is a great move when used correctly, but can go horribly wrong if not. You need to be careful and wise about when you use it; being aware of present threats, otherwise you could end up gifting a goal to the opposition team.

“Logging”

“Logging” is still an important save selection at the short corner, even if drag flicks are becoming more prominent at the high levels of the game. The goalkeeper should be going down on a straight strike at goal, so that they can get behind the shot. Here’s how to ‘lie down’ on the shot.

Logging is the idea of setting up before the low shot before it’s taken, taking the educated guess or expectation that it will go low. With the rules stating that the ball cannot be lifted above the backboard, on the first shot taken outside the D, at a short corner, the intelligent and crafty goalkeepers used this to their own advantage, lying down in preparation for the shot, which the shooter would bite at the opportunity to fire at them.

Logging, or going into a lying horizontal barrier, in comparison to diving down, involves the goalkeeper going down before the shot is taken; allowing you to block off the bottom of the net, playing the percentages to deny a goal through you.

Short corners

The log is a technique used specifically for the low, straight strike faced on penalty corners; it doesn’t work at any other time in the game, as a player could easily lift the ball over you and it would take too long to get back up from! On short corners, you can play the shooter’s options and make the choice based on percentages to cover the low shot; covering as much of the bottom of the net as possible by lying down against the hit. Although keepers have to be more creative with the move now as shooters favour the disguised and ruthless drag flick, it is still useful at covering a large amount of net by lying horizontally in front of goal, when faced with a straight strike at goal.

Lying down for the shot

On low shots, the goalkeeper is normally encouraged to ‘lie down’ against the incoming shot, taking away the low portion of the net that the shooter is looking for. By making full use of their equipment, the goalkeeper can reduce the scoring chances of the opposing players from scoring from a direct low shot at goal.

Rather than standing up for a shot, going down onto the pitch allows you to create a horizontal barrier against the incoming shot, maximising your body shape to cover the goal and take away a significant amount of shooting space, to deny the shooter on a low strike aimed on goal. Time is obviously needed to get down in readiness, so you should consider when it is best to use the move; going down with the strike so that you make the save properly.

The different stages

To make the log easier to understand and use in a game, it’s best to break it up into stages. This way, it makes it easier to copy when using the move in a game, as well as speeding up the process during play.

  1. As the ball is pushed out, take a few steps out from the goal depending on where you want to be for the log
  2. Start to lower your stick hand in your normal ready stance to help support the drop
  3. Drop down onto the pitch, off your hip, lying the stick down horizontally (which will also support the dropping motion) and stacking the leg pads on top of each other, ensuring you connect with the pitch to provide proper cover
  4. Squeeze the pads together to make sure there is no possible gap available for the ball to get through
  5. Push out with the legs to cover the left side, and the stick to cover low and the right post gap; using the glove to cover the space above the pads

Pointers:

  • lower your stick before you go down to help you drop more quickly
  • spread out to cover as much of goal as possible
  • squeeze your body together so that you don’t open up any gaps in which to be scored on
  • have your hip turned to face the penalty spot, so that you are horizontal to the shot

Speeding it up

As you move up the tiers of hockey, you will need to improve on your technique so that you can go down quickly when you need to (rather than going down before the shot and having the ball playing around you to be scored on). Quicker routines will mean that you have less time to get down. For the barrier save to be successful, you need to be able to get down quickly enough according to the situation. To really force yourself down into the shape quickly, you need to drive down with momentum; forcing yourself onto the floor quickly. Practising the technique repeatedly will help you improve on the technique and timing the move (try to practise it when your team are practising short corners at training).

How does the difference of the indoor game affect the keeper?

qna
Question:
My name is Josh and I’m not sure if you remember me but you were a coach of mine. I was a keeper in on the U-20 team in ’99 when Shiv cialis buy canada carried 5 keepers (I think it was 5). I had been an alternate on the U-16 the year before. That’s about all there was to my National Hockey carrier so I’m not sure how much I might have stuck in you mind. Anyway the summer after our goalkeeping camp with Ian Taylor I tore apart my knee, severely damaging my ACL, MCL and annihilating my medial meniscus. I hung up my pads (I’m still not sure why) and that was that. About a year ago I picked up a stick again, with a local club. I live in NYC now and found a club that plays on turf and has some real talent, lot of internationals. I keep very fit and hockey has been a welcome addition to my workout schedule. I have been enjoying playing the pitch, and now this winter I’ve picked up indoor.

Here’s where I have come to seeking you out. We are going to play in a mixed tournament in Baltimore at the end of January and I was asked to play in the cage. I’m game, it could be a lot of fun, but I haven’t had pads on in ages. I’ve been helping coach a few of the women keepers in the club so I’ve been getting it back in my brain, and in my body a bit. My question is: how does the difference of the indoor game affect the keeper. I can imagine that one needs to play very actively, it’s so fast. I’d really appreciate any advice you might have. I’ve found very little in the way of resources on the web, except the OBO page where I found your e-mail. I also will have a real mix of a kit. I still have my old helmet which is solid, first gen ROBO OBO gloves and groin guard. The club has a nice set of pretty new leggaurds, kickers, shorts and such. The only piece we are missing is upper body. I may have found a deal on one, Longstreath has TK 1.2 upper body armour for sale for about $150. I’ve always like TK but have no idea where in their range that item sits and what level of protection it will offer. My apologies, I know this is rather out of the blue and thanks again for any advice or ideas you might have. I really enjoyed my limited time on the team and wish I had been able to play before I was injured. Maybe this tourney will get me back into keeping…

Answer:
Hi Josh,

I’m glad you’ve rediscovered hockey. As far as indoor, it’s a challenging game for the keeper. Percentage-wise the court has a greater scoring area than outdoor hockey which allows the keeper a relatively greater area to be involved in the play.

Just as there are a number of styles for field keepers, there are a number of styles for indoor keepers and much of that depends on the style of play for your team and your athletic attributes.

The big technical advantage to indoor keeping is that you are the only player that can play on the ground (in the circle). This allows you a greater tackling surface when taking on dribbling players. That advantage is nullified though if you can’t set up a slide tackle and/or can’t recover to an upright position quickly.

It’s extremely difficult to explain a style of indoor keeping, but I think there are a lot of good examples if you go on youtube and look for indoor hockey. At the international level, indoor keeping requires excellent agility and speed as well as great reflexes and the ability to read the play.

On the equipment front, I play with a modified ice hockey goalkeeper upper body unit. I’ve seen the TK unit, but I think the ice hockey type units are more portective and better-constructed. If you’re looking in that direction, you can usually getg a good deal on a used one on e-bay or from the clearance section from a lot of the ice hockey internet stores. If you need ideas where to look let me know.

It sounds like you’re enjoying your hockey and it’s important to maintain that. The nice thing about indoor is that you have an opportunity to see alot of the ball. If a goal goes in, life goes on. It’s likely you and your team will have chances to redeem themselves. Have fun and good luck,

Jon

Aerials into the D

Aerial passes into the D are difficult for a goalkeeper to deal with, especially if a player gets on the end of the pass and deflects it onto goal. The goalkeeper can actively react to this danger, coming out aggressively to beat the opposition player to the ball and clear it; thus eliminating the scoring chance.

On the international scene aerials are becoming more and more popular as an offensive option; pushing up the pitch, with a deflector running onto the end of the aerial and tipping the ball to lob the goalkeeper. The winning goal of the recent Champions Trophy tournament by Australia is proof of this. As a result, the goalkeeper needs to be quicker on their feet and athletic in an aggressive response, if they want to be able to eliminate the threat.

As this clip shows, aerials are a danger to us goalkeepers if played incorrectly:

Coming out to intercept

The way to deal with the threat of the aerial into the D, actively and aggressively, is to come out and intercept it. Just like you would when facing an open pass into the D along the floor and completing an attacking clearance, you can sprint out to meet it. As the ball drops, you can then make your move; jumping up to knock away the ball.

Meeting the drop

To be able to stop the aerial and the threat of the opponent scoring, you need to match the aerial; matching its flight path and all important drop. You need to be quick and immediate in your actions; sprinting out to be the first to it. To eliminate the aerial, you need to beat the incoming opposing player to the ball, otherwise you can be whistled for obstruction as you are in their way. Timing is extremely important as to whether or not you will succeed in making the interception. In order to intercept it before it becomes dangerous, you have to be beneath the ball as it arrives, so that you can jump up and knock it away. Watch the ball and attempt to get underneath it to cut off its path, before leaping up to knock it clear.

Jumping into touch

To reach the ball, you really need to extend and reach up in your efforts to block. The ability to jump high is useful, since you need to be able to get as high as possible to cover the aerial. Extending the stick will give you extra reach if you are using the stick to block. When you block the aerial, try to power the ball away; batting it away to safety. However, don’t be too over zealous, otherwise you could get whistled on the play; push the ball to a reasonable distance (although your priority is to stop a goal being scored, so it shouldn’t matter too much if you are penalised).

Remember to look to the sides to direct the rebound, as that way you will have more time to respond and get back in goal if another opponent gets hold of the ball. If you let the ball simply drop to your feet, then the chances are that the incoming opponent player will latch onto the ball and then score around you.

Follow the rebound

As always, it is important to follow the rebound to shut down any secondary scoring chance. You need to follow up on the attempt to make sure there are no other chances to score. Work out where it’s gone, turning and sighting the ball before moving in to kick it away. If your defence has got back in time, then they may get to it before you.

Pointers:

  • beat the opposition to the ball; be the first to reach the aerial
  • get underneath the aerial’s path so that you can successfully block it
  • extend into the interception as you jump up
  • try to control the rebound; if it is not controlled first time, get to the rebound and clear it to safety
  • practise makes perfect; work on your technique to ensure

Rule of thumb:

– If you can’t reach the ball in time, then don’t try to: stay back and try to make the save. You have to be early in your efforts. If you leave it too late, then you won’t be able to make a successful interception.

Staying put

The other option for dealing with the aerial is not to do anything and wait for it to happen. You can passively let the play come to you. If you do not have the time to move off your goal quickly (having seen it late), or think you will misplay it, then you can wait on the opponent’s efforts to see what they do. Rather than being lobbed, stay deep in the D on your line so that you can make the save when the aerial is tipped and redirected onto goal. If the aerial is not redirected, but the player decides to knock it down to the floor to control it for an attempt on goal, then you can take a step forward to cut the angle and cover more of goal, or move out to challenge them.

Maintaining concentration

It is important to maintain concentration throughout the game. If you play on a strong team and don’t face many shots, then you will need to stay alert for long periods of time, even though you having nothing to do, until you face a shot, so you can readily stop it. This is an art form which is difficult to craft, but if you can, you will be very successful.

The goalkeeper’s main job is obviously to stop the ball and if , it can be difficult. The ability to stop shots, according to sport psychology, depends on your “arousal level” (i.e. how awake and alert you are), which means that you have to be for the whole game, not just parts of it. That’s why it is often easier to play against a high scoring team who will put a lot of shots on goal; allowing you to get into the ‘zone’ and build up rhythm, and there are goalkeepers who succeed at facing a lot of shots on a team with poor defence. However, if you face a small number of shots during the whole game, which are also of good quality (as the shooter only has that one chance to score and will make the most of it, compared to having lots of chances by simply regularly shooting at goal), then you need to be ‘awake’ for the whole time, ready to face those shots.

Therefore in order to be able to do the job of save making, you have to be able maintain a strong level of concentration for the whole game; fully focused on the task at hand, whilst also being able to keep up a level of consistent pressure on yourself, so that you are mentally prepared to stop a shot when it comes.

Not ‘mentally awake’

Not being mentally ‘awake’ is hazardous to your chances of making the save when it is most important. The biggest danger to your chances of properly concentrating for a full stretch, which can be made more difficult if you have little to do. To maximise your ability to be ready for every change in the game and every shot as it happens, you need to be ‘switched on’; ready and alert to what is happening, so that you can react when called upon. It is not humanly possible to concentrate all the time, and we cannot expect for that to be the case: however, you do have to make a concise effort to work on your concentration. If you want to be able to deal with immediate action when it occurs, often in the blink of an eye, then you have to work on maintaining concentration during a game.

It is often easy to ‘drop off’ or day dream, or ‘fall asleep’ on the play, which is dangerous territory if you end up facing a breakaway you were not ready for. Since you ‘switch off’ when the ball is not in your team’s half, it is easy to get distracted and bored, leading to a major drop in concentration levels. Not getting a good night’s sleep can attribute to this. If you don’t have the energy and are too burnt out to concentrate, then you will not be able to. Your attention span is also a key factor. When you are younger, your attention span is shorter, so it is essentially a lot harder for a younger goalkeeper (especially under 15) to be able to pay attention for such a seemingly long time as 70 minutes. As such, it is easier to face more shots because you have less concentrating to do as you focus on stopping shots. However, you can work on elongating your attention span, like doing some ‘brain’ or mental training (with various methods).

If you are “dozing off”, then you're not fully 'switched on' for action. Notice that the goalkeeper is looking the other way from the ball and is not in a ready stance, even though the player is just outside the D.

Staying focused in the game

In order to focus and remain focused, you have to force yourself to ‘stay awake’, if you want to have any chance of stopping every single shot and dealing with every broken play during a game. If you want to be able to call your defence to help, then you need to be watching: watching requires your focus. The easiest thing to focus on is the ball, as it is the obvious source of action. Maintain focus on the ball ALL the time, so that you are fully aware of what’s going on. Be completely focused, so that you can maintain your concentration.

Concentration levels

Although your main aim is to be fully alert, all the time, it is not possible; trying to do so, you could wear yourself out by the first quarter of the game. As we are human and prone to lapses in concentration, you can’t always expect to be tuned in to the flow of the game all the time. As much as it is important to be fully focused at all times on the play and where the ball is, it is just as important to conserve energy, so that you can save it for later on. Think about what would happen if you were trying to concentrate for the whole game, only to collapse in the last five minutes (as you ran out of energy); the most important part of the game, where the winner is decided.

The following is a rough percentage guide to how much you should be alert according to where the ball is:

  • When the ball is in the opposition’s D, you should be 5% ready for action
  • When the ball is in the opposition’s ’25’, be 15% ready
  • When the ball is at the half way line, you need to be 35% ready
  • When the ball is past the half way line, be 50% ready
  • When the ball is outside the D you should be 65% ready for action
  • When the ball is inside the D you should be 75% ready for a shot
  • When someone is lining up for a shot, you should be 100% ready!

This does not cover other scenarios. On set plays, like a short corner or penalty flick, you should be 100% ready to start with, as you cannot afford to not be paying attention.

Obviously your concentration levels will change throughout the game depending on what is happening. However, what stays the same needs to be your intensity; making an effort to keep up your interest in the game. Remember: you can be caught ‘napping’ by the opposition, like being too far off the line, or in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the top level being beaten by an aerial pass into the D (which is then deflected for a goal) is just an example. You need to aware of these situations and ready to act, so you don’t get beaten by them.

Pointers:

  • if your team is in control of the ball then you can be more relaxed (until they lose possession!)
  • if an attacker is in control of the ball then you should be more alert and focused on the danger of a scoring chance
  • change your level of concentration according to where the ball is on the pitch and the relating danger of facing shots
  • try to conserve energy, so that you are ready in the last minutes of the game
  • force yourself to concentrate: focus on nothing but the game at hand

Keeping up the pressure

Going for long periods without being called upon is a difficult trick to master. This is especially the case when playing at higher levels, or when you play on a team who are very (and therefore stop scoring chances reaching you in the first place). With the ball staying deep in the other end or the midfield for extended periods of time at the top levels, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and then stop only a few shorts that you will end up facing. Unlike in lower levels where you may be able to get away with ‘dropping off’ and ‘falling asleep’ on the play because you will be soon ‘woken up’ when shooters start moving in on goal, you have to be awake and alert 110% for the whole game, ready for action at any given opportunity.

The technique for reaching optimum levels of is to challenge yourself; force yourself to concentrate. Wipe out any other niggling thought from your mind and focus solely. Like yoga or zen, make your sole focus that of the match. By doing this, you will forget any distractions and be able to properly concentrate on the game.

With the ball in the other team's D this goalkeeper is taking a rest, but at the same time is focusing on the game at hand; staying mentally alert in the mind.

Concentrate!

Ultimately, you need to concentrate, and have the ability to, for long lengths of time. To be able to get the best out of yourself and perform to your highest level, you need to be focusing on the game at hand. Concentration goes hand in hand with your ability to stop shots, so it is important to work on it. It is up to you, so you have to work on it individually. You need to give 110% in your efforts.