Question:
My daughter is a 10th grade High School varsity goalie in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. When she is on the left post, what is the best way quickly get to the right post to defend a quick shot across the front of the cage for a deflect shot on the right post. She is stronger to her left and needs a better technique to get to the right faster to cover these quick shots to the right post when she is set on the left post defending stick activity there.
Answer:
If the ball is moving quickly and the player on the other side of the goal is not going to have the time to stop and control the ball, then I need to get across quickly. Usually, I’m trying to take away an area, like the backboard as I go across and will dive to cover as much area as I can. If the ball is slow and the player on the other side has time to stop and control the ball before they shoot, I want to be upright and try to make a play of that ball while I’m on my feet. In either case, as the ball goes across the goal mouth, I don’t want to chase after the ball. I want to go to the goal post, covering as much of the goal as possible. Ultimately, the shooter wants to put the ball in the goal. It makes sense that I take the most direct path to where they want to go. Experiment. There is no set way to play this type of ball as long as you’re successful.