How Do I Stop Those Players Coming From Around The Back of The Cage?

Question: > Hey Jonathan! Just wanted to reply to your email! I tried to get
> lower in tryouts yesterday and it helped. I'm not very tall and I play
> field hockey. I totally forgot about shots coming from behind the cage
> when the attack runs it back and then does a roll around the crease.
> Are there any pointers about that? It seems like they have a way
> bigger chance of getting it in the cage then.

-Abby

Answer:

Hey Abby. Great to hear things went better. Proud of you. Keep it up.

Quick tips on those players coming from the back of the net:

1) Understand what is going through their head. "Oh my GOD I"M ALL ALONE!!!" to "Oh my GOD I"VE GOT TO GET THIS SHOT OFF QUICK!!!" With this in mind, you know that they are excited and that they are going to want to get rid of the ball quickly. So stay close to the pipe with your stick up and a little straighter than your normal stance.

2) The tendency as a goalie is to start to step away from the pipe way too soon. Don't. Work on this in practice with someone walking around the cage. Better yet. You do it as the offensive player and have someone else stand in the cage. Sometimes the best way to work on your game is to act like that offensive player.

3) Instead of stepping OUT at the shooter, step laterally. If you come out from the cage it is very easy to shoot over and around you so don't do it. Same rule applies on one on ones from the top.

4) Because you are vertically challenged like myself the shooter sees a lot of net upstairs as she comes running around the side of the cage. So because she is in a rush that's the first place she's going to look to shoot. If you stay low in your stance, and be prepared to explode up to the ball, you should have a great chance to saving the ball. They will either shoot right in your stick if it is on your near pipe. Or they will try to go far side and you will explode up with the stick. Just try to keep your eyes on the head of their stick and be ready. No blinking.

5) Lastly, if the player is pretty skilled she may try to fake high, and shoo low. By faking high she trys to get you to jump up at the fake. It's very hard to reverse yourself in mid air, so as you are going up, she puts the ball down low. If the skill of your games is high this may happen. But if it's low it probably won't. You'll probably see more girls try and shoot high than shoot low.

Ok. That should do ya. Let me know how it goes, k?

Jonathan - The Goalie Guru