What makes a good goalie in hockey

It also helps make diving for a ball easier. Having your hands in the right position is important when reacting to shots at different heights. You want to find a height where you feel most comfortable. If you need help determining where to place them, place your hands just outside of the torso and just below shoulder level.

This will allow you to react quickly to high shots, drop suddenly for low shots, and extend fully when diving. If your hands are low and out of placement, blocking high shots will be tough. When a hard hit ball comes at the goal, the natural tenancy is to tense up. If you want to face these shots head on, it is important that you stay relaxed, big, watch the ball, and wait until they hit the ball before reacting.

You will naturally react to the hit and save the ball. Try to not guess where they will hit, because you could be fooled by their body movement and weight shift. You are the last line of defense in the game and you are the one player with your eyes on the entire field.

Admittedly, there's going to be some overlap. That, I think, speaks to the complexity of the position. Emotional Courage. Despite the improvement in goaltending gear, getting hit with a puck can still hurt. A lot. Much like a positional player can't shy away from the corners, afraid that he might get pancaked by a defenseman or forechecker, a goalie has to accept that he or she will occasionally get a stinger. Knowing that, and still bearing down on each shot without flinching, while remaining cool and calm, takes guts.

The ability to handle pressure is paramount. You're going to get knocked down. Few goalies go through life without giving up bad goals. And these days, when goalies are becoming so dominant, and goals are even harder to come by, the pressure to be perfect has never been greater. Dealing with that requires intestinal fortitude. Some kids are naturally confident. Others gain a measure through hard work, repetition, and experiencing the success that often results.

Confidence isn't arrogance. It's a belief that, no matter shots may have gotten behind you, the next one won't. And it's not enough for a goalie to be sure about his or her own abilities.

They have to exude confidence. A team needs to believe in its goaltender. If it doesn't, it's starting the game behind the 8-ball, and will almost certainly play tentatively. The notion of "taking ownership" is vital for goaltenders. As great as he was, Patrick Roy had an annoying habit of showing up his defense when he felt a goal wasn't his "fault. Patrick — they were all his fault. Because he only had one job, and that was to keep the puck out of the net.

Goalies need to accept this reality. If they do, their teammates will play harder in front of them. I guarantee it. A goalie has to "want it" to be great.

He or she has to care. Passion is what drives a young goaltender to work hard every time he or she is on the ice. Passion means taking care of your gear, getting to the rink early, helping your teammates. Simply, it means doing whatever it takes to win. A sense of humor. This is one of the most underrated traits for a goaltender. At the end of the day, hockey, for the vast majority of players, is still a game. It's not a job.

You have to be able to enjoy it. It's been my experience that the more fun kids have, the less likely they'll burn out. This is really about perspective. Mental Analytical. For all his physical gifts, Marty Brodeur had an almost uncanny ability to read a hockey game. I believe that was a pivotal part of his greatness. Good goalies are usually students of the game. During actual games, a sharp goalie will pick up on tendencies of the opposing team and other details — is the attacking player a right shot or left?

The flip side is to not "overthink" things. Many goals can be attributed to a momentary loss of concentration for a particularly glaring example, Google Philadelphia Flyer Steve Mason and the words "bad goal" from this spring's Stanley Cup series against Washington. Goalies must learn to be "on point" the entire time they are on the ice. I've seen far too many goaltenders with the requisite physical tools to succeed fall short because they simply didn't have the resolve to put in the grueling hours to maximize those gifts.

Many of them could talk the talk, but they wouldn't walk the walk. That's a shame. Great goalies know that practice is where the difference is made. This is the "fighting spirit" that often separates average goalies from good goalies, and good goalies from great goalies. You often have to fight for position, or fight to find the puck. You can't shy away from contact, or other challenges that your opponents present. You have to embrace it. Brian Daccord of Stop It Goaltending likes to say: "The first rule of goaltending is that you're going to give up goals.

The key is how you respond to those goals. There are good goals and bad goals. But they all count the same, and the key is to not let one bad goal lead to another. Another underrated trait. Whether it's flopping to quickly, or being too aggressive, impatience is not the goalie's friend. By the very nature of the position, you have to let the play come to you. That requires discipline, but patience will serve you well.

What are you thoughts after a long time out of the game. I was a goalkeeper! Great decision to get back into field hockey.

Fitness would be the first thing to tackle. Being older than when you last played, take more time to stretch. Both before the game to prevent injuries, and after to help with the recovery. Finding the right team is the key. Can always step it up from there.

I am new to goal keeping and i am all ready playing under 17 and B grade girls goalie. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What makes a good Field Hockey Goalie? The goalkeeper should be cool and not get rattled if a goal is made by the opposing side They should be the quickest person on the team over five yards The goalie should be a quick decision-maker They must always be watching the ball Above all, the goalkeeper should have courage.

They should not step back from any ball, afraid to stop it. Keep your position. Stand tall and wide. Kick or stick? Stay on the balls of your feet. Madie Hinch, the best women's field hockey goalkeeper. Try and be courageous, stay of strong mind. Well practiced in the five-second surge.

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