| 1. Power shots |
KEEP YOUR EYE ON
THE BALL, not the shooter. Reach towards the ball when it is in the air, not before.
Don’t get faked out. Move the head towards the ball. Try to see the ball hit your
hand. After making contact with the ball, try to be sure that it stays in front of you.
Keep your legs working, snap your hips down and regain your hand position so that you are
ready for another quick block.
Know the percentages. It is important to be in position to stop the most likely shot,
especially if you are a junior, or not a physically imposing goalkeeper. |
| 2. Drive-in, off-the-water shots. |
These come from
inside 5 metres. They require both hands and arms out of the water as part of the ready
position. You must have your hands out of the water because the ball will be coming fast,
and you will have time only for a quick movement of arms to one side or the other. Get up
high and staying there intimidates shooters as they cannot see a lot of the cage. Wait for
the shot to come to you. |
| 3. Two meter shots. |
These shots leave
the goalie very little time to react to and are often blind. Anticipate the shot. When the
ball reaches the 2m area, have your hands out of the water much like the drive-in shot.
Get the right angle. Make sure the guard is doing the right thing. Watch to see in change
in momentum. |
| 4. Lobs. |
Anticipate. The
lob shot itself moves at a much slower rate of speed and therefore gives you more time to
get to it than the power shot. Maintain good position and balance. Watch where lobs are
high percentages. When the lob shot leaves the shooter’s hand, you must pivot your
torso to point one shoulder at the ball and the other toward the extreme opposite post of
the cage. Your eyes need to always be on the ball as you turn 1/4 to move towards a spot
1-1/2meter away and close to the opposite post. Then, you can either scull rapidly or take
a quick stroke or two toward that spot. You should try to make these movements directly
across the goal mouth. Above all else, WAIT FOR THE BALL TO COME TO YOU! |
| 5. Powerplays. |
Get the field
players so that they "funnel" the shots to a blockable rectangle 2 1/2 by 1meter
in the middle of the cage. Know the likely shooters. |
| 6. Penalty Throws |
– Either
move towards one side of the cage as the best guess or move out towards the shooter with
arms spread so as to eliminate the lower or upper portion of the goal. Both with good
timing and anticipation. Know each shooter’s style |
| After the Save. |
Gain control of
the ball and look for an open, safe pass. |
| GAME
SITUATIONS |
|
| Stealing the ball |
acting as another
field player. Work with the defenders, especially those guarding 2m so they don't foul.
There also must be pressure on the outside so as to prevent a shot or cross pass. |
| Being rushed |
at by a field
player while controlling a block or rebound. If you are attacked after a block. Swim the
ball to the side of the goal with short strokes and elbows high. Whatever you do, get the
ball away from the front of the goal. |
| Baiting |
the
opponent’s shot. This means creating a spot in the cage that looks open for the
shooter to go to. The effect might be to force the shooters to think while shooting.
Thinking = anxiety = misses. When you win one mental confrontation, you have a good chance
at an edge for the next one. |
