| Keep your Keeper Sharp | | | | which are necessary during game play. One of the |
| The largest trap that most goalkeepers fall into during | | | | most important skills that any goalkeeper must learn is |
| field hockey practice is to be merely used as target | | | | how to make a dive save. |
| practice by the others on the team. In order to fully | | | | To set up, place six balls in a line slightly off center |
| develop your goalkeeper's skills, try implementing some | | | | anywhere from 8 to 15 yards from the top of the |
| of these drills for field hockey goalkeepers at your | | | | circle. Have one player assume the role of the shooter, |
| next practice. A good goalkeeper is essential to | | | | who stands at the line of balls. The aim of the |
| winning field hockey games and these drills will keep | | | | goalkeeper during this particular drill is to move |
| your keeper's reaction times down. | | | | sideways across the goal to save as many shots as |
| 2-on-1 Shot Blocking | | | | possible. At the start of the drill, the goalkeeper should |
| The first of the drills for field hockey goalkeepers is a | | | | be standing in their ready position with knees bent, |
| simple shot-stopping drill. To set up this drill, spread as | | | | head up and shoulder relaxed next to the left post. |
| many balls as desired around the circle edge. For this | | | | To begin the drill, the goalkeeper shuttles sideways |
| drill, one or two players make their way around the | | | | across the goal and taps the right post with their stick, |
| circle shooting the balls one at a time at the keeper. | | | | the signal for the shooter to commence the drill. The |
| The goalkeeper's job is to save as many ball as | | | | shooter is to fire one of the balls towards the lower |
| possible. To up the competitive spirit of the drill try | | | | left hand corner of the net. As soon as the shot has |
| keeping score, where the shooters earn a point for | | | | been made, the goalkeeper is to shuttle sideways |
| every shot that makes it past the goalkeeper, and the | | | | towards the left post and dive to make the save. |
| goalkeeper earns a point for every shot they block. | | | | Make sure to dive through the path of the ball in order |
| To keep things fresh and interesting during this drill, | | | | to block the shot from going in. |
| make sure the shooters employ a variety of shots | | | | Continue in this manner until all 6 balls have been shot, |
| including but not limited to slapshots, wrist flicks, and | | | | then allow your goalkeeper a short rest while the drill is |
| pushes. Another great way to keep the goalkeeper on | | | | set up again. The second time around the direction is |
| their toes is to allow the players to pass the ball | | | | reverse so the shooter will be taking shots at the |
| between them a few times before taking a shot, | | | | lower right hand corner. |
| which forces the goalkeeper to pay attention to the | | | | Make sure to emphasize that the goalkeeper keeps |
| action. | | | | their head pointing towards the ball with their eye |
| Dive In! | | | | constantly following it after they've touched the post |
| When teaching drills for field hockey goalkeepers it is | | | | and given the signal. To up their chances of |
| important to integrate a variety of drills that teach | | | | successfully blocking the shot, encourage the |
| players how to make different types of saves, all of | | | | goalkeeper to save using both gloves. |