Goalie reaction ball. Mastering Goalie Reaction Training: Unveiling the Power of Specialized Tools

How does a goalie reaction ball enhance hand-eye coordination. What are the benefits of using specialized training tools for goalkeepers. Why is tracking crucial for goaltender performance. How can goalies improve their reaction time and reflexes.

The Science Behind Goalie Reaction Training

Goaltending in sports like hockey and soccer demands exceptional hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and lightning-fast reaction times. These complex cognitive activities require seamless integration of visual and motor skills. The goalkeeper’s hand must respond instantly to visual stimuli, a process that occurs in a fraction of a second.

Specialized training tools, such as the Catchball, have been designed to hone these critical skills. With a flight time comparable to a shot from the slot in hockey, the Catchball provides an ideal medium for goalies to practice and improve their reaction speed.

The Neuroscience of Quick Reactions

When a goalie sees an incoming object, their eyes rapidly send signals to the brain, which then relays instructions to the catching hand. This intricate process happens in the blink of an eye. Through repeated practice with tools like the Catchball, goalkeepers can significantly enhance the speed of this signal transmission.

• Faster signal processing
• Improved hand placement accuracy
• Quicker save execution

Enhancing Visual Tracking Skills for Goalkeepers

Tracking is a fundamental visual skill for goalkeepers. It involves the ability to follow moving targets and swiftly shift focus between different points. This skill is particularly challenging when objects are moving at high speeds towards the goalkeeper.

Why is tracking so crucial for goaltenders? Tracking fast-moving objects requires rapid adjustments of the small muscles around the eyes to maintain focus. In sports like hockey, where pucks can travel at extreme velocities, this skill becomes even more critical.

The Catchball Advantage in Tracking Training

The Catchball offers a unique advantage in improving tracking skills. It allows goalkeepers to practice numerous tracking sequences in quick succession, effectively training the eyes and eye muscles to follow objects flying towards them more efficiently.

1. Increased repetitions in a short time
2. Improved ability to track objects moving towards the goalkeeper
3. Enhanced focus on fast-moving targets

Refining Goaltending Technique Through Specialized Training

Beyond cognitive and visual skills, tools like the Catchball play a crucial role in fine-tuning goaltending technique. One key concept in modern goaltending is the theory of head-trajectory, which posits that a goalkeeper’s body will naturally follow the movement of their head and eyes when locked onto the puck or ball.

How does the Catchball help in developing this technique? The tool is designed to maximize controlled repetitions, allowing goalkeepers to internalize the head-trajectory technique until it becomes an unconscious, automatic response.

Perfecting Hand Positioning and Body Leaning

Proper hand positioning and body leaning are essential components of effective “box control” in goaltending. By pushing the glove forward towards the incoming object and leaning the body in the same direction, goalkeepers can significantly reduce the target area for shooters.

Regular practice with the Catchball helps goalies develop muscle memory for these crucial movements, leading to more consistent and effective saves during actual gameplay.

The Physical Benefits of Reaction Training for Goalies

While much of goalie training focuses on cognitive and technical skills, the physical aspects should not be overlooked. Reaction training with tools like the Catchball provides significant physical benefits, particularly in developing fast-twitch muscle fibers in the core and arm areas.

Why are fast-twitch muscles important for goalkeepers? These muscle fibers are responsible for quick, powerful movements – exactly what goalies need for making split-second saves.

• Improved core strength and stability
• Enhanced arm speed and power
• Better overall agility and quickness

Catchball vs. Traditional Training Methods: A Comparative Analysis

While traditional reaction training often involves bouncing balls off walls, the Catchball offers several distinct advantages. One primary benefit is the flexibility it provides in terms of training location – goalkeepers are no longer limited by the need for a suitable wall and ground surface.

How does the Catchball improve training efficiency? The elastic component of the Catchball allows for greater ball speed and more repetitions in a given training session. This increased intensity can lead to more rapid skill development.

Versatility in Training Exercises

The Catchball’s design also allows for the incorporation of additional exercises into reaction training. Goalkeepers can perform lunges, jumps, or even run while using the Catchball, creating more dynamic and challenging training scenarios.

Moreover, the confidence that comes from not having to chase or potentially lose the ball allows goalkeepers to practice with greater intensity, further enhancing the training benefits.

The Role of Specialized Equipment in Goalie Development

While the Catchball serves as an excellent all-around training tool, other specialized equipment can further enhance a goalie’s skill set. For instance, black juggling balls play a crucial role in hand-eye coordination training for hockey goalies.

Why use black juggling balls instead of standard bright-yellow ones? The rationale lies in creating training conditions that closely mimic game situations. Hockey pucks are black, and goalies’ eyes are accustomed to tracking this dark object against various backgrounds on the ice.

The Psychology of Color in Goalie Training

Research and feedback from professional goalkeepers suggest that training with black objects off the ice translates more effectively to on-ice performance. The challenge of tracking a black object that more easily blends with the background helps goalies develop sharper visual acuity and tracking skills.

• Improved puck tracking on ice
• Enhanced visual focus and concentration
• Better transfer of skills from training to game situations

Designing an Effective Goalie Reaction Training Program

Creating a comprehensive reaction training program for goalies involves more than just using specialized tools. It requires a thoughtful approach that addresses various aspects of goaltending performance.

What elements should be included in a well-rounded goalie reaction training program? A balanced program should incorporate exercises that target hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, reaction time, and physical agility.

Sample Reaction Drills for Goalies

1. Catchball rapid-fire saves: Improve reaction speed and hand positioning
2. Juggling with black balls: Enhance hand-eye coordination and focus
3. Multi-directional Catchball drills: Develop spatial awareness and agility
4. Reaction board exercises: Sharpen decision-making and reflexes
5. Vision occlusion drills: Improve anticipation and reading of shots

By incorporating these diverse exercises and utilizing specialized training tools, goalkeepers can develop a comprehensive skill set that translates directly to improved performance on the field or ice.

The Future of Goalie Training Technology

As sports science continues to advance, we can expect to see further innovations in goalie training technology. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems are already being explored as potential tools for enhancing goalkeeper training.

How might VR and AR impact goalie training in the future? These technologies could provide immersive, game-like scenarios for goalkeepers to practice in, allowing for highly specific and realistic training without the physical wear and tear of constant on-field practice.

Integrating Data Analytics in Goalie Development

Another emerging trend is the use of data analytics in goalie training. Advanced tracking systems can provide detailed information on a goalkeeper’s movements, reaction times, and decision-making processes. This data can then be used to create highly personalized training programs that address each goalie’s specific strengths and weaknesses.

• Real-time performance feedback
• Identification of areas for improvement
• Customized training regimens based on individual data

As these technologies continue to evolve, they will likely complement rather than replace traditional training methods and tools like the Catchball. The most effective goalie development programs will likely integrate both high-tech solutions and time-tested training techniques.

Psychological Aspects of Goalie Reaction Training

While physical skills and reflexes are crucial for goalkeepers, the mental aspect of the position cannot be overlooked. Reaction training tools like the Catchball not only improve physical capabilities but also contribute to a goalie’s psychological preparedness.

How does reaction training impact a goalkeeper’s mental game? Regular practice with these tools can boost confidence, improve focus, and enhance a goalie’s ability to stay calm under pressure.

Building Mental Resilience Through Training

The repetitive nature of reaction drills helps goalkeepers develop mental resilience. As they face numerous rapid-fire situations in training, they become better equipped to handle high-pressure scenarios in actual games.

• Improved ability to stay focused during intense game moments
• Enhanced confidence in reaction abilities
• Better stress management during critical saves

Moreover, the immediate feedback provided by tools like the Catchball allows goalies to quickly learn from mistakes and successes, fostering a growth mindset that is crucial for long-term development in the position.

Adapting Goalie Reaction Training Across Different Sports

While much of our discussion has focused on ice hockey, the principles of goalie reaction training apply across various sports. Soccer, handball, and lacrosse goalkeepers, among others, can benefit from similar training methodologies.

How can reaction training be adapted for different sports? While the core principles remain the same, the specific tools and drills may need to be adjusted to account for the unique demands of each sport.

Sport-Specific Considerations in Reaction Training

1. Soccer: Focus on low shots and diving saves
2. Handball: Emphasis on close-range, high-velocity shots
3. Lacrosse: Training for varied shot heights and stick saves
4. Water Polo: Incorporating aquatic resistance in drills

By tailoring reaction training to the specific needs of each sport, goalkeepers can develop the precise skills required for excellence in their chosen discipline. However, the fundamental principles of improving hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and reaction time remain consistent across all goalkeeping positions.

Integrating Reaction Training into Overall Goalie Development

While specialized tools like the Catchball and focused reaction drills are invaluable for goalie development, it’s essential to view them as part of a holistic training approach. Effective goalie development programs should integrate reaction training with other crucial aspects of the position.

What other elements should be included in a comprehensive goalie training regimen? A well-rounded program should address technical skills, physical fitness, tactical understanding, and mental preparation.

Balancing Different Training Components

• Technical training: Footwork, positioning, and save techniques
• Physical conditioning: Strength, flexibility, and endurance
• Tactical development: Game reading and decision-making skills
• Mental preparation: Visualization, focus, and pressure management
• Reaction and reflex training: Using tools like the Catchball

By striking a balance between these various components, goalkeepers can develop a comprehensive skill set that allows them to excel in all aspects of their position. Reaction training, while crucial, should be viewed as one piece of the larger puzzle of goalie development.

Measuring Progress in Goalie Reaction Training

As with any training regimen, it’s important to track progress and measure improvements in goalie reaction training. This not only helps in assessing the effectiveness of the training but also provides motivation for the goalkeeper to continue their development.

How can progress in reaction training be measured effectively? While some aspects of improvement may be subjective, there are several quantifiable metrics that can be used to track a goalie’s progress.

Quantitative Metrics for Reaction Training

1. Reaction time: Measured using specialized timing equipment
2. Save percentage: Tracked during drills and scrimmages
3. Movement efficiency: Analyzed through video analysis
4. Consistency: Evaluated over multiple training sessions
5. Recovery speed: Timed between consecutive saves

Regular assessment using these metrics can provide valuable insights into a goalkeeper’s development. It allows trainers to identify areas of improvement and adjust the training program accordingly, ensuring continued progress and optimal skill development.

The Role of Recovery in Goalie Reaction Training

While the focus of reaction training is often on active drills and exercises, the importance of proper recovery should not be overlooked. Effective recovery is crucial for preventing burnout, reducing injury risk, and ensuring consistent performance improvement.

What recovery strategies should goalies incorporate into their training regimen? A comprehensive recovery plan should address both physical and mental aspects of recuperation.

Key Components of Goalie Recovery

• Adequate sleep: Essential for physical recovery and cognitive function
• Proper nutrition: Fueling the body for optimal performance and recovery
• Active recovery: Light exercises to promote blood flow and reduce stiffness
• Mental relaxation: Techniques like meditation to reduce stress and improve focus
• Regular stretching: Maintaining flexibility and preventing muscle tightness

By integrating these recovery strategies into their training routine, goalkeepers can maintain peak performance levels and continue to improve their reaction skills over time. Recovery is not just about rest; it’s an active process that complements and enhances the benefits of reaction training.

Goalie Reaction and Hand-Eye Coordination Training

Hand-eye coordination, spacial awareness and reaction time are complex cognitive activities that require the goaltender to unite their visual and motor skills: their hand must be guided by the visual stimulus their eyes receive. The flight time of a Catchball  (comparable to the flight time of a shot from the slot) is ideal to train these complex activities, because a goalie’s eyes have to be able to quickly send a signal to the brain and our brain to our catching hand. All this happens in a split-second, so the more this stimulus is repeated, the faster the signal transmission will occur. This means: the goaltender will put their hand exactly where his brain tells him the ball will be and they will be able to make a save quicker.

Improvement in these complex cognitive activities is accompanied by improved visual skills like Tracking. Tracking  is the ability to follow a moving target: an essential visual skill for goaltenders as they have to follow moving objects or switch their attention from one focus point to another in a split second.  Tracking  fast moving objects is no easy task, because it takes time for visual stimuli to reach our brain which adjusts the small muscles around our eyes to keep the flying object in focus. Tracking fast objects moving towards you is especially complicated as we do not make use of that skill much outside of hockey. The Catchball  is the ideal tool for improving tracking as it allows you to practice many tracking sequences in a row in a short period of time. Your eyes and eye muscles will get better at following the whole flight pattern of objects flying towards you.

Along with improving these cognitive and visual abilities, the Catchball is used to fine tune goaltending technique. The theory of head-trajectory  states, that if goaltender’s eyes are locked onto the puck and their head follows, their body will follow too. This is a technique that has to become unconscious and automatic, and the Catchball  is ideal for building this skill, because it is designed to maximize controlled repetitions. The same principle also applies to hand positioning and leaning  towards a puck when making a save: keys to “box control”. When a goaltender’s glove is pushed forwards towards the puck, and the goaltenders body leans into the direction, a big part of the “box” is already taken away, which is one of the main factors to a successful save.

Repeated saves with the Catchball  improve cognitive and visual abilities, fine-tune technique through muscle memory, and also have an impact on a goaltender’s speed in the core and arm area, because fast twitch muscles are the muscles being worked while training with the Catchball.

​

There are several benefits of the Catchball  are over a regular ball for reaction training: not needing an adequate wall and ground to bounce the ball off is one of them, but the main benefits are more ball speed, more reps and the ability to add exercises like lunges, jumps or running to your reaction training. The kinetic energy created by the Catchball elastic will throw the ball back with more velocity than a bounce off a wall would. Additionally, the Catchball  can be thrown harder because of the confidence that you won’t have to chase it or even lose it if you miss a catch.

As you can see, the Catchball is a very simple, yet effective all-around training tool for every goaltender, as the elements mentioned above, are some of the main keys to a goaltender’s success. You will see a noticeable improvement in your ability to stop pucks when using this reaction training tool the way it was intended. The Catchball is THE ideal reaction and hand-eye coordination training tool for goalies!

​

There are countless drills that can be done with the Catchball.

More training videos will be available very soon.

​

Goalie Hand-Eye Coordination Training starts with juggling and is one of the base pillars of goalie off ice training. The puck is black and so are our juggling balls: your eyes are used to tracking a black object on the ice, so they should be trained to do the same off the ice. Bright-yellow standard balls are easier to track, simply because a black object blends easier with the background just like a puck would. Our test group of goaltenders confirmed that they were more comfortable tracking pucks on the ice after working off the ice with black juggling balls rather than bright yellow ones.​

Along with the Catchball, Black Juggling Balls are a must have for every goaltender that wants to improve their skills.

5 Reaction Drills for Goalies

Soccer goalkeepers require a different set of skills than any other player on their team, and because of this they spend a lot of time training apart from their teammates. To make the most of that time, it’s important that coaches create drills specifically for goalies.

One of the most important goalkeeping attributes is fast reflexes. When strikers are firing shots from close range through a packed penalty area, the keeper needs to be on their toes and react quickly, particularly if the shot is deflected.

There are some training methods that can be used to help improve a goalkeeper’s reflexes. It is best to have the goalkeepers working in pairs and training each other, allowing outfield players and coaches to concentrate on other training.

Turn and Stop Drill

This drill will help to develop recognition and reaction time. The drill begins with the goalkeeper standing facing the goal. The training partner will take shots, signaling just before striking the ball. The goalkeeper must then react quickly to turn around and try to save the shot.

Turn and Cover Drill

A variation on the previous drill, this one also begins with the goalkeeper facing the goal. The training partner will throw a ball at the goalkeeper’s back, and the goalkeeper must turn and cover the ball with their body as quickly as possible. In a real match, the opposing striker would be looking to pounce on the loose ball, so the goalkeeper has only a split second to react.

Double Strike Drill

Use this drill, which requires the goalkeeper to save two balls at the same time, to improve reflexes. The training partner will line up one ball a few meters in front of the goalkeeper and will take a low shot with a second ball, aiming for the ball which is near the goalkeeper. If the training partner hits the ball correctly, then the goalkeeper will need to try whichever ball is on target – or both. This drill attempts to recreate a situation in a game where a striker shoots with several players in the way who may deflect the ball. The goalkeeper cannot usually predict where the balls will end up, and must rely on reflexes.

Drop Catches Drill

Here’s another popular drill to develop reflexes. Have the goalkeeper and training partner stand facing each other so that they can just reach other with outstretched arms. Have the training partner hold a soccer ball in each hand with his hands raised above his head. The training partner will then drop one of the balls while the keeper tries to catch it before it hits the ground. Increase the difficulty by increasing the distance between the players or by adding a second training partner and another two soccer balls.

Pick One Drill

Some goalkeepers will attempt to predict where the shot will end up, and rather than using their reflexes they will dive before the shot is struck. While this tactic can be effective in some cases, it is better to see where the ball is going and react quickly rather than guessing and potentially diving the wrong way. A drill to counter this involves places two balls in the penalty area, close together. The goalkeeper’s training partner must then try to trick the keeper by faking a shot and then shooting with the other ball.

Follow The Bouncing Ball Drill

Once the goalkeeper has mastered these exercises, a goalkeeper training ball can be used to increase the difficulty and put their reflexes to the test. Different types of training ball are available to help goalkeepers improve their reflexes and are usually in an unusual shape – such as a pyramid – to ensure they are unpredictable when bouncing, in much the same way as a Rugby ball.

3 Hockey Goalie Drills | ACTIVE

Effective goaltending is all about speed. Use these off-ice drills to help your young goalies increase their quickness and lower their reaction time in front of the net.

Hockey Drill Prep

Before running these drills make sure you are warmed up properly. The best way to do this is to: stretch, do jumping jacks and jump rope 100 times. These exercises should be done with leg pads, glove blocker stick and helmet. Note: All of these exercises should be done five out of seven days of the week, giving you two-days rest to build muscles.

Hockey Drill for Goalies No.1: Small Ball

Stand facing a wall, at about a distance of 10 feet. Throw a small rubber ball against the wall. The object is to stop the ball from getting past you. You can do this with any of your equipment, but you must be standing up. You can also have someone else throw the ball at the wall for you, but always start in your stance when having someone else throw. As you get comfortable with this drill, you will be tempted to throw the ball harder and stand closer to the wall. Remember not to get any closer then five feet from the wall. This will increase your quickness while wearing your goaltending equipment.

Hockey Drill for Goalies No.2: Playing Soccer

Stand facing a wall, at about a distance of 10 feet. Kick a “soccer” size ball to the wall. The goal is to keep the ball moving to the wall and back by only using your legs. Every time you miss you must start over again. Once you kick the ball to the wall 100 times without a miss, then you can move closer. Don’t get any closer than five feet. This drill can be done without a stick and increases your ability to direct the puck off the pads.

Hockey Drill for Goalies No.3: Use Your Head

Stand facing a wall, at about a distance of 20 feet. Have someone throw a small rubber ball against the wall, high. While the ball is in the air–and bouncing toward you–follow the ball with your eyes. You are allowed to move your head, but don’t raise your stick. Move your stance to be centered with the ball and don’t let the ball get past you.

Find a hockey league near you. 

Hockey at Home Goalie Skills – Hand/Eye Coordination

To the Members of Hockey Alberta:

During the Member Zoom meetings held in early May, we spoke about the work being undertaken on various fronts to prepare for the return of hockey both in Alberta and across the country. We talked about how there were many questions to which we were looking to obtain and develop the answers.

Last week we all received the update letter from Hockey Canada with regard to COVID-19. Hockey Alberta is aligned with the details outlined in the letter.

Make no mistake, we want hockey back. As the Provincial Sport Organization for hockey in Alberta, this is not just our game, it is our passion.

Everyone involved with our sport recognizes the benefits of hockey for our participants – physically, socially, and emotionally. We know that hockey makes a difference in people’s lives, helps develop individual and group social skills, and is important for the physical literacy of our youth.

Simply said, we believe hockey is important. However, it is not more important than the health and safety of the participants, the larger hockey community, and society in general.

That is why Hockey Alberta is working with Hockey Canada, other provincial branches, and fellow Provincial Sport Organizations in Alberta as we develop our Return to Hockey Plan.

The intention is to provide the framework and minimum standards for any organization in our province to undertake hockey activities. That way, when facilities reopen, and athletes are allowed back on the ice, they can participate safely and securely and in a manner where the participants, their families and all of our other partners and stakeholders are protected and given the best chance for success.

As most of you are aware, opening arenas and recreation facilities currently is in Phase III of the province’s COVID-19 relaunch plan, and no firm timelines have been established for the implementation of Phase III.

We know that not having specific dates or timelines can be unsettling. But it is important for everyone to remember that amateur hockey of any kind cannot be played in Alberta until the government and health officials authorize rinks to be open and outline the minimum safety standards that must be followed.

Hockey Alberta’s responsibility is to have a plan in place that can be adapted to meet those requirements and allow participants back on the ice in a safe atmosphere.

The current focus is to work to ensure our game is ready to go in the fall, if allowed as part of the province’s relaunch plan. We also want to be prepared if rinks open sooner than that because we know that our participants, and the hockey community in general, are clamouring to return to hockey.

What will be included in the Return to Hockey Plan?

First and foremost, the plan abides by government directions with a focus on the health and safety of all involved. It reflects the reality that there will be new requirements in place for the safe operation of hockey facilities, which will impact hockey participants, including a checklist of items that participants will be required to do to be able to step on the ice. This will include items such as when to arrive at the arena, masks, sanitizer, parent access to help tie skates etc. The plan will also include resources and processes that Hockey Alberta will be developing to help our Members establish programming procedures to meet these requirements in a safe environment.

The plan calls for a phased-in approach, in keeping with the planning undertaken by government and health authorities. At this point, the plan has four phases, starting at the developmental program level and working up to a return to the traditional 5-on-5 game. As circumstances evolve and improve, we will update and adapt the plan to best allow for the return of hockey in Alberta.

Hockey Alberta will be seeking input from our associations, leagues, club teams, accredited schools and other stakeholders to help establish a coordinated process and the detailed timeline and parameters of what activities may look like in each phase.

We are committed to keeping our Members, and the larger hockey community, updated as the Return to Hockey plan is finalized and then made ready for implementation.

Rob Litwinski, CEO
Hockey Alberta

Cage Master: Drills and Tips for Goalies

In lacrosse, the goalie has many duties. They must be the leader of the defense, calling the defensive plays and assigning responsibilities to their teammates. Goalies must be observant, patient, and most importantly loud, all while staying focused on the ball. That’s a lot of responsibility for one person!

In practicing, one of the most important keys to success for a goalie is repetition. It will take thousands of shots for goalies to learn the proper movements and responses. All it takes is a desire to learn the fundamentals of the position, a drive to find and execute lacrosse goalie drills that build responsive muscle memory, and a commitment to give those skills time to develop.

We have put together a list of 8 helpful lacrosse goalie drill videos (plus some bonus exercises). This video list covers several simple ball drills to build hand quickness, muscle memory, correct form, and eye tracking, with a few more complex drills that require multiple shooters. So grab your gear, recruit some friends, get in front of a cage, and get ready to work!

Drill #1: Warm-Up
(focus on eyes, hands, & footwork)

Drill #2: Hugging the Pipes
(focus on body position)

Drill #3: Balance and Agility
(focus on keeping your body in balance)

Drill #4: Reaction Time & Head Stringing
(focus on speed, endurance, reaction time, with bonus head stringing footage)

Drill #5: 3-in-1 Goalie Drill
(focus on speed, reaction time, positioning, and hands)

Drill #6: Preparing for the Shot
(focus on mental and physical preparation for the shot)

Drill #7: Tennis Ball Drill
(focus on reaction time, proper hand position, and agility)

Drill #8: Dot Drill
(focus on reaction time, eyes, top hand, and feet)

BONUS DRILL: The Yes Drill
(focus on mental game and reaction time)
When you are warming up, imagine a big plate of glass the size of the cage about 3 feet in front of you. Relax your eyes and don’t focus on the shooter or anything else. Just learn to keep your eyes relaxed on your imaginary window. As your coach or teammate shoots, you say “YES” as the ball hits that pretend plane of glass. You should be saying “YES” right before the ball meets your pocket. This drill helps you to be focused on seeing the ball exactly where you need to save it while zoning out all the fears and other thoughts that you may have as a shooter is approaching. It trains you to react to the ball quickly and calmly, which will make you a more consistent goalie.

BONUS EXERCISE: The Centering Breath
(focus on breathing and pre-game jitters)
Another thing that is important for goalies, maybe even the most important, is being able to stay mentally alert while being physically calm. Goalies have the most stressful position on the field and often fall victim to the pressure. When we are too tense, our bodies perform poorly, especially under stress. We recommend reading and practicing “The Centering Breath” by Dr. Stephen Walker to keep your game and your mind centered and under control.

Like this:

Like Loading…

5 Dryland Exercises To Improve Your Goalie Skills

Playing goalie in water polo is all about reactive speed and quickness. Defending the goal requires a solid foundation so athletes are ready to block the ball, regain balance to react to multiple shots on cage, and be in good position to make an accurate outlet pass. Dryland training is crucial to not only setting a good leg base to stay high in the water the entire game, but also for balance, flexibility, and injury prevention. Check out this article about building a dominant water polo dryland program.

The following 5 dryland exercises can help athletes improve range of motion, reaction time, quickness, and balance in the cage. These drills and movements will also help with hip strength, explosive legs, and upper-body stability.  Lower body strength and stability, combined with quick hands, allows goalies to put themselves in the best position to defend the cage. Additionally, improving reaction time through reaction drills gives a goalie the ability to gain composure quickly and react to sequential stimuli, like follow-up shots on the cage.

1. 

TBD – Double Outside

Level: All

Equipment: 2 tennis balls, partner

Coaches Tip: The goal is to catch both tennis balls before they hit the ground. Focus on not anticipating the drop of the tennis balls, but reacting to the drop. This drill will help develop anticipation and quick hands.

2. Banded Back Bridge – March

Level: All

Equipment: Theraband (increase resistance as you improve)

Coaches Tip: This exercise is key to activation and can be used both for pre-workout and pre-game. It helps with hip stability and hip strength because hip work is of utmost importance for goalies so they can put themselves in the right position and stay there. 

3. Band Y Squat

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Equipment: Resistance Bands

Coaches Tip: The Band Y Squat is an excellent progressive exercise to work on overhead shoulder stability during a lower-extremity movement. Really focus on keeping shoulder blades and shoulders locked to keep hands and bands in the same position overhead while squating.

4. Walking Spiderman

Level: All

Equipment: None

Coaches Tip: Hip mobility is crucial to a goalie’s movement in the cage. The Walking Spiderman is an exercise to improve range of motion in a typically tight area for water polo athletes. Greater mobility allows a keeper to maintain a wider base position and push more water before a powerful lunge.

5. Front Bridge Arm Raise

Level: All

Equipment: None

Coaches Tip: The Front Bridge Arm Raise is a variation of the regular Front Bridge. It emphasizes dynamic stability, posture, core, hip and shoulder stability.

Recap 

The goalie is the quarterback of the defense and must be able to direct defenders while playing their own position. Thus, improving the physical traits needed to be an elite goalie through dryland training will give goalies confidence to lead their team in the pool. Check out this article about 5 dryland exercises to improve your water polo shot.  

Soccer Drill Unpacked – Goalkeeper Reaction Dives

Today we unpack the soccer goalkeeper development principles embedded in a reaction dive drill.  All drills in our  Soccer Goalkeeping Practice Book are assembled into practice plans to ensure that each practice offers the proper balance between the four pillars of soccer:

Technical Skills – Tactics – Physical Fitness – Mental Fitness

It is this balance, practiced over a season, that has led the tens of thousands of coaches who own our books to improve the performance of their goalkeepers.

Soccer Goalkeeping Drill

Download the drill here: Soccer Goalie Reaction Dives

From: Soccer Goalkeeping Practice Book

Soccer Drill Profile:

The profile indicates that this drill emphasizes soccer goalkeeping technique and physical fitness, with a strong element of mental toughness.

Set Up:

This drill does not require any goals and can be set up in a 10m by 5m area. In addition to the goalkeeper two ball servers are required. Ideally all three individuals would be goalkeepers. The first server rolls a ball through the legs of the keeper facing the server, 1m away. The keeper then pivots and dives on the ball. The keeper immediately recovers, gets up into ready position and makes a diving save of a ball thrown by the second server facing the keeper from 5m away.

Technical Skills:

The technical skill trained is diving. This includes the proper “get set” position for the keeper, remembering that the closer the in the shooter is, the lower the keeper has to crouch to get fastest maximum diving distance.

The first dive is straight forward, after a 180° pivot. This works on the technique of saving low shots directed at the keeper. There are different ways to go on the ground for a low ball, see Soccer Goalkeeping Basics.  

The second dive is a high sideways dive with the distance being varied. The drill progression suggests to throw the ball at various heights and varying distances to the goalkeepers body. This forces a variety of reaction saves, from quick parries to fully extended “flights”.

It is important for the keeper to execute the basic technique elements of “not rotating in the air and landing on belly or facing backwards”, of grabbing the ball securely with both hands (or punching it far away if it can’t be caught”, of landing on the quads and arms with one leg kicking up, etc.

Tactics:

There are no team related tactics involved in this soccer drill. The only tactical element is goalkeeper specific and relates to the proper ready position relative to the distance of the server.

Fitness Training:

This is a physically very demanding drill with the flexibility to vary intensity.

With the first throw the keeper trains flexibility by (1) rotating and (2) getting back up immediately after the save to face the second shot. The same is true after the second save – immediate recovery and getting ready to save the next short ball through the legs. The speed at which the servers throw the next ball determines the recovery speed of the keeper. At the maximum pace the keeper will get both an aerobic and anaerobic workout.

Repetitive diving will be challenging on all parts of the body that touch the ground upon landing, especially if the ground is a little harder.

The continuous crouching and recovery will challenge the quadricep muscles of both legs and help strengthen them. This will contribute to improved vertical leaps in the future.

Mental Fitness:

This soccer goalkeeping drill involves all Seven Speeds Of Soccer

Perception

The keeper has to see the servers and read their body motion quickly so they know how quickly to recover from a save and set for the next one.

Anticipation

In this drill the key anticipation is the timing and weight of both throws. On the first throw the goalie must pivot as soon as the ball is rolled/kicked through the legs and anticipate the pace of the ball. This will dictate the extension of the dive. On the second throw the goalkeeper must quickly anticipate the pace, height and horizontal distance of the throw, reading the flight of the ball immediately after it leaves the server’s hand.

Decision Making

The key decision is whether or not the ball can be securely caught, must be parried away, or requires a foot save.

Reaction

Once the ball leaves the server, the keeper must react to the direction, pace, and height of the throw. This is the essence of this exercise.

Movement With Ball

If the keeper catches the ball and has control, they must recover with the ball in hands and return it to the server while setting for the next throw. This is not easy and requires a lot of coordination and stamina.

Movement Without Ball

These movements are primarily resetting for the next save.

Game Action

This drill replicates game action in which the opponents have created a scoring chance in the penalty box, near the goal. The chance could have been generated by a cross, a corner kick, free kick, or a though ball setting up a 1v1 with the keeper. It does not simulate long distance shots.

Coaching Tips:

1. It would be great if you have three keepers to work together on this drill.

2. The crouching positions must be very low to explode into dive.

3. Vary the distance of the first dive from a short collapsing dive to a fully extended dive.

4. Vary the second throw from throwing it to goalie’s feet, chest, over top of head, to either side requiring little to full extension dives.

5. Insist on proper technique and stress the fundamentals of getting behind the ball and getting both hands on the ball.

It is important for the person working with the keeper(s) to build a rapport with them and to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Use this knowledge to provide the keeper with lots of successes, but also with some “surprises” or challenges to improve performance and build skill and confidence. Relate exercises to game situations as much as possible, preferably to actual experiences of the keeper.

90,000 Dynamo goalkeeper who missed the match showed a photo after stitching :: Football :: RBC Sport

Dynamo goalkeeper posted a photo showing that he has stitches on his split chin

Read us at

news
news

Photo: Global Look Press

The goalkeeper of Dynamo and the Russian national team Anton Shunin showed in his Instagram the consequences of an injury, from which he missed the match of the eighth round of Tinkoff – Russian Premier League (RPL) against Sochi.

“Work injury. I miss the match with Sochi, but I will soon be in the ranks. Guys win! Go ahead, Dynamo, – the footballer wrote in his post.

The photo shows that the goalkeeper has stitches on his split chin.

Earlier, Dynamo reported that Shunin and another main footballer of the club Diego Laxalt will miss the game against Sochi due to injuries received during training. There were no other details.

The meeting takes place on Sunday in Sochi.

Author

Ivan Vitchenko

90,000 “Spartak” is a mega-weak team “: in Poland discouraged by the defeat of the Russians

The Polish media attacked Legia with powerful criticism and, surprisingly, hardly touched Spartak in a negative way. Local journalists focused on the shortcomings of the Warsaw club, from which they clearly expected more: after the third round of the group stage, Legia was in the lead in the table, but four defeats in a row lowered it to last place and was thrown out of the European competition.

“The game against Spartak at times resembled a broken simulator. “Legia” is made of plywood, it is some kind of dummy, not a team, “Rafal Steck of Gazeta Wyborcza wrote on Twitter.

Dzisiejszy mecz wyglda momentami jak bezczelna symulka.Legia jest z dykty, atrapa druyny

– Rafa Stec (@RafalStec) December 9, 2021

“You still have 45 minutes to recoup, and striker Mahir Emreli loses the ball in a dangerous counterattack in his own half of the field, and before that he runs a few more meters towards his own goal. A curtain, ”the Sport.pl journalist was indignant. Konrad Foerster.

Masz 45 minutes na odrobienie strat, a Emreli traci pik na gron kontr na wasnej poowie po kilkumetrowym truchciku w kierunku wasnej bramki. Kurtyna.

– Konrad Ferszter (@kferszter) December 9, 2021

“Unfortunately, Legia is painfully predictable, terribly static and has no idea about the game.The scary thing is that this team has only one-dimensional and very limited players. Recent transfers are hopeless, but the team’s downfall began much earlier, ”says TVP Sport Director Marek Szkolnikowski.

“This chance to qualify from the Europa League group may not appear for years. Especially considering how strong the clubs are in the group, ”said Michal Kolodziejczyk, Director of Canal + Sport.

“Spartak skillfully cut off Emreli from the game.Unfortunately, this is quite enough for the Russians to feel comfortable in defense. And in the attack, it’s enough to wait for our gift, “wrote Canal + Sport journalist Andrzej Tvarovski, hinting at the terrible mistake of 20-year-old Legia defender Mike Navrotsky, who presented the ball to Zelimkhan Bakaev in his half of the field and, in fact,” brought “the victorious goal of “Spartak” (1: 0).

“The problem with Legia is that she is not a team. Some players are just passing through here, ”said Zbigniew Mroziński, journalist for Pilka Nona.

“This unforgotten penalty is the sad result of everything that has been happening at Legia lately. As soon as a ray of hope appears, it quickly fades away, ”wrote Pyotr Kamenetskiy from TVP Sport.

“Any goalkeeper in the world would have deflected such a penalty,” says Przemyslaw Langer from Goal.pl.

Kady bramkarz wiata obroniby tego karnego.

– Przemek Langier (@plangier) December 9, 2021

On the Na: Tema portal.pl an article was published under the heading “Penalty shot in the 98th minute is not scored,“ Legia’s ”chance was missed. The end of the European dream of champions ”.

close

100%

In this article it was noted that the Warsaw team could well equalize the score, but “in the 84th minute the Russians were frankly lucky when Peckhart hit the crossbar, and then when he missed the penalty kick. ”

However, the author of the note admitted that the striker “shot very badly, and it was not difficult for Selikhov to repulse this blow.”

Also on the Sport.pl portal there was an article entitled “Tomasz Pekhart approached the penalty for 210 thousand euros”.

close

100%

The author complains that the Czech striker missed the penalty kick against Spartak, which would have allowed Legia to equalize the score (1: 1), and deprived the team of a large sum.

“UEFA awards € 210,000 for the draw, which is almost a million zlotys in Polish currency. In total, Legia earned almost PLN 6 million in the Europa League group stage, ”the author emphasized.

It is curious that ordinary football fans from Poland were much more loyal to Legia and more negative to Spartak, in contrast to journalists. On Twitter, you can find many comments that the red and white allegedly looked terrible, and “Legia” was simply unlucky.

“The most offensive thing is that this Spartak is mega-weak. I thought we were playing with a team from the Polish Championship, not from the Europa League, ”wrote a fan under the nickname KDanielewski.

Najbardziej boli, e Spartak by megasaby czuem si jakbymy grali z jak druyn Ekstraklasy, a nie z kim w LE

– Kuba (@KDanielewski) December 9, 2021

“It is said that Spartak allegedly brought in players we would never be able to afford, but the Russians followed the standard tactic of“ interrupting every action with a foul, ”JJakubowski said.

Niby przyjecha Spartak z pikarzami, na jakich nigdy nie bdzie nas sta, a grali probierzow taktyk “kasuj kad akcj faulem”.

Na 3pkt nie zasuylimy, a jedyne, co cieszy to ni porozumienia midzy Luquim i Robeiro. W 2 po. zagrali kilka fajnych akcji na lewej stronie.

– Jacek (@JJakubowski) December 9, 2021

“Spartak” did not create much from the game, and it was quite possible to level the score.But if we ourselves help our opponents to score, we have nothing to talk about, ”concluded WarszawskiWolf.

#LEGSPA Najgorsze, e Spartak nic nie wielkiego nie zagra i by w zasigu, ale jeli my pomagamy strzela rywalom to ju nie mamy o czym mwi.

– Roman Kurski EGIA (@WarszawskiWolf) December 9, 2021

Thanks to this victory, Spartak took first place in the group and reached the 1/8 finals of the Europa League, while Legia left the European competition at least until next season.

Never give up

Congratulations, Spartak Moskva! #UEL pic.twitter.com/PV6UBYduGz

– UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) December 9, 2021

90,000 Top-10 goalkeepers who can “steal” the match

It should be noted that we are not talking about the rating of the best goalkeepers. We are talking about what the goalkeeper is able to do on the courage, and not about whether he is able to maintain this level for several months or even an entire season.When compiling the rating, the goalkeeper’s ability to earn a crack was taken into account, the ability to withstand pressure with a large number of shots and, of course, the opportunities that open before him in the 2021-22 season.

[Follow us on VKontakte, Facebook and Twitter for other exclusive content and NHL news!]

1. Andrey Vasilevsky, Tampa, age 27
As expressed recently ex-Chicago defender Nikita Zadorov in the Cherkas Atlant podcast, “we played Tampa eight times in the regular season, and when their field players just drove a car, Vasilevsky came and won.”Well, there is no need to remind what happened in the recent victory for Lightning in the Stanley Cup: Vasya finished all four series with shutouts. He is the best goalkeeper in the NHL, and in this ranking he also has no equal.

Video: MON-TBL, match # 4: Vasilevsky stopped Suzuki

2. Carey Price, Montreal, 33
This hardly needs any explanation: you yourself saw it in the playoffs. For several years now, Price hasn’t been a staple in the regular season, but if he senses the significance of the match, he can win it alone.Montreal’s division will be more difficult this season than in the past, and Price will need to enter God Mode more often if he wants to play the Canadiens in the playoffs.

3. Connor Hellebuck, Winnipeg, 28
Another obvious choice. Defense The Jets regularly test the Vezina -2020 owner, and he always passes them with flying colors. Over the past three years, Helleback has 20 matches, when the opponent attacked his goal at least 40 times, and he won 13 of them.

Video: KLG-VIN: Hellebuck missed nothing from the Flames

4. Marc-André Fleury, Chicago goalkeeper, 36
The current Vezina owner could not help but be in our ranking. Over the past three years, Fleury has 19 shutouts, five more than the closest competitor Vasilevsky. And in “Chicago” he will probably be asked to “steal” the match more often than in the more powerful “Vegas”.

5. Semyon Varlamov, Islanders goalkeeper, 33 years old
The leader of the last season in terms of shutouts (seven, along with Philip Grubauer) and in the new season should shine in the Islanders, but growing competition from Ilya Sorokin does not allow Varlamov to be raised higher on our list.

Video: TBL-NYA, match # 7: Varlamov coped with Hedman’s throw

6. Igor Shesterkin, Rangers goalkeeper, 25
When you need to turn on and defend the victory for the team, Igor Shesterkin has few equal. Imagine: if a Russian gets 30 or more shots on goal per match, then this is a guarantee that he will reflect at least 90% of them. In two years, this happened 16 times out of 16. The new solid contract, which the club and the hockey player should issue in the near future, will mean that the Rangers will continue to bet on him, and Shesterkin will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate his lifeguard skills as in the future season and subsequent ones.

7. Jonathan Bernier, New Jersey goalkeeper, 32
On February 4, The Athletic analyst Prashant Iyer tweeted instantly on social media: “It’s been 464 days since another goalkeeper besides Jonathan Bernier , helped Detroit win. And I’m starting to fear that this will never happen again. ” Three days later, Thomas Griss still delighted Red Wings fans, but you probably get the idea: Jonathan Bernier was the only one who saved Detroit’s face in recent years. Last season, he won six of nine games in which he made 35 or more saves. In the new season, Bernier will showcase this talent in a more fine looking New Jersey.

Video: CHILD CHICK: Bernier effectively rescues the team

8. Cal Petersen, Los Angeles, 26
You might be surprised to see a young Los Angeles goalkeeper in this ranking, but wait a minute … Do you know what percentage of reflected shots is shown by Petersen when his goal is attacked 40 or more times in a match? 93.6%.This is a clear hint that the 26-year-old will be able to pull off the match if he receives at least minimal help from the outfield players. In the new season, Petersen will have a better chance of showing this skill: “Kings” in the offseason have strengthened, and the competitor for playing time John Quick has not become younger.

9. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida, 32 years old
After two years at Florida, Bobrovsky continues to be a mystery, but his ability to “steal” the game with the right attitude has not gone anywhere. In his five principle games 2020-21 against former club Columbus, Bob has won five wins, including 44 saves, 38 saves and 38 saves. The departure of Chris Dridger and the youthfulness of current stunt double Spencer Knight should hopefully contribute to more starts, more confidence and more glorious wins.

Video: FLO-CAR: Bobrovsky beats the puck with the edge of the shield

10. Elvis Merzlikin, “Columbus”, 27 years old
Even those who do not fully understand the talent of Elvis Merzlikin will agree that he is a very bright goalkeeper and if he catches courage, then it is simply impossible to break through it.Remember how he played a year and a half ago, when Yunas Korpisalo was injured and Merzlikin felt that all the hope was on him. Columbus lost Seth Jones in the offseason and are considering trading Corpisalo, so the Latvian goalkeeper will have a lot of work and plenty of opportunities to be in the spotlight. And that is what inspires him the best.

Honorable Mentions: Anton Hudobin (Dallas, 35), Philip Grubauer (Seattle, 29), Cam Talbot (Minnesota, 34), Youse Saros (Nashville, 26), Thatcher Demko (Vancouver, 25).

Swiss goalkeeper Jan Sommer became the hero of the match against France – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

– This is possibly the best football day that I have ever seen. Two amazing matches that are almost mirror images of each other. Incredible endings, – former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted.

It’s hard to disagree with Lineker. Spaniards with Croats, and then French and Swiss gave an amazing show. In both meetings, the favorites were 3: 1, but managed to lose the advantage in the end.The only difference is that the Spaniards still reached the quarterfinals, and Didier Deschamps’ charges are returning home.

Hardly anyone can explain what happened to the world champions in the last ten minutes of the match in Bucharest. Paul Pogba’s goal, after which the score was 3: 1, seemed to completely deprive this confrontation of intrigue. But the Swiss showed character: the precise strikes of Haris Seferovic and substitute Mario Gavranovic moved the game into overtime.

There were no goals scored in the extra half hour, and in the penalty shootout the only mistake was in the passive of Kilian Mbappé.One of the best strikers in the world failed Euro: in four matches he did not score a single goal, but managed to quarrel with teammate Olivier Giroud and cause indignation at home because of his attitude to business.

– They pay 120 million for you, and you don’t know how to score. Sorry, but hitting the decisive blow like that is unforgivable. Yes, Kilian, it’s okay. You just ruined Benzema’s return, took away the chance to win the Ballon d’Or and ruined the atmosphere in the national team from Kante – that’s what French fans are writing on social media.

The hero of the match against France was the Swiss goalkeeper Jan Sommer, who repulsed one of the world’s best forwards Kilian Mbappe in a penalty shootout.

One of the few who supported Mbappe was the head coach of the “tricolors” Didier Deschamps. According to him, the forward is terribly upset and cannot get away from what happened.

– Mbappe is terribly upset, like all footballers. But no one can be angry with him, he took responsibility for the fifth penalty, Deschamps said.

As for the Swiss, the match with France has become historic for them. The Red Crosses will take part in the quarterfinals of the European Championship for the first time. This is a tremendous success, especially considering how Vladimir Petkovich’s charges started at Euro 2020. In the first two games, Switzerland scored only one point – there was a draw with Wales (1: 1) and a defeat against Italy (0: 3). In the decisive match, the team defeated Turkey (3: 1) and became the best among the teams that took third places.

One of the heroes of the evening was the Swiss goalkeeper Jan Sommer, who deflected the kick from Mbappe’s “spot”.Borussia goalkeeper from Mönchengladbach is not the first time to drag a penalty from the stars: in November last year, he twice prevented Sergio Ramos from excelling in the match against Spain.

What is the secret of Sommer’s success? As the footballer himself once admitted, he just tries to remain calm in any situation. Plus, the goalkeeper is constantly working on plasticity, doing gymnastics every day.

Sommer uses a special application to increase concentration – mostly such applications, using a time limit, form habits that fix attention on one specific task.To do this, Yang not only uses the application, but also performs a set of exercises for the eyes. By the way, almost all Swiss goalkeepers started training with stroboscopic glasses a couple of years ago, which have several important functions. In particular, they prevent blurred vision and create a slow motion effect by regulating the number of blinks and improving alertness. In short, there are no small things for Sommer. Hence the following result.

Reaction

The French were confident that their team would easily beat the Swiss and continue their victorious march to the final.The defeat in Bucharest was a real shock for them. Many of those who watched the match on TV screens in cafes and bistros of thousands of cities, after Kilian Mbappe’s misfire in a penalty shootout, went home, barely holding back tears.

“Crushed” – with such a huge headline, the country’s main sports newspaper L Equipe appeared on the entire front page. She is echoed by the capital Le Parisien: “Broken illusions”.

Got it, of course, to Kilian Mbappa. “For 120 minutes, he didn’t show himself, and in the end he couldn’t cope with the penalty,” says L Equipe.

A completely different mood in the alpine republic. “This is a feat!” – exclaims the Geneva newspaper Le Temps. In turn, the publication 24 Heures called the players of the Swiss national team heroes.

Vyacheslav Prokofiev , Paris

18-year-old Russian goalkeeper stopped the adult Swedish national team. Askarov has 29 rescues and a shootout victory – 11/07/2020

Is euphoria possible after the Eurotour match? The reaction of Russian fans and journalists to the victory of the national team over the Finns with a score of 6: 2 gave an unambiguous answer – it is possible. The FHR decided to send the U20 hockey players to the Karjala Cup, thus deciding to prepare them for the youth world championship, starting at the end of December. Igor Larionov’s national team dealt with the hosts of the tournament so confidently that it made almost everyone admire themselves. Ours were praised, the Finns were scolded for the result and sarcastically recalled how, before the start of the home stage, they criticized Russia for the absence of the strongest hockey players in the squad. It seems that only Larionov kept his composure:

“One victorious match does not make a career.Therefore, naturally, you have some short minutes to understand what is happening, but at the same time it is important to move on. Because the tournament consists of three games, and you have to analyze everything as quickly as possible and switch to the working state that is necessary for the next match. Our guys, though young, but at the same time quite experienced, have played in many tournaments and know what it is. ”

Before the second match, the coaching staff made three changes in the roster, swapping the positions of the left forwards – Maxim Groshev was promoted to the top three, Arseniy Gritsyuk was transferred to the second, Yegor Afanasyev got a place in the third.

The Swedes clearly drew conclusions from the failure of Finland – they took the youth squad of the Russian national team as seriously as possible. The first half of the starting period entirely remained with the Scandinavians – a couple of times they closed ours for a long time in the zone, a couple of times they could punish for serious blunders in defense. Fortunately, Askarov was flawless, and sometimes just cool. Ours responded with rare attacks: Podkolzin got out well at the gate, Groshev threw dangerously – all to no avail.

After the twenty-minute equator, Larionov’s team leveled the game, squeezed out of their own goal and began to actively create with strangers.The ending remained with the youth version of the Red Car – for the first time in the match one could say that Tre Krunur had rebounded. The absence of goals at the end of the period did not look very fair, but a draw was quite.

It seemed that after the break it was worth waiting for the abandoned washers – this was also encouraged by another vigorous start of the playing segment performed by the Swedes, who managed to create sharpness at Askarov’s goal both in the offensive and in the positioning. However, this time the segment with their superiority turned out to be even shorter than in the first period.Soon, the Russian national team began to steadily threaten Ersson – Afanasyev famously walked away from his opponent, Chinakhov threw from a promising position. At the same time, Larionov’s team acted very disciplined and strictly, until the end of the period the Scandinavians had chances only after rare individual mistakes of ours. Only Askarov and Ersson were not mistaken in these 40 minutes.

As a result, after an easy victory in the starting match, Russian youth received a full-fledged test of strength and psychological stability. Playing to a goal against a more experienced opponent is a test that will definitely help the guys at the upcoming MFM. Moreover, the team as a whole passed the test. Mistakes, including gross ones, happened – without them, at this age, nowhere. But our opponents were in no way inferior, boldly climbed onto the goal, tried to snatch victory. Moreover, 18-year-old Askarov dragged absolutely everything.

The first big trouble for ours in this game happened at the end. A cut-off in their own zone and a lost penny led to a goal from the Swedes.There were less than 5 minutes left for the rescue.

But this time was enough for Larionov’s gang. The Russian national team removed the goalkeeper, won the puck in a foreign zone, and the most active striker Amirov during the entire 60 minutes sent the teams into overtime after a smart pass from Podkolzin. Deservedly? Absolutely!

Overtime turned out to be very calm – both teams did not really resist the shootout. There Askarov finally secured the status of the best player of the match, reflecting 4 attempts out of 5, and Askarov and Podkolzin issued the second victory of the Russian youth team in the adult Karjala Cup in a row. An amazing result from Larionov and his hockey players.

“In Russia, such a mentality is to always scold for mistakes. Therefore, fear appears. ” Interview with the Dynamo goalkeeper – he has been with the club for 16 years

Artem Terentyev spoke with Igor Leshchuk.

In the match against Loko in the 29th round, 4 pupils played in Dynamo at once (+ also Zhivoglyadov, who now plays in Loko).One of these four is goalkeeper Igor Leshchuk, he has been with Dynamo since the age of 9.

Last season, the goalkeeper made his debut in the RPL when Shunin was injured. And I had some great matches. Therefore, even when Shunin returned to service, Leshchuk continued to go out at the start. And as a result, he played 8 meetings in the championship.

This season the 25-year-old goalkeeper has 2 games – both against Lokomotiv, in the first case Dynamo defeated the opponent (5: 1), and a week ago Igor played a clean sheet (0: 0). In the last fight Leshchuk was recognized as the best player, made several saves and was very reliable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COnhSwBDwuO/

We talked with Leschuk – about psychology, changes in Dynamo, Schwartz, Safonov and much more. Here’s the fun part:

What makes Shunina and Safonova stand out, how to find motivation if there is no practice, a simple life hack – how to maintain concentration

Igor Leshchuk / Photo: © FC Dynamo

– Against Loko you were recognized as the best player of the match, although before that you entered the RPL six months ago. How to stay motivated if you don’t play for a long time?

– It’s really hard.But I understand that I need to train, I do it for myself, not for someone else. Charges the desire to become number one as quickly as possible. And if there is any opportunity, then go out and play well. You need to be ready all the time.

– Did Schwartz say something before the game?

– No. I talked to the coach of goalkeepers Dmitry Izotov. He told me: “I’m sure of you. And he always said that I can put you in peace and not worry about the goal. ”

– Shunin is now one of the best goalkeepers in Russia.What makes it that way?

– Most likely performance. He always goes to the gym, constantly extra exercises. There is no such thing that after training he can immediately go home.

– What should you add?

– In the game on exits and in the game with feet, which you want to bring to the ideal. Up to a good level, not only by Russian standards, but also by European ones.

– The peculiarity of goalkeeper competition is that you have to wait for your partner’s misfire to get your chance.A strange feeling?

– Well, that’s not entirely pleasant, of course. You understand that the field is much more likely to come out at least as a substitute for 20 minutes. And you can play either after a bad result, or after, God forbid, damage to a colleague. Here you have to try to be a professional, to remove everything that is associated with the concept of selfishness. In general, I succeed in this. But, of course, this does not change the fact that every match you want to go out and play. Even if we win, I am still unhappy inside myself that I didn’t play.

– What helps to unload and recharge after difficult stretches?

– I move away from bad thoughts and emotions very quickly. When I leave the field, I immediately switch. As for what charges, it’s probably music. When I was at the academy, I was very fond of rock. Before playing with Loko, I included some Skillet songs from his youth. Maybe they somehow charged me for a good game.

Igor Leshchuk / Photo: © FC Dynamo

– An important part of the goalkeeper level is psychology. Do you somehow pump it separately?

– We have a psychologist on our team, sometimes she invites different players to talk.I also visited at one time when I felt that I needed to talk in order to be directed in a certain direction.

I remember the advice that from each workout you need to endure good things for yourself. For example, set a goal in improving those qualities in which you want to become better, the same game at the exits, playing with your feet. And to focus on this, after each lesson, ask yourself questions: have I improved this, have I done something to become better?

Basically, it helped. When you are not playing, you sometimes wonder: what is all this training for? And these words guided me, helped me progress.Now I don’t go to a psychologist – my head is in order.

– Can you train concentration? And How?

– One coach once threw off an article where it was said that if you feel a loss of concentration during a game, then clap your hands three times and that’s it. Roughly speaking, cheer yourself up, like: “Come on, pull yourself together.” With such thoughts. And then you will automatically go back into tone. For me, this is a working system. When I realize that I am starting to lose concentration, I do so and immediately return to the game.

– Is there a goalkeeper whose technique do you watch?

– Specially – no. The only thing – once asked our analytical department to cut Alisson from Liverpool and Ederson from City, their kicks in the championship. He drew some points for himself, but also concluded that the field players there act a little differently. The goalkeeper always has several addressees, we at Dynamo are moving towards this, so as not to knock the ball out just like that, but to try to play it. But this takes time.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vitaly Timkiv

– Who is the best goalkeeper in Russia now?

– It’s hard to single out one person. But for myself I would single out two – Shunin and Safonov. Apart from Dynamo matches, I don’t watch football so often, but from what I’ve seen, they have had a fairly confident whole this season.

– Why is Safonov considered a great talent?

– He’s confident. You look at him – and there is some kind of calmness, no fuss, nervousness. He has a good reaction, but he would not emphasize any one quality, he is a balanced goalkeeper.

Schwartz has changed a lot at Dynamo, who has the most difficult shot in the team, which Philip lacked in Russia

– What has changed in training under Schwartz?

– A lot. The intensity changed, all the players began to run and move much more. In the training process, exercises are selected so that it is clear what we will be doing in the game. Goalkeepers are constantly involved in “squares”, in exercises to work with the ball. I think this is a big plus.

– How is Schwartz different from other coaches you have worked with?

– The main thing is that he is more emotional.Both in training and in games. He also constantly asks to maintain high speeds. This is just one of those areas that need to be improved in Russian football. So that we can play much better in the European arena.

Now we can safely take and roll the ball, but when we go out to play in the Europa League or the Champions League, the speeds there are completely different. And our teams are number two.

If you know how to maintain a high pace, then there will be individual progress for the players.You will need to make decisions faster: to accurately pass, to shoot in less time than it is now.

Photo: © FC Dynamo

– Who has the most difficult shot at Dynamo?

– Well, Komlichenko has the strongest. When he walks into the penalty area and hits with all his might, it’s hard to react.

If you remember for my entire period at Dynamo, at first Philip did not really understand the kick. But then I got used to it over time. Plus, when you constantly train together, you begin to understand a little the psychology of the player, you may already know in advance where he will hit.

– You worked with several coaches at Dynamo. Tell us about them in a few words.

– Cherchesov is a very good motivator. He had good training. He managed to keep everyone in good shape, regardless of name and merit. He did not single out anyone, everyone was equal, everyone plowed.

Under Khokhlov, Plotnikov was the coach of goalkeepers, and I am grateful for their trust. Anton then got injured, I started playing at the base. And when Shunin recovered, they did not change me back, but gave me the opportunity to continue playing.Yes, then there was a not very successful period, plus in the match with Rostov I was mistaken, but I liked that, in principle, they gave me a chance.

I have known Novikov for a long time, worked together for a long time at the Dynamo academy. This is a very open person with whom you can laugh, talk in general on any topic. Not only about football.

– You said that Philip was very impressive at the first training sessions. Why didn’t he play? They say he took the criticism from the coaches hard.

– It is difficult to judge from the outside.But you may be right. From what I understand, he really doesn’t like criticism very much. At that time, Khokhlov was the coach. In those moments when Philip deserved it, he was praised, in others – criticized. He probably wanted to be constantly praised ( laughs ).

Why are many young players in Russia afraid of mistakes (and this is a systemic problem), what did Pharaoh remember at the Dynamo academy

Igor Leshchuk / Photo: © FC Dynamo

– A lot of talents are coming out of the Dynamo academy now, and Schwartz actively trusts the students.Is this a different psychology?

– In principle, Dynamo have good youth. Now a special fund has been organized, now any fan can contribute to the development of the academy and the future of Dynamo youth. In general, this is a new story, they say that it is unique for our football. Any club would be happy to receive a powerful boost from their own talented young footballers every year.

I didn’t really understand when our youth were not given a chance at all. And Schwartz calmly gave the guys an opportunity, and they took advantage of it, proved that they are no worse than the older players.I think that in Russian football one should generally trust the young people more, not be afraid to involve them.

– This is rare in most other clubs. Why?

– In Russia, the mentality is a little different, even in academies they always ask for the result here and now. How many times have we met European teams at the youth level – they were always asked to play football. And their coach never fought over mistakes.

Or it happens that [children’s teams] win 1-0 and stop playing their football, start kicking the ball at random and that’s it.But what’s the difference at that age, whether you win 1: 0 or lose 1: 2? The main thing is to learn how to play, to prepare a good football player who will get into the double, and then into the base – and he will already be able to play and will not be afraid.

I think this is a big problem in Russia, that we are always criticized for mistakes. And it doesn’t matter where – in football or in a regular school. Instead of suggesting how to do it, cheer you up.

Because of this, it is more difficult for young people in Russia. When they go out to play as a base in the RPL, they already have this fear of making a mistake, they are constrained.And when they do make this mistake, which is inevitable in principle, the coach immediately starts to shove them. Young after that can easily get lost.

I think there should be some kind of support, and from an early age. One should not kill a person, but let him play, make mistakes, learn to think correctly. So that there is no fear of doing something wrong. Unfortunately, most guys have this problem.

– Zakharyan brilliantly burst into football at the age of 17. A really special guy?

– Very talented and technical.Without some kind of corrals, there is no feeling that he can become a star. It is very good that he was given a chance, and not marinated on the bench for several years.

Arsen Zakharyan / Photo: © FC Dynamo

– In the team, born in 96, you crossed paths with Gleb Golubin, who is now a popular rapper Pharaoh. What do you remember?

– I can’t say that he had any special talent, although he tried, trained conscientiously, really strove to achieve something. But, apparently, it was still not his.As far as I know, he then tried himself in refereeing, but it didn’t work either. It’s good that I didn’t stay idle, but found myself in something else.

I now listen to very different music, including several songs of the Pharaoh. The simpler ones ( laughs ). Because some of the tracks are hard to play when the kids are running at home.

– How do you feel about this kind of music, where there is a lot of mate?

– Songs with obscenities are usually stupid all. Although it happens that they touch some strings, they involuntarily start to like it.In general, now there is such a trend that the song lasts a month, no more, and then you forget about it.

I really like to include old songs – from the 90s and 2000s. For example, Hands Up, other artists. There is more sincerity in the old songs, and although so much time has passed, many people still listen to them.

– You are 25 years old, you have several good matches in the RPL behind you, the best years of the athlete are ahead. Have you designated for yourself a segment that is still ready to be nominally the second?

– In principle, not ready anymore.Although it is difficult to imagine yourself outside of Dynamo. I don’t know how the summer transfer window will turn out, but I brought up a conversation with the coaching staff that I want to play. And the strength to sit and wait for your chance is already running out. We’ll see how it goes.

Who impressed from the Cherchesov team, Denisov’s peculiarity, sad memories of flying to the FNL

– You got into the base under Cherchesov. What do you remember from that period?

– Working with the goalkeeper coach Gintaras Stauche, I really liked his training and approach.A very strong specialist.

– Which of that top roster impressed you the most?

– Probably Buettner and Valbuena. For Büttner, perhaps, there was some kind of sympathy because of “MU” also, I like this club. And Valbuena impressed with his persistence and technique. I also liked Igor Denisov, he was always charged to fight, he always prompted everyone, he always wanted to win. This is such a quality that football players sometimes lack – impudence, anger. Denisov wanted to win everywhere – in training, in matches.

Mathieu Valbuena / Photo: © FC Dynamo

– The most unusual legionnaire?

– I remember Marko Lomich, how he once shouted to me when I first joined the team and conceded a goal in training: “Hey, goalkeeper …” He was like that, he could cram everyone, he shouted to everyone. Very emotional. The guys later told me not to pay attention that he was like that to everyone.

– You caught Dynamo’s relegation to the FNL, even if you didn’t play that season. One of the brightest pictures at the end of the last round match with Zenit: Yeshchenko after the game, throwing on his hood, sadly leaves the stadium on foot, it is not clear where.What’s the first picture that pops up from that day?

– Of course, I was insanely upset. Honestly, I thought the fans could chew us on. My father came to the game, after the match he wrote to him right away: “Wait for me, I’ll go with you.” I got into my car and quickly left the stadium.

I also remember how I was returning to the base for my things, and there were two police cars at the gate. Apparently, just in case.

That season is remembered with horror. I really hoped that in the end they would let me play.Kobelev, and then Chikishev, who replaced him, promised that if we secure a place in the RPL, then I will play the remaining matches. I hoped, but in the end we haven’t scored a single point since that moment.

He is fond of photography, design and construction, plans to learn to play the piano, the goal is to become the first number of Dynamo

Igor Leshchuk / Photo: © premierliga.ru

– You became a father at 20, now you have two children. How did that affect you?

– More responsibility has appeared, more desire to start playing, to be in sight, to try to provide for the family much better than it is now possible.Some kind of additional motivation for training and games.

– You said that you hardly follow football. Why?

– I try not to overload myself with football, so as not to get tired of it. I know there are footballers who can come home and play fifu on the console, watch football all the time, and they don’t get tired of it. I can’t do that. It’s the opposite for me: if you play a console, then hockey, but I don’t really like watching football, at most in the morning I will look at the reviews, who played how, and that’s it.

– You have a lot of different entertainment – photography, design. Where did so much come from?

– I think it’s good to learn new things in different areas. Not that you can only talk about one football and nothing else. There is still a lot I would like to try. For example, I’ve been thinking about learning to play the piano for a long time. I don’t know if they’ll get it, I even once asked my wife to give me a piano for my birthday. She hasn’t given it yet, maybe she’ll give it for the next holiday. I can’t play at home, I’ll have to come to the base and disturb everyone here.

– Was your design knowledge useful?

– My wife and I took courses together and wanted to apply all these skills in our homes, but in the end, when we started, we realized that we needed professionals. There is not enough knowledge yet for what we want to do. You will make many mistakes. But some skills help us with the repair, so it’s still a plus.

– Do you read a lot?

– Honestly, I don’t really like reading. I perceive information on video and by ear much better.I watch various series, documentaries. Recently I watched about the construction of an American football stadium and about the Tottenham arena. In general, lately this has been very attractive. Apparently, the construction site is mine.

– What’s the main goal now?

– Become the main goalkeeper of Dynamo and achieve with the club either prizes or win the Cup. This is for the near future, I will not think much in advance.

Read also:

90,000 Mikhail Biryukov: “The goalkeeper should prompt so that it can be heard on the coaching bench”

The Zenit goalkeeping coach explained why he was against the excessive work of his charges in the gym, compared the work with Lunev and Lodygin, and also remembered the red card he had received in Odessa.

– Thirty-eight years ago you first arrived at the Zenit base. Remember the first workout?
– Everything was mundane. Before the start of training, Yuri Andreevich Morozov introduced me to the team, and they began to work. Vadim Grigorievich Khrapovitsky worked with the goalkeepers then, he did a warm-up, then we joined the rest of the players.

– And there was no tunnel for the beginner?
– Not. It was easier then. The guys accepted it well. On the football field, you can immediately see what you are. What you can and what you cannot. They looked at me for a while, and then they took me for their own.

– The arrival of Yuri Lodygin and Andrey Lunev at Zenit was akin to yours: they also ended up in a team of a higher class. Didn’t they have any problems either?
– Everything went in working order.Then the process of mutual grinding began. This happens in any team. I suppose that they, like me in 1980, had some kind of excitement. After all, everything around is new: both the atmosphere and the requirements. Yes, and it is necessary to think faster, since the speeds at Zenit differ from those to which they are accustomed. I remember when I arrived in Leningrad, I was sure that I was fine. It turned out that this is not the case. It was difficult. I even came to Morozov with a request to let him go. I wanted to return to Blagoveshchensk, although Oleg Kuznetsov had already flown there instead of me.It was not easy to realize that you were not the first. Although I understood that Sasha Tkachenko was in excellent shape, I wanted to play constantly. In addition, the apartment was not immediately allocated to me. I lived in a hotel, and my wife remained in Blagoveshchensk, I was toiled alone in the evenings and experienced setbacks. This went on for quite some time as I was not allowed to report. For Lodygin and Lunev, everything happened differently, but difficulties in adaptation still arose. I repeated to them many times: “It is necessary to break away from home, to become an independent man.”

– Lodygin and Lunev are not like people who may have psychological problems.
– Any footballer has such problems. It’s just that some show it, while others do not. Sometimes I didn’t even touch the guys. From my own experience I know that words are often powerless, it takes time for everything to return to normal. Then you can start looking for the cause of what happened.

– When you came to Zenit, you devoted a lot of time to self-preparation, ran and jumped along the embankment near the Piskarevka station.How do today’s goalkeepers feel about work outside of training?
– After the end of the 1980 season, I did train like this on vacation. It became known that Tkachenko is leaving Zenit. They pinned their hopes on me as the first issue. I wanted to come to the start of the training camp in good physical condition. Then the preparatory period was much longer than it is now. However, I wanted to show myself right away, to feel confident and so that the coaches would also notice this. The current generation of football players is different for the better in the sense that they return after rest in a normal functional state.In the 1980s, less attention was paid to this aspect, since the time was ahead of the carriage. Now, before the holidays, the physical training coach issues a work program to everyone. I advise goalkeepers not to run a lot, although this is also important. And in no case get up into any gate. We need to take a break from them. If you have already decided to play holes-holes on the beach, it is better in the field. The psyche must be unloaded. Yes, and it is better to resume training if “hungry” are missing their work.

– In conversations with goalkeepers, give examples from your practice?
– Often enough.Football still hasn’t changed, although now they play a little faster. Examples from the past are real, there is nothing fictional, so situations can be repeated. Therefore, the guys will quickly listen to the words when, while sharing experience, you remember some cases that have already happened.

– Lunev and Lodygin are representatives of different psychotypes. Is work being done to develop uncharacteristic qualities for them? So that one becomes more emotional and the other calmer.
– I have never met two identical goalkeepers.Nevertheless, Yura constantly says that his head should always remain cold. Whatever happens, the goalkeeper needs to keep his emotions to himself. When the game is over, you can throw them out wherever you want. But not earlier. Any burst of energy during a match leads to inner devastation. If you have noticed, Lodygin is now behaving more calmly, does not run to sort things out with the judges. This means that work brings results. As for Andrey, we bring him to the idea that it is necessary to take on the role of a leader.This does not mean that you have to shout and make noise on the field. No. However, the prompts need to sound louder so that even I on the bench can hear them. Yes, credibility is gained by play, but not only by play. A moment comes when it’s time for Andrey to become a lump, so that his comrades obey him unquestioningly and his rivals are afraid. You often hear from him during analysis: “I told the defenders.” If you didn’t react, it means that you didn’t speak well. Any word of the goalkeeper during the match should be taken as law.

– You, too, had an emotional outburst when you earned a red card in Odessa.
– In the fall of 1986, I was very calm. And at some point I realized that I lacked emotions. Being too calm is also not good for a goalkeeper. And before the match with Chornomorets, he began to turn himself on: “There are enemies around! You must defeat them! Either you live today or not. ” It was rainy that day, the field is slippery. The ball is already in my hands, and Igor Yurchenko “rides” on the lawn and hits my shoulder with spikes. I have always remembered the feeling: like a needle pricked or an electric shock.And I suddenly got stuck – I kicked my opponent. Then, of course, he apologized. I didn’t do it out of malice. It turned out ugly in Tbilisi in 1984, it is good that the judge did not notice, disqualification was avoided. And the current case with Buffon? I’m not sure that if I were in his place, I would have restrained myself. Yes, emotions need to be managed, but without them, football will become boring.

– Another nuance. Lunev and Lodygin are goalkeepers of different physiques. Are there any peculiarities in the methodology of their training?
– I would not say that they work according to different programs, although Yura is explosive, Andrei is more viscous.Slava Malafeev was also very explosive. Yes, we give everyone additional exercises to develop certain qualities, but the main work is common. It is impossible to fundamentally change the established goalkeeper: what is, that is. However, every goalkeeper needs a good reaction “to the explosion” – this is the foundation. Therefore, I am against overworking in the gym. The muscles of the goalkeepers must remain flexible. Here is an example for the guys: a bodybuilder and a boxer. One is loaded, but can barely walk, and the other is fast and has an excellent reaction.Plus, a heavily pumped muscle is more likely to tear. Yura Zhevnov at some point literally got hooked on classes in the simulator. And then he began to tear out of the blue: injury after injury.

– You are already working with Zenit goalkeepers under the sixth head coach. Are there any differences?
– All six are very different people, and it was important to find contact with each one. Still, a goalkeeper coach is an addict. The head coach determines the program of each lesson, and you have to adjust.It seems that I’ve already seen a lot, but you are still surprised. For example, Italians often change their plan during training. It seems that you are given 25 minutes, but ten minutes have passed, and the goalkeepers are taken away from you. Or, on the contrary, work with the guys is delayed for a longer time. You have to be ready for such turns. Dick Advocaat has a different specificity: at the beginning of the training camp, he put the goalkeepers at my disposal for several full workouts. This is good for laying the foundation for later work.On the other hand, I had no problems with any of the head coaches.

– For almost all 12 years, one or two Zenit goalkeepers have been regularly called up to the national teams. Do you work in contact with national team coaches?
– I cannot say that these contacts are permanent. For example, we communicate with Cherchesov, but not very often. This approach surprises me a little. Since you are counting on a person in such an important position, you should know as much as possible about him.For example, when Lunev was invited to Zenit, I collected detailed information from Ufa goalkeeping coach Yuri Pereskokov. There is another problem here that is more troubling to me. There was a period when Malafeev was called up to the national team, but did not play. The workload during the training of the national team is insignificant, it turns out that for a week and a half the goalkeeper did almost nothing, and returned, as a rule, three days before the match. And we need to put it in order. Then Slava, on the contrary, began to play in the national team almost without substitutions.