Goalie top string. Goalie Lacrosse Pockets: Expert Tips for Stringing and Optimizing Performance

How to string a goalie lacrosse head for optimal performance. What are the key factors in creating an effective goalie pocket. Which mesh types are best suited for goalie heads. How can goalies break in their pockets effectively.

The Importance of Goalie Lacrosse Pockets

Goalie lacrosse pockets are a crucial component of a goalkeeper’s equipment, playing a significant role in their performance on the field. These pockets are characterized by their larger mesh size, durability to withstand high-impact shots, and unique stringing techniques that differ from those used in field player sticks.

Goalie pockets are designed to handle the intense abuse of shot-stopping while also facilitating accurate and powerful outlet passes. The right pocket can make a substantial difference in a goalie’s ability to make saves, control rebounds, and initiate fast breaks.

Selecting the Ideal Mesh for Goalie Heads

When it comes to choosing mesh for goalie heads, durability and quick break-in properties are paramount. East Coast Dyes (ECD) lacrosse mesh products are highly recommended by professional stringers for their exceptional quality and performance.

• ECD 12D mesh: Ideal for goalies focused on rebound control
• ECD 20D mesh: Preferred for goalies prioritizing precise outlet passes

These mesh options offer a balance between durability and performance, allowing goalies to customize their pocket based on their playing style and preferences.

The Art of Stringing a Goalie Lacrosse Head

Stringing a goalie lacrosse head requires a different approach compared to stringing a field player’s stick. Here are some key tips from professional stringers:

1. Top String Technique

The top string is crucial in maintaining the pocket’s shape and consistency. It should be strung as tightly as possible without warping the head’s shape. This tight top string helps create a stable foundation for the rest of the pocket.

2. Sidewall Stringing Method

Unlike field player heads, goalie heads should be strung from the inside towards the outside. This technique allows the knots to form on the inside of the head, helping to create a channel that improves throwing accuracy and rebound control.

3. Pocket Depth and Whip

Most high school and collegiate players prefer a solid mid to low pocket with minimal whip. This configuration allows for a smooth release and is especially critical for youth players developing their skills.

Breaking In Your Goalie Pocket

Properly breaking in a goalie pocket is essential for optimal performance. While some stringers recommend pounding the pocket with hands or a baseball bat, professional stringers at Lax.com suggest a more game-realistic approach:

1. Use real, game-speed shots to break in the pocket
2. This method helps create a more defined channel
3. It develops a specific “sweet spot” for improved rebound control

Breaking in the pocket with actual shots helps goalies get accustomed to how the pocket will perform in game situations, leading to better overall performance.

Popular Goalie Lacrosse Heads

Choosing the right goalie head is crucial for maximizing performance. Some of the most popular goalie lacrosse heads include:

• STX Eclipse 2
• Warrior Nemesis 2

These heads are favored by many goalies for their durability, shape, and stringing options. When selecting a goalie head, consider factors such as face shape, weight, and stiffness to find the best fit for your playing style.

The Rock-It Pocket Approach to Goalie Stringing

Rock-It Pocket, a company known for innovative lacrosse pocket designs, has developed a unique approach to goalie pockets. Their method aims to balance catching ability with controlled throwing, addressing the common challenge of excessive whip in goalie sticks.

Key Features of Rock-It Pocket Goalie Stringing:

• Utilizes 12-diamond hard mesh or wax mesh
• Creates a defined throwing channel down the middle of the head
• Ensures consistent release and precision passing
• Mimics the ball tracking of traditional leather middle strings
• Positions the ball squarely in the middle of the pocket for optimal control

This stringing technique aims to provide goalies with a “point and shoot” experience, minimizing inconsistencies in throwing accuracy.

Customizing Your Goalie Pocket for Optimal Performance

Every goalie has unique preferences and playing styles. Customizing your goalie pocket can help you achieve the perfect balance between catching ability, rebound control, and throwing accuracy. Consider the following factors when personalizing your pocket:

1. Mesh Density

The density of the mesh can affect both the pocket’s durability and its performance characteristics. Denser mesh (like 20D) may offer more consistency in throws, while less dense mesh (like 12D) can provide better feel and ball control.

2. Pocket Depth

Experiment with different pocket depths to find the sweet spot between ball retention and quick releases. A deeper pocket may offer better ball control, while a shallower pocket can facilitate faster outlet passes.

3. Channel Width

The width of the channel can impact both catching and throwing. A narrower channel may improve accuracy on outlet passes, while a wider channel could enhance the pocket’s ability to absorb hard shots.

4. Sidewall String Tension

Adjusting the tension of your sidewall strings can fine-tune the pocket’s performance. Tighter sidewalls generally result in a more responsive pocket, while looser sidewalls can create a softer feel.

Remember that finding the perfect setup may require some trial and error. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and seek advice from experienced goalies or professional stringers.

Maintaining Your Goalie Pocket for Longevity

Proper maintenance of your goalie pocket is essential for consistent performance and longevity. Here are some tips to keep your pocket in top condition:

• Regularly check for wear and tear, especially in high-stress areas
• Clean your mesh periodically to remove dirt and debris
• Avoid leaving your stick in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight
• Re-adjust strings as needed to maintain optimal pocket shape
• Consider treating your mesh with performance-enhancing products designed for lacrosse sticks

By taking good care of your goalie pocket, you can ensure that it continues to perform at its best throughout the season.

Advanced Techniques for Experienced Goalies

As goalies gain experience and refine their skills, they may want to explore more advanced stringing techniques and pocket configurations. Here are some advanced concepts to consider:

1. Hybrid Mesh Setups

Some goalies experiment with combining different types of mesh in a single pocket. For example, using a softer mesh in the catching area and a stiffer mesh in the throwing zone can provide a unique balance of feel and performance.

2. Custom Shooting Strings

While many goalie pockets use minimal or no shooting strings, some advanced players incorporate custom shooting string patterns to fine-tune their release and add subtle hold to the pocket.

3. Specialized Knots

Learning and implementing specialized stringing knots can allow for greater customization and control over the pocket’s performance characteristics. Knots like the “buck” or “lock down” can be used strategically to shape the pocket.

4. Weather-Specific Setups

Some experienced goalies maintain multiple pocket setups optimized for different weather conditions. For example, a pocket strung for rainy conditions might prioritize grip and water resistance.

These advanced techniques require a deep understanding of pocket dynamics and may take considerable experimentation to master. Always ensure that any customizations comply with league regulations.

The Future of Goalie Lacrosse Pockets

As lacrosse equipment technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see innovations in goalie pocket design and materials. Some potential developments to watch for include:

• Smart materials that adapt to game conditions
• Eco-friendly mesh options
• Integration of data-tracking technology
• Advanced customization through 3D printing

While traditional stringing techniques remain effective, staying informed about new technologies can help goalies stay at the forefront of performance and innovation.

In conclusion, mastering the art of goalie lacrosse pockets is a continuous journey of learning and refinement. By understanding the principles of effective stringing, selecting quality materials, and personalizing your setup, you can create a goalie pocket that enhances your strengths and supports your playing style. Remember that consistency in practice and willingness to experiment are key to finding the perfect pocket configuration for your game.

How To String A Goalie Lacrosse Head From Our Pros At Lax.com Lacrosse Video

The biggest pieces of mesh, the most abuse, the hardest to throw with, and the longest to break in are all characteristics of mesh in goalie lacrosse heads.    These are all traits that the Pro stringers at Lax.com take into consideration when stringing up a goalie lacrosse head.  Our Pro’s string for the best in the nation.  Ask any of the elite collegiate or high school guys or gals, Lax.com has been trusted for two decades to deliver the best of the best in custom goalie pockets.  We STRONGLY recommend East Coast Dyes lacrosse mesh products for the durability and very short break in properties this mesh exhibits.   Whether its rebounds eating East Coast Dyes 12D or precision outlet passes using East Coast Dyes 20D goalie mesh, East Coast Dyes is widely known and respected by all the top goal keepers.
 

 
1) The top string is the most important piece.  String it as TIGHLTY as possible without warping the head shape.  A tight goalie top string will help maintain pocket shape and overall consistency.
 

 
2) When stringing the sidewalls, string from the inside of the head towards the outside (this is opposite from a players head).  This will allow the knots to form on the inside of the goalie head and will help create a channel.  This will help with throwing and rebounds if the channel is formed properly.
 

 
3) String a goalie pocket with little to no whip.  A solid mid/low pocket with a smooth release is preferred by most all high school and collegiate players and critical for the youth players.
 

 
4) Break in your new goalie pocket with real shots.  Most stringers like to pound their pockets with their hands or on a baseball bat to help break in the mesh.  Our Lax.com Pro’s know that the best way to break in a new goalie head is with “game speed” shots.  This will also help with a more defined channel and give you a specific sweet spot for the ball to travel to after you make the save.  That sweet spot is the key to rebound control.
 

 
So try these tips when stringing up your lacrosse goalie head.  Our most popular lacrosse goalie heads for 2018 are the STX Eclipse 2 and the Warrior Nemesis 2.  If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call at 855-255-5294.
 
Other blogs and videos you might be interested in or see all of our blog and video highlights in our complete lacrosse guide.
VIDEO: Secret Lacrosse Stringing Tips From Our Lax.com Pros
BLOG: Six Simple Stringing Tips
VIDEO: Will My Lacrosse Head Fit On Any Lacrosse Shaft
 
 
To Learn More About Lacrosse and Receive Exclusive Deals, Enter Our Mailing List:

 
LAX.com offers a wide variety of mens and women’s lacrosse gear for every players ability. If you have any questions about what might be right for you or your player, feel free to give our Pro’s a call at 855-255-5294. We will be able to tell you what we think is right based on your age, ability and position. Also, be sure to download the LAX.com FREE mobile app. We push our most amazing deals there and you will also gain access to the newest gear as soon as it hits the market.
 
See you on the fields!
The Lax.com Pro Staff
855.255.5294
[email protected]
LAX.com
Where Players Get Their Gear
Free Shipping On All Orders Over $50
Lowest Prices – Guaranteed
 
 

Goalie Pocket | Rock-It Pocket

Overview

Goalies are lacrosse players too, and they might be even more in tune with their sticks than anyone else on the field. Trying to balance between a goalie stick that catches well while not throwing with too much whip was the difficulty in creating our Goalie Pocket. We try to deliver the best of both worlds.  

12 Diamond Mesh

Built in, not broken in, our goalie pockets are borne of the same
concepts as the Rock-it Pockets before it. No, it’s not strung with leathers and nylons, but with
12-diamond, hard mesh, or any of wax meshes available. Our goalie pocket creates a throwing channel down
the middle of the head that allows for a consistent release and precision passing. The channel “rocks”
the ball during cradling and mimics the tracking of the middle leathers in our original Rock-it
Pocket. With the mesh pulled tight in all directions, the ball is set squarely in the middle of the
pocket, primed to throw outlet passes or overhand fakes. The channel also ensures that passes will never
miss to the left or right of the target. Our goalie pocket remains true to one of the Rock-it Pocket’s
original slogans: “Point and shoot.” You should never feel this pocket throwing off the plastic as we
have pulled the top section of the mesh extremely tight, and depending on the head the mesh may lay on
top of the bottom of the scoop. Keeping the top tight is paramount in creating a consistent throw every
time you make a pass.

Another plus of keeping the mesh tight along the plastic is cutting down on general wear and tear.  Since there is not too much pressure being put on the sidewall strings, there will be much less fraying and shredding than you would normally see after making hundreds of saves in practice in games.  The high-strength polyester we use all the way around the mesh is the same material we put in our Rock-it Pockets, so you know it will last.

We prefer our goalie pockets to be strung with 12-diamond mesh rather than regular hard mesh. New types of 12-diamond mesh includes East Coast Mesh and Throne Mesh, which use the application of wax to repel water. The larger diamonds make catching a little easier because the ball seems to stick in the pocket better. In arid climates, the large diamond mesh helps catching immensely.   We don’t recommend soft mesh for goalies because it is nearly impossible to keep the integrity of the pocket.

For whatever reason, most likely the head’s flared sidewalls, our goalie pocket seems to fit almost perfectly in the Warrior Nemesis. This is the head we created the pocket in and will come ready to go right out of the package. Other heads may take some extra break-in time to build the channel just right. We’ve found that this pocket will generally require only one adjustment as the mesh stretches out. With the 12-diamond mesh, you simply bring the bottom string up a row or two in the mesh as you play with it.  You will eventually get to a point where adjustments are no longer necessary and it throws with consistency and accuracy every time.

Triple Top String in 8 Easy Steps

Today, I’m going to demonstrate in 8 easy steps what is essentially a Triple Top String or the S.O.P.G. (Spawn of Pipo Goalie) top string. I found this top string from a fairly well known stringer on Instagram, Spawn of Pipo.

He posted it a couple of months ago because it’s the top string he uses when stringing goalie heads. I thought I would give it a shot and see how I like it.

Well, I’m not a goalie, but I still use this technique in my gamers. It keeps the tension very nice and tight up top for a very consistent release that does not give out overtime. I’ve been using it for about 3 months now and I haven’t experienced any change at all.

In the pictures below, I am stringing the Triple Top String from the back of Super Power, so keep that in mind. I also have already done the first three top string holes and I will not include tying it off on either side.

Triple Top String Tutorial

Step 1

Feed the string through the back of the top string hole.

Step 2

Bring the string through the front of the corresponding mesh diamond.

Make sure to bring it through on the outside of the part of the string going into the back of the head.

Step 3

Go back through the same diamond of the mesh.

Step 4

Once again, come up through the front of the top string hole.

Step 5

Bring the string down through the loop you made in the previous step.

Remember to leave some slack, it will be important later! Up to this point we’ve been following the steps for a standard top string.

Step 6

Now send the string back through the same mesh diamond and top string hole!

Step 7

Go back down through the same loop.

Your string should appear to now be in the middle of the first two knots in the top string hole, heading down through the loop you’ve been creating.

Step 8

Feed the string all the way through the loop and pull tight.

You made need to slightly adjust the knot a bit to be able to feed all of the excess slack through. Remember you want the knot to be as tight as possible and with pretty solid tension in between each Triple Top String knot.

All Done!

It should look pretty much like the picture above if you followed all of the steps correctly.

Simply just continue this process throughout the rest of the top string holes. You should finish with a very strong, tight top string that looks good and performs even better.

[mks_separator style=”solid” height=”4″]

Love it or hate it, what do you think?!

Let us know if you try the Triple Top String for yourself and what you thought of it in the comments below.

How many shooting strings? What can I do if no one is around to shoot on me?

Question:

Rich writes:  ok im a second year jr. goalie in high school and i still need alot of work. i wanted to know how many shooting strings to put on my goalie head cus im getting it redone with marc mesh and a semi deep pocket. iv seen kids with two shooting string to kids with five and i dont know the difference and how i should seperate them. im a strong so the deeper pock i have wont affect my clear. and i have a a regular goalie shaft if that helps. thanx for any help rich

p.s. do u have any traing tips so i can practise by myself when i cant get to a net and have someone shoot on me

Answer:  Rich three shooting strings is all you need.  Straight across.  Skip one row of diamonds between rows.  So you would have the scoop, then one row of diamonds, then your top shooting string.  I use a sidewall lace for my top shooting string because it gets a ton of abuse getting shots on it.  I find the sidewall laces don’t stretch as much as cotton hockey laces that you use for other shooting strings.

For the second and third laces use a cotton hockey lace.  You can get them at any sporting goods store that sells hockey skates.  Skip one row of diamonds and put your second one across.  Skip another row of diamonds and do your third.  That’s all you need.

My best tip for getting better without someone shooting on you is this:

1)Visualize.  The mind doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is imagined so the more time you spend thinking about goaltending and moving to the ball properly the more chance you will have of making better saves once you are in the cage.  I get into more detail on this one in the members area of the site.

2)  Get in front of a mirror and work on your form.  Again, you’ll want to practice moving to the ball properly.  But this is a great way to see what you look like in the cage and what you need to work on.

3)  Wall Ball:  I have never met a great goalie who was really bad with his stick.  But every great goalie has good stick skills.  There is something about it but I find when you improve your ability to catch and throw you become a better goalie.  If you think about it, a goalie really is the best catching player on the team.   Not the best shooter, but definitely one of the best catchers.  So spend a lot of time on the wall.  I used to shoot tennis balls against the kitchen drawers when my parents weren’t home. (We lived in an old house so those drawers were solid!)  But playing with the tennis ball was a big help.  I also used to throw balls on the roof of my house and wait for them to roll back down.  I’d pick a shingle and try to hit it with a clearing pass.

All these little things add up to big improvements so give those a shot.  And let me know if you need anything else.

Jonathan –  The Goalie Guru
www.inseasonhome.com (Are you signed up for our newsletter?)

Comments

comments

ECD Hero 12 D GOALIE Restring

THIS PRICE IS FOR CUSTOM STRINGING AND RE-STRINGING ONLY.  THE LACROSSE HEAD IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRICE.

Stinson Mellor can re-string one of your old heads or we can string up a new head you have purchased from Stinson Mellor or someone else.  We offer a number of different configurations, color choices and material choices.  Feel free to take a look at our Gallery and Strung Heads page for inspiration. 

How it works:  We try to keep it pretty simple.  First, the head.  You can send us a head you currently own, you can have a head sent to us from another store/website that you may have purchased a head from or you can buy a new head from us.  If you need to purchase a new head, you can find one on our Unstrung Heads page. Just add it to your Shopping Cart from the Unstrung Heads page and then pick your pocket details above.  If you are sending a head to us, send it to:

Stinson Mellor Lacrosse Company

33717 Woodward Avenue, Unit 319

Birmingham, MI 48009-0913

This strung head will be hand strung by the world renowned stringers at Stinson Mellor Lacrosse Company.  Each head is a unique product.  No two Stinson Mellor strung heads are the same.  The materials used are all new and all applicable manufacturers warranties are in place.  While these heads are fantastic looking, be assured, these heads are “out of the box” ready for game play. Be the envy of your teammates and show up with a head that says, “It’s go time!” 

12D semi-hard HeroMesh is engineered with the elite goalie in mind. HyperWeave^TM provides accurate outlets and unmatched rebound control, while the LTH Fibers^TM allow your pocket to be durable and lightweight. Now it’s your turn to BeElite.

Weatherproof – Our new LTH Fibers^TM are fully weatherproof. They will not expand or contract in blistering heat, freezing cold, rain, or snow.

Lightweight – LTH Fibers^TM are extremely lightweight and durable. This means quicker hands and a 12D mesh that stands up to the hardest shots.

Rebound Control – The unique and consistent diamond shape, created by HyperWeave^TM, absorbs and distributes a shot’s energy, making controlling rebounds look easy.

Accurate – 12D HeroMesh features a unique diamond shape that allows for the smooth and accurate release you need to hit your outlet every time.

HeroMesh is made with pride in the United States. Powered by Jimalax.

Third String Goalie

Released in 2004, “Miracle” chronicles the story of Herb Brooks and the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team from Brooks’ hiring to his formation of his squad followed by his rigorous training methods and efforts to instill in his players an unfamiliar style of play in an effort to combat the dominant team from the Soviet Union, a team made up of battle hardened veterans who had already proven capable of defeating the best the National Hockey League had to offer just one year earlier and who through any route to a gold medal would inevitably have to pass through.

Brooks, played by veteran actor Kurt Russell, has to overcome resistance to his methods by his bosses and the division amongst his team, who carry their East vs. West rivalries from their college teams into their training camp. Brooks, a master psychologist, presents himself as disciplinarian and taskmaster in order to unite his players against a common foe – himself as indicated by the lines “I’ll be your coach. I won’t be your friend.”

Herb Brooks (left) and Kurt Russell (right)

Still upset with one of his new teammates over a past incident during the college hockey playoffs, Jack O’Callahan from Boston University instigates a fight during practice with Rob McClanahan from the University of Minnesota. Following the fight, Brooks tells the players his team is all about “flow and creativity, not old rivalries”, and has each player introduce themselves. They all respond with their name and what school they played for.

Later, in one of the movie’s defining scenes, the distracted team sleepwalks through a 3-3 tie against Norway, which incenses Brooks, who famously punishes his team with an exhausting workout following the game, as he skates his players to exhaustion, even after the arena staff has turned out the lights in the rink, commanding his team to over and over skate “Again!” to the point of vomiting.

Finally, when team captain Mike Eruzione states his name and that the team he plays for is not Boston University, but The United States of America, Brooks has driven home his point of the required hard work and team unity he demands from his team, and the practice mercifully ends.

The team suffers an embarrassing and eye opening 10-3 loss to the Soviets in an exhibition game just prior to the Olympics, followed by an opening game tie against Sweden, where the Americans are saved by a final minute goal by Bill Baker following a trademark Brooks motivational tactic to fire his players up.

The team then goes on a roll, defeating the favored Czechoslovakians 7-3 and then posting wins over Norway, Romania and West Germany to earn a spot in the medal round and their date with destiny against the Soviets.

During their showdown, the Americans fall behind no less than three times, but keep fighting back to tie the game. Finally, Eruzione scores to give the US a 4-3 lead, but with ten agonizing minutes left to play. The US holds on thanks to the goaltending of Jim Craig, setting off an emotional celebration.

Despite the win against the heavily favored Soviets, the United States still has not even assured themselves the gold medal, as they must defeat Finland in their final game. As they have many times in the tournament, the Americans must come from behind to win, and Brooks warns the team that they will take a failure “to their graves” if they lose. Properly motivated once again by their coach, the team comes out flying to win the game 4-2 and secure the gold medal, setting off another round of celebrations.

With so many hockey scenes needing to be shot, the filmmakers needed an enormous amount of wardrobe for the movie and contacted AIS to produce all the jerseys used in the making of the film. All told, they made 11 different team uniform sets, plus additional items such as practice jerseys for the tryout scenes and team jackets.

The most interesting thing to note about the jerseys used in the filming of the movie was the choice of colors for the jerseys used in the pre-Miracle on Ice scenes, as all the colors for the jerseys are three shades darker than than they were originally, such as the use of navy blue rather than royal blue or brick red instead of a vibrant primary red. This is particularly noticeable when looking at anything that was originally white, as it was all now rendered in a grey/silver tone.

It took us a decade of patience and searching, but we were finally able to complete an entire set of each team used in the filming of the movie, and we now present them in the order they appear in the film.

The first appearance of any to the team jerseys is in the first half of the film during the exhibition game held in Norway, which earns the team the full brunt of Brooks’ wrath in the “Again!” scene has the team is forced to do repeated “Herbies” (an exhausting skate from the end goal line to the near blue line, back to the end line, to the center red line, back to the end line, to the far blue line, back to the end line, then to the far end line and finally back to the end line) and immediately illustrates the use of the altered colors for the jerseys that appear in the early part of the film as evidenced by the “white” Norway home jerseys.

1980 Norway National Team Jersey

Next from that scene is the first appearance of the jerseys worn by the United States in the pre-Olympic scenes, which has “USA” diagonally across the front rather than arched, as it would later appear in the Olympic Games. Again, this jersey is made from a muted Navy Blue, Brick Red and Grey color palette.
1980 United States National Team Jersey

After the navy blue jerseys appear again in a game versus the IHL All-Stars, the next jerseys to appear in the movie are the brightly colored jerseys of the United States and the Soviet Union during their exhibition game at Madison Square Garden just three days prior to the Olympics. The Soviet blood red jerseys and the Americans snow white jerseys give the game the desired visual excitement the filmmakers were looking for.
1980 Soviet Union National Team Jersey

1980 United States National Team Jersey

With that thrashing of the United States over with, the scenes featuring the actual Olympics then dominate the second half of the movie with the first American game being against Sweden, where Baker saves the day with his last minute goal with goaltender Craig pulled to spare the United States an opening game defeat. Being a non-Soviet opponent, the filmmakers are back to using the muted colors for the Swedish jerseys, although the yellow still appears relatively vibrant on screen. This is also the first use of the royal blue Olympic jerseys for the United States, giving the game the desired visual excitement.

1980 Sweden National Team

1980 United States National Team

The next opponent for the United States was favored Czechoslovakia, who appeared in their brick red jerseys during the movie for all of ten seconds.

1980 Czechoslovakia National Team

The scene following the USA versus Czechoslovakia game sees Brooks walking on the streets of Lake Placid with Walter Bush. Team jackets are seen from East Germany (DDR) and Italy before they encounter the Soviets, led by head coach Viktor Tikhonov, who is followed by several team members wearing CCCP jackets to keep them warm against the snow flurries.

1980 Soviet Union National Team Winter Jacket

Norway appears as the next US opponent, only this time wearing their red road jerseys against the Americans. The Norwegians are dispatched in a mere 13 seconds of screen time.

1980 Norway National Team

The next game is against Romania, who are wearing yellow jerseys similar to Sweden. The shade of yellow used by the Romanian jerseys is slightly darker than Sweden’s and again has the muted navy blue and brick red secondary colors. Of all of our “lesser” country jerseys, the #15 of Alexandru Halauca appears on screen the longest while he breaks down the ice as part of the Romanian attack.

Unusually, we also acquired another Romania jersey, this one with a lace-up collar, rather than the v-neck of the Halauca jersey, a style which does not appear on screen during the movie. It has been suggested to us that this may have been a goaltender jersey, but in reality, Sandor Gal (spelled with just one “L”) was a defenseman. This jersey arrived without laces.

1980 Romania National Team

West Germany received a generous 35 seconds of screen time and was the last and most difficult jersey for us to obtain to complete our collection. Having passed on an easy opportunity to get one when they first appeared on ebay when the jerseys first began to be made available to the public prior to setting our sights on having a complete set, it would take another ten years for one to resurface after their initial availability.

While the jerseys for the United States and Soviet Union were made in multiple sets in case of physical damage due to their amount of use in the filming, jerseys from the remaining nations were only made in a single set and can be much harder to obtain due to their limited numbers.

Unlike the other jerseys, the West Germany jerseys use an elastic material for the waist stripes, which results in it’s clinched appearance at the bottom. Again, note the use of the brick red and grey for the West German jersey.

1980 West Germany National Team

We finally arrive at the Miracle on Ice game between the United States and the Soviet Union for which the entire movie has been building up to. Both teams are outfitted with their brightly colored jerseys, which virtually leap off the screen compared to the muted colors of the other nations’ jerseys, especially under the bright lighting of those scenes. The game takes 30 minutes of screen time to complete.

1980 Soviet Union National Team

1980 United States National Team Jersey

There is still one more game left to play however, that being the United States versus Finland, which the US must win to cement the gold medal. Finland, wearing “white” is back to being depicted in the muted color palette. The game action is all of three seconds, as the producers chose not to dramatize the come from behind American victory to clinch the gold, with the majority of the scene being the post-game US celebration in their blue jerseys.

1980 Finland National Team

1980 United States National Team

Following the Finland game, the movie concludes with the medal ceremony, during which the Soviets are seen wearing track suits, while the Swedes are still wearing their yellow game jerseys.

1980 Soviet National Team Track Jacket

We also have one particularly special jersey from the filming of the movie “Miracle” in our collection, that worn in the pre-Olympic scenes by actor Eddie Cahill, who played starring goaltender Craig. After obtaining the jersey we had the opportunity to have the jersey signed by Craig in person with the inscription “Jim Craig #30 – 1980 Gold Medal”.

1980 United States National Team

The movie ranks as one of the best hockey movies ever made and gave new life to many great lines, particularly those of head coach Brooks, whose players actually kept a diary of his most memorable “Brooksisms”. His speech to his team prior to the Miracle on Ice game is one of the most memorable scenes of the film and is often quoted today.

Lacrosse Goalie Gear Guide: Everything You Need To Play Goalie

This post is a guide which will explain all the lacrosse goalie gear, both mandatory and optional, that is needed to play this amazing position.

I’ll also provide my recommendation for specific pieces of gear that I like.

As goalies we want to be as protected as possible without limiting our movement. So the gear that I prefer typically offers a high level of protection and functionality while still permitting freedom of movement.

Luckily for us, lacrosse goalie gear (and lax gear in general) has made tremendous strides in just the last 10 years. I mean consider this is what lacrosse helmets looked like not too long ago –

With the explosion in popularity of the sport, many lacrosse companies have invested heavily in research and development to create new lacrosse gear that’s lighter while also safer than its predecessors.

There are lots of great options for every single piece of equipment. Just because I recommend and like a specific helmet, doesn’t mean that there are not others that work great. Same with chest protectors, sticks, gloves, etc.

If you’re a brand new lacrosse goalie or a parent wondering what gear your child will need to play goalie, this post will help you understand all of the lacrosse goalie equipment that is needed to play in the cage.

Without further ado, here’s my recommended lacrosse goalie gear:

MANDATORY LACROSSE GOALIE GEAR

Today’s helmets are extremely light and yet offer more protection and style then helmets of the past. Goalies are going to get hit in the head with the ball so it’s extremely important to use a newer style helmet to avoid concussions.

There is no difference between a goalie helmet and the helmets used by attackman, defenseman, and middies. The only slight difference is we add a throat guard to the goalie helmet.

There is also no difference between the helmets used by male and female goalies. Just ensure you always get the right size.

If you play for a school team, they may provide the helmet. However if you’re playing for a club or traveling team you’re often on your own.

The helmet I recommend: Cascade R. It’s a pretty sweet looking helmet to boot. I love the matte version.

For more info on this helmet, checkout the full Cascade R helmet review that I wrote.

Cascade offers a newer version called the Cascade S. It’s also a great option but will cost you about a $100 more new. But if you want the best in style and performance, here it is:

The throat guard attaches to your helmet via screws and protects your throat from shots.

When you have this device on always be sure to check that it fully covers your throat area as getting it in this region could cause serious injury.

I think the clear version looks the coolest but Cascade also makes it in black and silver.

In fact with certain helmet colors, the black Cascade throat protector can look pretty saucy too.

The throat guard I recommend: Cascade Goalie Throat Guard.

For more info check out the post on all the lacrosse goalie throat guard options.

Lacrosse Goalie Stick

Your lacrosse goalie stick, aka your wand, aka your save maker, aka the most important piece of equipment when it comes to you ability to make saves.

I’ll split the stick up into 3 different areas – the head, the mesh, and the shaft. Complete goalie sticks will come all 3 together as a package or you can pick and choose different ones to create a perfect goalie stick.

There are literally thousands of different head, mesh, and shaft combinations that you can use to create your goalie stick. Just look at the all variations used by today’s MLL goalies, NCAA Men’s Goalies, and NCAA Women’s Goalies.

What I’ve listed below happens to be my favorite.

 

“A post shared by Coach Damon (@laxgoalierat) on Feb 24, 2018 at 1:26pm PST”

Goalie Head – STX Eclipse II

It took STX 18 years to release a second version of the STX Eclipse but it was worth the wait.

The sequel provides all the things you loved about the original – light weight, great face shape, awesome ball scooping ability – and combined it with great new features.

The STX Eclipse II is stiffer than the original while maintaining basically the same weight. They added tons of sidehole stringing options so the stick ninjas can put in amazing pockets.

And finally they enhanced the plastic grip on the bottom for those goalie who like to setup with their top hand gripping the plastic.

Checkout my full review of the STX Eclipse II head.

Goalie Mesh – 12 Diamond

Of all the mesh sizes I recommend 12 diamond. The larger diamonds ‘grip’ the ball better and provide less rebounds while making outlets easier.

When you check NCAA and MLL stick setups the majority use 12 diamond and I think this setup works very well for beginners too.

There are a few companies producing amazing mesh these days so you can’t go wrong. Here are two great options from East Coast Dyes.

HeroMesh 12 Diamond Semi Hard or HeroMesh 12 Diamond Semi Soft

The Semi Soft is harder to string but will break in faster and ultimately give you fewer rebounds.

Goalie Shaft – StringKing Metal 2 Goalie Shaft

I prefer a shaft that is as light as possible. This makes the overall stick setup extremely light and gives the goalie faster hands when it comes to attacking a shot.

At 142 grams, the StringKing Metal 2 is one of the lightest and strongest shafts out there. It’s also durable so it won’t be damaged as you hit the pipes checking your position. I wish I had this one back in my early playing days.

There’s a goalie length but I just prefer to use an attack length shaft. If you’re trying to decide, I wrote a full post on the ideal length for a goalie’s shaft.

Check out my full review of the StringKing Metal 2 goalie shaft here.

Goalie stick setup I recommend for beginners:

The chest protector is going to protect our chest, heart, stomach and shoulder area. Like the helmet, we’re going to be taking shots off of the chest protector so it’s important you buy the best protector you can afford.

Modern chest protectors come with reinforced chest plates to protect your heart in the event you take a shot to that region.

I find that these chest protectors offer max protection while still giving us mobility. The STX Sultra is the 1st piece of lacrosse equipment specifically designed for the women’s body. While I have not used it myself, several female coaches, players, and parents have given me positive reviews of that chest protector.

This is an excellent piece of equipment and we’ve gone through plenty in my house with two goalies. My daughter specifically asked for this model after trying a half dozen different types loaned to her by friends, teammates and coaches. It fits true and stays in place. It’s well padded and provides excellent protection while allowing for full range of movement and doesn’t interfere with her stick handling at all. I’d definitely recommend it to a friend or family member and only withheld the fifth star b/c nothing is perfect. – Neil Flynn from Amazon.com.

Both of these chest protectors offer additional shoulder protection where getting hit can cause painful bruises. If you can deal with the pain and prefer more mobility, shoulder protection is optional.

I wrote a full review of the Warrior Nemesis Pro here.

My recommended chest protector: Warrior Nemesis Pro (Men) / STX Sultra (Women).

It’s important that you purchase lacrosse goalie gloves as opposed to just a normal pair of lacrosse gloves.

The goalie gloves have additional padding as well as a reinforced thumb to help protect our hands and avoid any injuries.

I broke my thumb while in college after a close-range shot hit it directly. This was before I had lacrosse goalie gloves. It’s painful and something you want to avoid at all cost.

For an even deeper explanation of what to look for in goalie gloves be sure to check out my lacrosse goalie glove guide.

My current recommendation for beginner goalie gloves are the STX Shield 500 goalie gloves.

You can read my full review of these STX Shield 500’s here.

I used to wear just a simple athletic cup. Then I got hit square in the package.

If I would have had a mobile phone on me, I would have ordered a reinforced goalie jock right from the field. This jock provides the most protection and is well worth the investment. Given what’s at stake, this is my favorite piece of lacrosse goalie equipment that I own.

As you can see in the picture above, this type of athletic cup offers some additional hip padding in addition to protecting your entire groinal zone.

Obviously this piece of equipment is more valuable for us male goalies. Female goalies might feel sufficiently protected in this area with the lacrosse goalie pants.

My athletic supporter of choice: Warrior Tool Box Goalie Nut Hutt.

I recommend using cleats on grass fields. Unlike the other equipment they’re not going to have a tremendous impact on your game so really any pair of cleats will do.

Getting a pair of high tops will give you additional ankle and foot protection in the event a ball strikes this area. This recommended pair is by Warrior however a similar type of football cleat will totally suffice.

I would stay away soccer cleats since they don’t offer as much protection as lacrosse and football cleats do.

Cleats I use: Warrior Second Degree 3.0.

If you play your home games on turf, I recommend buying a pair of turf shoes. Some players simply wear their grass cleats on the turf field and that works fine.

For me however, I felt like I had better traction and responsiveness using the turf shoes while on turf. Even on some grass fields where the crease was extremely hard, I’d opt to use the turf shoes.

Same with the cleats, I prefer high tops to provide more protection to my foot and ankles.

Here’s the pair I like: Nike Huarache Lax Turf Shoes.

The mouthpiece is a mandatory piece of equipment in lacrosse. Everyone, including the goalies, must wear one.

Since goalies are constantly talking to communicate to the defense, many (including myself) don’t like to use mouth guards. But they are extremely important to reduce concussions from a laser shot to the head or from getting hit while outside the crease. They’re also mandatory according to the rulebook.

My recommendation is to get a custom fit one from the dentist. I grind my teeth at night anyways so this actually killed two birds with one mouthpiece for me.

If you go the dentist route, make sure the dentist creates it with colored plastic because clear mouth guards are illegal according to the rulebook.

In the event you don’t want a custom guard, Shock Doctor makes good mouth guards that you can fit to match your bite: Shock Doctor Gel Nano Mouthguard.

A couple of Lax Goalie Rat readers have strongly recommended the mouth guards by SISU.

They appear to be really configurable and come in a ton of different colors.

OPTIONAL LACROSSE GOALIE GEAR

The next few pieces of equipment are not required by rule but are definitely legal to use and recommended by me so that you can feel safe and protected while in the goal.

Back in the days, ice hockey goalies used to wear barely any equipment. In the late 50’s they didn’t even wear helmets or masks! After Jacques Plante, a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens was hit in the face, injuring his cheek and nose, he returned wearing a self-made fiberglass mask. He was ridiculed by his team with most everyone questioning his toughness. All for wearing a mask on HIS FACE.

Today many goalies view this extra goalie gear as akin to Plante’s face mask in the 50’s. But I see lacrosse heading in this direction with goalies, especially youth, opting for these optional pieces of equipment and eventually facing less ridicule and questioning of mental toughness.

If anyone teases for using extra protection, tell them to step into the cage and see what its like.

There’s no reason why you can’t wear this equipment to feel confident and protected in the cage. Some of this pieces of lacrosse goalie gear are even mandatory, as noted.

Even if you don’t use this optional equipment during games, you might want to use it during practice when you receive more shots then you would in a game situation.

Additional Head Protection – LexiShield

Unfortunately with as fast as players can shoot nowadays, shots taken to a goalie’s forehead or facemask can still result in a concussion.

I recently interviewed an MLL goalie who had suffered over 4 concussions throughout his career and that story is not uncommon for us goalies.

Thus it makes sense to add some aftermarket concussion protection in the form of a LexiShield.

This device attaches to your helmet and helps reduce the chance of concussions. You don’t even feel it when it’s attached so it’s really a no-brainer for use in practice.

Checkout my full review of the LexiShield or pick up on on Amazon.

Another options for additional head protection is a piece of gear called the Guardian Cap.

Like the LexiShield, this is an aftermarket device that attaches to the goalie’s lacrosse helmet and provides some additional protection against concussions.

At the youth level (Under 15 and below), arms pads are a required piece of equipment for all goalies.

The idea there is that youth player’s bones are still developing and thus we want to take all precaution to prevent injury.

At all other levels, they are permitted but not required.

Arms pads are the one piece of equipment I actually discourage goalies (other than youth) from wearing. I think they limit our movement of the arms so much that they hinder our ability to make saves.

For youth, be sure to get Youth arm pads like these: Brine Youth Uprising II.

Shin Guards – Super Light Shin Guards (required for women high school level and below)

There’s no way to sugar coat this – Getting hit in the shins with a lacrosse ball sucks! It can knock the wind out of a young goalie’s sails and ruin the rest of the entire practice.

Some goalies claim shin guards slow them down but that’s why I recommend a super light pair that doesn’t restrict the ankle or knee movement.

There’s no reason not to wear shin guards except for pride then. So put pride aside and strap on shin guards.

I used to recommend STX goalie specific shin guards but I don’t think they’ve perfected the product yet. So the best bet is just getting a pair of lightweight soccer shinguards that will protect the shins and still allow great mobility.

For women goalies at the high school level and below, shin protection is required.

Do NOT use ice hockey or baseball catcher shin guards as these are going to restrict movement too much. Also, by rule padding that excessively increases the size of body parts is illegal.

Here’s what I recommend: Franklin Sports Superlight Shinguards.

If these shin guards slide around too much you can always fix them in place with long socks or a few revolutions of white athletic tape.

Goalie pants are another piece of optional equipment that I recommend especially during practice.

I remember a specific drill one practice where I took a crank shot to the thigh. It hurt but so it goes with being a goalie. I shook it off. Then in the next play of the same drill I took another crank shot literally to the exact same spot. I thought my leg was going to fall enough as the muscle started spasming.

All that to say – I wish I was wearing goalie or football pants. I ended up taping an extra goalie glove to my thigh and continuing the practice haha.

These pants are going to protect your thighs and hips. Most importantly they’re going to reinforce the feeling of being protected which will help instill confidence into our goal keepers.

Like shin protection, for women goalies at the high school level and below, thigh protection is also required. Just ensure it doesn’t excessively increase the size of your legs (i.e. no field hockey pads) to remain legal.

If you decide to use goalie pants, be sure to get a pair that doesn’t restrict your range of motion.

I like these goalie pants which are extremely light and offer a great range of motion: Brine Ventilator Lacrosse Goalie Pants.

The other option is to use football pants. If your young goalie is hesitant to pad up for macho reasons, let him know even top goalies at Syracuse have used the football pants to add some additional protection.

The football pants are going to give you additional thigh, hip, and knee protection. And in my opinion, I think they look damn good while they do it.

There are a lot of versions of football pants out there but this pair comes with integrated pads:

Check them out on Amazon here.

As a goalie, I was hit in the knees many times with shots and never received anything more than a bruise.

But for youth players wanting to feel extra protected, I often recommend a lightweight knee pads to help shield the knee cap from injury while still allowing the knee to bend and move with limited restriction.

If you’re using football pants that protect the knees then you obviously do without the kneepads.

I recommend a light weight pad like those used in volleyball: Mizuno Volleyball Kneepad.

If you want a little more protection, many brands offer padded under shirts or protective arm sleeves that can help serve this purpose.

I find this pieces of gear to be light enough that do not limit our movement while they do add to the feeling of being protected which boosts confidence in the cage.

Especially during practice I recommend the EliteTek Padded Compression Shirt and a pair of McDavid Hexpad Arm Sleeves.

The Lacrosse Bag

Finally you’re going to need a bag to carry all your lacrosse gear.

Some schools have team bags so you won’t have a choice in which bag to go with. However if you’re looking for you own bag, here are my two favorite options.

Maverick Lacrosse Monster Bag 

At 40 x 15 x 15 inches this bag is large enough to fit all the standard lacrosse goalie equipment plus your extra gear. Also comes in a bunch of colors so you can pick your school or club team’s colors.

Adrenaline Lacrosse TacPack Backpack

It’s a little bit of a squeeze but if you’re looking for a backpack option try the Adrenaline TacPack. The exterior stick holder and helmet pocket give you just enough room to fit your other equipment into the backpack’s main pouch.

You’ll have more room with the Maverick Monster bag but if you’re looking for portability and easy transport, the backpack may be the way to go.

Looking for other non-essential items for goalie bag – check that post.

A Note About Sizing

For every single piece of goalie gear recommended above, be sure you get the right size.

All pieces of equipment should fit snugly so that it doesn’t move on our bodies as we’re making saves. But not too tight that it hurts or limits our range of mobility.

Loose fitting equipment can be extremely dangerous as a chest protector may slide and leave an area unprotected. Or loose fitting helmet could hit against our head causing a concussion.

Make sure you review size recommendations for each product and then adjust them to fit snugly. If they’re too big or too small return them for a different size.

Conclusion

The number one piece of advice I offer new goalies is: Get Protected!

While you may think its macho and cool to wear very little padding, wearing the right amount of pads will make you more confident in the cage

Unfortunately, playing goalie in lacrosse is not cheap. I wrote a full post on how much all this goalie gear will cost.

The various pieces of lax goalie gear required to outfit a new keeper can add up fast. Thus always look to buy used gear at a local sports store if possible.

The pieces I recommend in this post are certainly not the only pieces of lacrosse goalie equipment that are functional and awesome, however it’s what I like and what I encourage others to get when they ask me.

Until next time! Coach Damon

Reebok Hockey Pants 18K Goalkeeper Sr Adults

Located in sections:
Underpants

Recommended

90,000 2 GOALKEEPERS.Big Football Stars

2

GOALKEEPER

Goalkeeper art. Founder N. Ye. Sokolov. Continuators. Vienna match in 1928. Concerts of Vladislav Zhmelkov. Friendship is friendship, and the cup is apart. First championship. Post-war goalkeepers. Lev Yashin. Successors. Modern trends. Penalty kick.

The goalkeeper has a special place in football. He is the most important position in the team, he is the main player. If the goalkeeper is bad, a great ensemble loses; if he plays brilliantly, the team can defeat a stronger opponent.

Every goalkeeper is capable of tolerable play in any line: he knows how to hit, stop and dribble the ball. True, he does it worse than field players, but his partners usually cannot replace him at all at the goal, although catching the ball with his hands at first glance is simple.

In fact, the art of the goalkeeper is extremely difficult. The goalkeeper must spend several years of hard work to perfect his technical skills: throws, jumps, falls, jumping up, the ability to hit the ball with his hands and feet, catch it, knock it out and throw it away.But even this is not enough for a high-class master. He must be naturally gifted with courage, determination, athletic build, tall stature. And finally, there is nothing for him to take on the tug, if Mother Nature did not reward him with a flair to guess the vulnerable spots in the goal, to accurately determine the moments and ways of fighting for the ball.

Therefore, becoming an unforgettable goalkeeper is given to a few, the most gifted, fiercely hardworking people, most often fanatics and football enthusiasts.

In the fifty years that I have spent in football as a player and team leader, I have seen many goalkeepers who should not leave the history of our sport.They created the world’s best goal soccer school.

I have no doubt that many of them had the right to stand next to the famous Zamorra (Spain), Planichka (Czechoslovakia), Hiden (Austria), that is, those goalkeepers whom the whole world knew then, as Lev Yashin now knows.

What is the difference between the Soviet goalkeeper school? Why, watching the game of the best teams in the world, admiring the skill of Pele, Garrinchi, Di Stefano and other luminaries of football, you always catch yourself thinking that these ensembles, which have won world crowns, international and European cups, are still, perhaps, lacking one from the best representatives of our goalkeepers?

Even in the game of the famous Hungarian Gyula Grošić, despite the talent and skill, technical flaws in catching the ball, the position of the legs when falling, throwing the ball out with a hand were visible, noticed only by the discerning eye of a specialist.

Perhaps Zamorra, Planichka, Hiden and Groshich with their great international experience as players are stronger than most of the Soviet goalkeepers of past years, but for me ours are visually prettier.

The opportunity from childhood to watch the game of such goalkeepers as Vladislav Zhmelkov or Lev Yashin, to adopt their technique, demeanor at the goal – this is real learning. Because, as you know, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. This is probably the secret of the fact that in Norway and Holland there are excellent skaters shift after shift, in France and Belgium – cyclists, in Sweden and Finland – skiers, and in Brazil, Argentina, Spain – virtuoso dribblers.They have someone to imitate, from whom to take an example.

From the very first steps of national football, we were certainly lucky to have original talents. In full force, they flourished on the fertile soil of the Soviet physical culture movement and became a model for everyone who later stood at the gates of Soviet football teams.

I have not seen the Russian goalkeepers who thundered before the First World War, the Muscovites Matrina and Martynov. But I talked a lot with people who played with them in the national team, for example, with the best striker of those years, Vasily Georgievich Zhitarev, who praised his fellow goalkeepers very much, but still considered Nikolai Evgrafovich Sokolov as a reformer of the Russian and pioneer of the Soviet school.

During the first years after the revolution they knew nothing about Soviet football abroad. Therefore, N. Ye. Sokolov’s brilliant performance at the gates of the RSFSR national team in Sweden in the fall of 1923 was for the Scandinavians one of those revelations with which the young Soviet republic began to amaze the Western world.

Sokolov worked a lot and inquisitively on goalkeeper technique, was an excellent skier and middle distance runner, enjoyed unconditional authority among the players of his team SKZ (Sports Club Zamoskvorechye).And such celebrities as Fedor Selin, Pavel Nogotkov, Kazimir Malakhov, Vasily Lapshin and others played there. Sokolov was the first of our goalkeepers to start throwing the ball with his hands, he was the first to demand from his defenders to send the ball back to the goalkeeper, he was the first to catch the ball not on the chest, but a little lower – on the soft diaphragm. Thanks to his influence in the team, he could command the actions of defenders, prompt them to choose positions and achieve unity in the defense mechanism.

The technique of N.E. Sokolova, that, in my opinion, if he, the old one, had stood at the gates of the current team, he would not have put it to shame. Above average height (178 cm), thin, well coordinated, Sokolov played beautifully and simply, without any attempts to be effective and brave. He preferred calculation, not intuition, although it was impossible to deny him the speed and courage of decisions.

Sokolov more than once gave us lessons about taking sports seriously. I remember that in 1922 the Moscow team went to Petrograd. I was with Sokolov in a crowded non-reserved-seat carriage (there were some times – the civil war had just ended).In the morning I saw that in this cramped situation Sokolov was going to warm up. I, then still little experienced in the methodology of football training, was sincerely surprised.

– What are you, – I say, – there is nowhere to turn around.

And they freed him a place in the aisle, and he still did a warm-up.

In 1924 Sokolov went to Leningrad to study at the Forestry Institute. Nikolai Evgrafovich did not change the profession chosen in his youth, he still works as a forester at the Razliv station, near Leningrad.We correspond with him from time to time, and I cannot deny myself the pleasure of citing here one of the letters of Nikolai Evgrafovich – about the mutual exchange of stamps of our grandchildren.

“Dear Nikolai Petrovich!

I cannot but express my heartfelt gratitude for the present you gave to my grandson Yura. Satisfied. I sincerely express my gratitude both from myself and from my grandson. The old grows old, the young grows. I remember that I used to collect both stamps and feathers; both were bought in Letter’s stationery store on the former Prechistenka near Zubovskaya Square in a low place.

I remembered this, and other memories were drawn like a string.

Old “Maid”, place of gymnasium football matches, and later. Here are the first five thousand meters. Here is the relay race 31.5. My opponent was Sergeev from the Russian Geographical Society. It was very hot and stuffy.

Here is 101000 May 15, 1921. The medal is engraved with “ISS – Russian record”. And here is a small photo from Pl. Ippolitov and Pavel Sergeevich Lvov. Along the edges Sokolov N. and Gagulin I . – start and finish.In the middle of the photo Khaidin I., Starostin N., Krasavin I. and others. Pavel Sergeevich has a figurine – a prize.

Do you remember how you and I ran in OLLS 31000 from the start and how 300 meters before the finish line you blasted me with a crossing?

With “hedgehog” in those days it was not so good. They didn’t eat well, but they went in for sports from the heart; there was a lot of enthusiasm.

I follow the achievements of our athletes in all respects in print and on TV. I am moved by victories and annoyed at losses.

Found a photo at my place.If you don’t have one, I’ll give it to you with pleasure. This must be 1927, Germany, Dresden. As if so.

I confess, I deserve blasphemy, I am stingy for letters. I do not always answer my dear friend Peter Artemiev and other old friends close to my heart. So, my dear Kolya, I am writing to you with a great delay.

I confess. Sinful. Sorry.

I wish you good health

whole Sokolov.

Spill March 30, 1966 “.

The appearance of Sokolov at the gates of the Leningrad national team significantly strengthened the rear of this team and allowed the main opponents of the Muscovites to win several matches against them.In the spring meeting of 1928 in Leningrad, the Moscow team lost because “the sorcerer N. Sokolov, – so the local newspaper wrote, – four times repelled the blows of the forward N. Starostin who came out on him one-on-one.” It was a sheer truth, without embellishment so frequent in football reports.

I’ll take the courage to tell you frankly what happened after this match.

Nikolai Sokolov and I were friends, although we played in different clubs and met on the field as rivals.In addition, we were opposed to each other: I was the forward, constantly attacking the goalkeepers, and he was the goalkeeper who took my spoils from me. For the ball, I always fought hotly and, why hide, did not give the goalkeepers rest. I went to collisions with them, as the players say, I acted in the body.

After the match in which Sokolov took four balls from me, tormented by the thought that I had let the team down, I could not find a place for myself, wandered along the corridors of the “European” hotel, where the Moscow team always stayed.

After the match, Sokolov visited Evropeyskaya, to Selin’s room. He was the oldest and most tender friend of Fyodor Selin, although they differed greatly: Nikolai was a continuous self-control, impeccable discipline, clever, and Fyodor was impetuous, capable of any eccentricities, made friends with everyone, his soul and wallet were open to everyone. The need to pour out my soul drove me there too. The game was hotly discussed in the room. Apparently, somehow wishing to console me, Sokolov said:

– Nikolai, I thought you would hit me when I threw myself under you, but, fortunately, you successfully jumped.

Looking into his happy face, I could not resist:

– Well, you know, next time I will not jump.

Sokolov was taken aback.

– Fedya, can you hear what he says? N-no, do you hear? – With excitement, he began to stutter. – This is a disgrace! ..

And to me:

– Y-you, an intelligent person, and for the sake of some goal is ready to break his friend’s hands …

But I bit the bit:

– Understand how want … – And went out into the corridor.

I don’t know if Sokolov ever remembered this incident, but I didn’t get it out of my head. It was then that I realized that the notorious “end justifies the means” is incompatible with the spirit of brotherhood that permeates sport.

A sense of camaraderie quickly erased our disagreement. More than once Nikolai fought back and missed the balls I sent. But I think that the Leningraders were hardly offended by their goalkeeper, although they lost the semifinals to the Moscow national team 3: 5 at the First Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR.Muscovites also had no complaints about their new goalkeeper Mikhail Leonov, a student of Sokolov. He acted in accordance with Sokolov’s principles, but by nature he was gifted with greater strength and passion for power fights with the enemy in the fight for the ball. It always seemed to me that a good melee boxer, such as Jacob Brown, known at that time, would have come out of him. It is not for nothing that Leonov, who grew up on the Maiden Field, was followed by the glory of one of the best fist fighters. Then there were still wall-to-wall fights in winter on the ice of the Moskva River, where Leonov defended the interests of Dorogomilov against Krasnaya Presnya.

Like most physically strong people, Leonov had a kind and open character. There was always a smile on his broad Mongolian face. But in the game, the usually cheerful gaze became intent and stern.

He dubbed Sokolov in the club team, and it is not surprising that he learned the habits of his mentor. However, he had his own style of play, different from Sokolov’s. Where Nikolai Evgrafovich preferred to wait, hoping for the enemy’s mistake, Leonov swiftly entered the fight, causing other attackers to hurry and inaccuracies.Sokolov was reluctant to leave the goal, and Leonov, anticipating the game of Planichka, easily moved around the penalty area, giving the most aggressive forwards an edge. Sokolov reacted to everything, stretching out into a string, Leonov stood with his hands clasped, collected in a muscular ball.

His game was not as stable as that of Sokolov, but unforgettable moments were engraved in his memory, striking with excitement and strength.

In October 1928, the Moscow team played in Vienna against the Austrian national team. It was the heyday of Austrian football, with such stars as goalkeeper Hiden, center forward Sindelar, insider Shawl, left edge Veseli and others shone.The Austrian national team in those years was rightly called the “wunder-team” (miracle team), because it beat the winners of the Paris Olympics in 1928 with a score of 3: 0 in Vienna – the national team of Uruguay. Of course, these players did not play against us. But the youth, with whom we had to fight, later became the stronghold of such best professional clubs as Atmira, Rapid, and Austria.

We were in Vienna for the first time, and therefore a lot of people gathered to see the Russians at the Rapid stadium. Everyone believed that provincials had arrived and would be shown to them now…

Football in Austria was of three types: professional, bourgeois and workers. The first is world class. The second was considered to be working football, from which people made up a cohort of professionals. Some of these masters were mobilized for the match with us, among them the eminent Reiterer, expelled from Rapid for violating the regime. This healthy and cheerful guy was considered one of the best midfielders in Austria. Everyone expected miracles from him, and indeed, for the first half hour, Reiterer showed high technique.And he is not alone. While the Austrians had a lot of strength, they were in charge in the center of the field and on the outskirts of our penalty area. But the matter did not go further than this, our defense guarded the very penalty area. Threats from afar were extinguished by Leonov, who was in a special blow.

At first, the audience applauded only their own, but then the mood in the stands began to change. Speed ​​and excitement always resonate, and these qualities were beyond our reach. And we won the sympathy of the Austrians during the warm-up, when Ruschinsky hit from afar and the ball flew with force under the bar.Then, already in the game, Fyodor Selin more than once drew applause for him alone with the tricks available to him. Of course, the Austrians were able to do a lot, in particular, they showed us their famous lace game, which until then we knew only from the newspapers. And then the Moscow team began to have a different kind of difficulty. Kanunnikov was suddenly injured. He was replaced by Sergei Ivanov. All of our center three in these difficult moments worked in defense. Somewhere near the middle line, only two edges were planted in anticipation of the ball – me and Kholin. Suddenly Isakov, as we had played with him at the club, sent the ball over the heads of the defenders.I immediately broke away from them at speed. Feeling that the chase is late, I fly into the penalty area with the ball, swing my right foot and see with my second sight that the goalkeeper is thrown at me. The thought flashes in my head: “How not to break it.” The environment obliges us to act decisively. And suddenly, instead of throwing himself on the ball with his hands, as Soviet goalkeepers do, the Austrian leaned back and jumped with two feet forward. I managed to hit the ball, it hit the goalkeeper in the shoulder and bounced off the bar for a corner.Together with the bitterness of failure, I feel that my right foot seemed to come off after the ball. No pain. Lying down, I looked: my leg was here, and my boot was intact, but I didn’t control them. Fracture.

VA Ryabokon was the leader of the team. He was already running to me. A stretcher was immediately brought in to send me to the hospital. I ask: let me see it! They put a splint, bandaged it, put a stretcher at the edge of the field.

Instead of me, Leuta joined the attack, and Nikishin began to play the midfielder. In the second half, Stanislav Leuta was knocked out, also in a collision with the goalkeeper.And again because of the confusion in the rules: we did not attack the goalkeepers, in Europe it was practiced if the gate guard was with the ball.

Our last substitute appeared on the field – Ivan Filippov. In the role of the right edge, he had to prove that Soviet goalkeepers know how to act not only at the goal.

And the battle went on as usual. Half an hour before the end of the match, another left winger jumped out to our goal. At the moment of aiming at the blow, my brother Alexander inadvertently knocked him down. Penalty!

Who will beat? We see that the right-back Prince, small in stature, stocky, is running away from twenty-five meters and throws the ball off his toe at a height of half a meter under Leonov’s right hand.The kick was very strong, but our goalkeeper took the ball away for a corner.

Luck has breathed new strength into us, and the Austrians are noticeably tired. The initiative slowly passed to us. At the seventieth minute, Vladimir Blinkov suddenly fired into the upper corner of the other’s goal, like a rifle. The goalkeeper’s jump was effective, but the ball hit the top nine. I don’t know if the Austrian crashed against the post or was simulating, but he was carried away, and another goalkeeper got into the goal. The score is 1: 0 in our favor.

A minute before the final whistle, a run along the edge of Alexander Kholin, followed by a cross along the gate, ended with the second goal.It is worth telling about it.

The fact is that Filippov, due to an injury, was forced to leave the field and join the rest on a stretcher. A fragile one-goal lead called into question our victory, which ten players were now trying to hold. My heart was bleeding, and I prayed, addressing Leuta, who suffered the least of all of us:

– Stasya, if you can, go out on the field at least one and a half feet. Even barely moving, you will distract some of the Austrians.

And Leuta, who the next day could not get up in bed, went out onto the field. And with a bandaged foot he scored a goal, after which the home team had no hope of winning.

A day later the team left to play in other cities, while Leuta and I stayed in Vienna. There was plenty of time for reflection. A comparison between Nikolai Sokolov and the Austrian goalkeeper, who broke my leg for a great life, involuntarily suggested itself. Sokolov would never have done anything like this, and he was right to shame me in the “European” hotel for my quick temper.

Mikhail Leonov’s football asceticism lasted no more than five years. Daily hard training had to be carried out after a full working day at work, so with age, there was a desire to change the restless position of the gate guard for a cozy place in the service box.

Ivan Filippov appeared at the goal of the Moscow team. Among the “mighty handful” of Moscow goalkeepers, he stood out not only for his skill, but also for his reckless devotion to football. He performed at the Krasnaya Presnya club (then Pischevik).It was the main competitor of the team where N. Sokolov worked. It is not surprising that Ivan Filippov, out of a sense of rivalry, especially sharply grasped Sokolov’s technique and mastered his techniques. The same peculiar beauty in jumping, the same elegance and inner dignity in all the various twists and turns of the game, the same desire to analyze first and then act.

Filippov’s career was short – a severe injury to his leg (meniscus) interrupted it. True, he continued for another two or three seasons to play for his club with a bandaged knee.But then they did not know how to do the operation on the meniscus, and he had to leave the football field. Filippov became the head of the football team of masters of the Moscow “Spartak”, created in 1936. Here he remained until 1941, when he volunteered for the front. Now Ivan Mikhailovich lives and works in Verkhnyaya Tavda, Sverdlovsk region.

Ivan Ryzhov, a previously unknown goalkeeper from Orekhov-Zuev, replaced Filippov in the Moscow team. It is significant that in the same years another goalkeeper appeared in Orekhov – Nikolai Savintsev, who soon left for Leningrad and replaced Sokolov there.Medium height (174 cm), with the figure of a gymnast, Nikolai Savintsev was unusually mobile. He made and implemented his decisions instantly. His game was a fireworks display of jumps, falls, leaps and jerks. Everything about him was beautiful, but he played risky. “A continuous dance on the edge of a knife,” the best football analyst, the famous former central striker of the Union national team, Peter Efimovich Isakov, used to say about him.

Savintsev flashed in big football like a bright meteor, he played only two or three seasons.I think because his extraordinary abilities could not develop by themselves, but demanded special diligence in training and an iron regime. He did not have enough patience or character for this.

Ivan Ryzhov was from a different test. Tall (180 cm) and strong, he worked hard and hard on himself, gradually growing into a calm, very jumpy and technical owner of a football goal. Simple, modest and sympathetic, he enjoyed special love both in our team, where he came in his prime in 1930, and in the capital team.For five to six years, Ivan Ryzhov performed reliably and evenly, in many international meetings he demonstrated the exquisite school of Soviet goalkeepers.

Ivan Ryzhov had worthy competitors, among them Ukrainian goalkeepers Alexander Babkin from Kharkov and from Kiev Anton Idzkovsky. These masters were brought up on the example of Roman Norov and Serafim Moskvin, who had defended the gates of the Ukrainian national team for many years. They rightfully and not without brilliance competed with the best goalkeepers of Moscow and Leningrad.

The first of them, Roman Norov, began playing in Nikolaev, and then moved to Kharkiv “Shturm” and especially distinguished himself in 1924, when the Kharkiv national team unexpectedly but deservedly won the title of the best team in the country. Norov was noticeably different in style from his Russian counterparts. He fell less, preferring standing to guess where the blow would be. He rarely left the goal, in case of need to fight the forward one on one he kicked the ball, which the Muscovites almost never did.

For a whole decade, the name of Roman Norov thundered in Ukraine, and certain techniques of his game, of course, were adopted by Babkin and Idzkovsky.But in general, their goalkeeper technique developed under the influence of the Moscow school, whose representatives they saw more than once.

The young Muscovite Serafim Moskvin, who moved to Odessa and then replaced Norov at the gates of the Ukrainian national team, also contributed to the spread of this style of goalkeeper’s skill.

In Moscow, Seraphim did not have time to develop his talent, but it blossomed unusually quickly in Odessa, and two years later they talked a lot about him and deservedly throughout the country. Graceful and technical, he had many exciting performances, although he never achieved real stability in the game.Lightweight build, he always got into a difficult position in fights for high balls and pretty soon got out of order due to a back injury. Upon recovery, he was no longer able to compete with Babkin and Idzkovsky.

In 1932, the USSR national team went to Turkey. In its composition, the second goalkeeper was Valentin Granatkin, and the first was Anton Idzkovsky. We knew that he would join us in Kiev, but he did not show up for the train. The situation was hopeless: according to the schedule, we had just caught the boat in Odessa, and the leaders of the national team sent a telegram to Kharkov with a request to send their best goalkeeper.So Babkin found himself the next day on board the “Chicherin” steamer, which we were leaving for Istanbul.

In the first meeting with the Turks, Granatkin stood at our gates, and the newcomer from Kharkov modestly sat down on the bench. The game started badly for us. We were losing 0: 2, and in the middle of the half it became clear that our injured goalkeeper was unable to continue the game. I, as the team captain, gave a sign to Babkin to replace Granatkin. I confess that I went to this with great anxiety.

Soon we got back one goal, to which the Turks responded with a fierce assault.And it was here that the Kharkiv resident showed himself in all his splendor. He easily and skillfully got out of the most difficult situations at his goal, easily dealt with the balls, which seemed to go to the very target.

Babkin stunned the Turkish attackers, and we ourselves were surprised.

Having believed in our goalkeeper, who during the break was ranting merrily in the locker room, in the second half, almost the whole team rushed to the attack, but for a long time the score 1: 2 threatened us with defeat. Only eight minutes before the end, Sergei Ilyin (No. 11), who replaced Valentin Prokofiev, equalized the result.A. Babkin also took some of the most difficult goals in this half.

The next day, the Istanbul press enthusiastically commented on Alexander’s game. His name immediately became known to all Soviet fans, especially since we won the next three games in Turkey largely with his help.

The sudden glory had a rather peculiar effect on the fate of this talented goalkeeper. Soon after returning home, he was elected one of the secretaries of the city committee of the Komsomol, and about a year later, Alexander Babkin took over as chairman of the city committee of physical culture and sports.The duties of the chairman did not allow him to completely surrender to football, and after losing another season, Babkin gradually lost his athletic form. The popularity also faded away, a blast wave swept from Istanbul to Moscow. It’s a pity! This goalkeeper nugget could do a lot to increase the glory and skill of Soviet goalkeepers.

Anton Idzkovsky achieved general recognition in a different way. This versatile athlete, a follower of Sokolov’s methods, has been polishing his technique for years. Thoughtful and tenacious, he firmly mastered all the elements of goalkeeper’s skill, and therefore his play was very stable.

For at least ten years, Idzkovsky as a goalkeeper was out of competition in Ukraine. Now he is the head coach of the Ukrainian Football Federation, he is raising new excellent goalkeepers.

And how were things in the thirties in Moscow and Leningrad?

The capital relied on Valentin Granatkin, who first made a big name for himself in bandy. Well built, bouncy, he easily and simply dealt with all the tops. His great sports culture made him the best representative of the national team.His enthusiasm, endurance and discipline have always been exemplified.

Such a case is typical. Granatkin played for the Moscow national team against the Leningrad national team. Long before the final whistle, he broke his finger on his hand, throwing himself under the blow of forward T. Aksenov, but did not leave the field until the bitter end.

In Leningrad at that time, Georgy Shorets was considered the highest. Getting into the team of masters early, he quickly turned into an excellent goalkeeper. Shorets was not a reformer, but everything he did at the gate was truly masterful.Calm and courageous, he more than once brought victories to the Dynamo team, which in those years adequately represented Leningrad and defended the colors of the northern capital against five powerful Moscow teams.

All the goalkeepers I talked about studied, grew and improved their skills in the games for the championship of their cities. After all, then there was no all-Union football calendar. They gained experience only in international games or in rare match meetings of four cities – Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Kharkov.True, some – Granatkin, Shorets, Idzkovsky – managed to play a season or two in the USSR championship, introduced since 1936. But by this time a galaxy of new goalkeepers had appeared in Soviet football, with whom it was already difficult for them to compete by age.

I don’t remember that sometime later in our football there appeared at once such a constellation of goalkeeper talents, as in 1937-1938: Vladislav Zhmelkov, Anatoly Akimov, Evgeny Fokin, Vladimir Nikanorov, Nikolai Razumovsky (all of Moscow), Victor Nabutov (Leningrad), Alexander Dorokhov (Tbilisi), Nikolai Trusevich (Odessa – Kiev).

I take the liberty of affirming that among the brilliant talents of that time, Vladislav Zhmelkov stands alone.

Vladislav Zhmelkov remained in my memory as an almost fabulous goalkeeper, a goalkeeper without weaknesses. This is not a speculative conclusion. For a year and a half at Spartak, he deflected all penalty shots assigned to his goal. Among them was a penalty kick awarded to Spartak seven minutes before the end of the cup game with the score 0: 0. In the 1939 season, Zhmelkov, alternating in games with Akimov, conceded only seven goals into his own net.

Tall (180 cm), lean, physically strong, springy and self-confident, Zhmelkov, contrary to the usual screams of goalkeepers: “Don’t let us hit!” – more than once shouted to his main partner Andrei Starostin (No. 3): “Let him pass, Andrei Petrovich! Let it strike … “

So imagine how these words acted on the defenders and how such confidence was reflected in other forwards.

Zhmelkov did everything in an exemplary way: he played equally flawlessly at the bottom and at the top, subtly guessed the place in the goal and fought unmistakably “at the exits”.His popularity earned him the Best Sportsman of the Year medal, established by the Krasny Sport newspaper. But in 1939, the names of Mikhail Botvinnik, boxer Nikolai Korolev and our other celebrities appeared in a poll conducted by the newspaper among readers.

What is the secret of Zhmelkov’s skill? I think – in addition to natural talent, in phenomenal hard work. He trained at the goal for five to six hours daily. He prayed at that time to one god – a soccer ball (later, unfortunately, he had other idols).

Vladislav played excellently in the field – right-back. In my memory, only the right-back (1922 – 1924) Vasily Stepanovich Lapshin possessed such a rare ability of part-time job. In those years, he successfully competed for the right to take a place at the gates of the Moscow national team with Nikolai Evgrafovich Sokolov himself.

I wonder how Zhmelkov ended up in Spartak and how he left us.

In 1937, Spartak goalkeeper Anatoly Akimov was drafted into the army, and therefore found himself at the gates of Dynamo Moscow.And the offended Dynamo goalkeeper Alexander Kvasnikov moved from there to Spartak Moscow. We were looking for a young goalkeeper for him. In this regard, one of our players remembered that a young guy from the town of Podlipki, near Moscow, played against them in a friendly match in the south last fall. They decided to urgently find him. And he came to the city council of “Spartak”. When I asked if he was a goalkeeper from Podlipki and what his last name was, he answered in the affirmative and introduced himself as Kuznetsov. I sent him to a training camp in Odessa and soon received a message from the head of the team, Ivan Mikhailovich Filippov, that Kuznetsov, sent by me, did not shine with special merits.This was confirmed in friendly games, and Spartak parted with Kuznetsov a month later, considering the version about the Podlipkovo goalkeeper to be another football fable.

However, in May another young man appeared at Spartak and asked if it was true that we were looking for a goalkeeper from Podlipki. This time I was more circumspect and examined the alien – inquired in detail about the friendly game in the south.

– Kuznetsov was my understudy in the Podlipkovo team. And I, Zhmelkov, played against Spartak, – somehow my interlocutor said very simply.

It’s good that on that happy day for Spartak I immediately believed Zhmelkov and sent him to Filippov. Thus began his ascent to the goalkeeper’s peak.

For a season and a half, from August 1938 to November 1939, he played for Spartak Moscow. These months brought him unfading glory to this day, and his team – an honorary double (winning the national championship and the cup) for two years in a row.

Zhmelkov’s last performances coincided with an event that has no equal in the history of football.

Moscow “Spartak” in 1939 stubbornly tried to repeat last year’s result – to win the cup and the national championship – and thereby achieve a triumph, hitherto unprecedented in Soviet sports: to make a double for two years in a row. By the beginning of September, the team was close to it. We were in the lead in the championship with a margin of three points and advanced to the semi-finals of the cup, where our opponent was Dinamo Tbilisi.

And on September 8, the two main contenders for the prize crossed their arms in Moscow at the Dynamo stadium under the refereeing of Leningrader Ivan Gorelkin, a former famous hockey player and prominent football player.

The match turned out to be extremely tense, but they played correctly: between Spartak and Tbilisi Dynamo there have always been and still remain truly friendly relations.

Both teams played beyond praise, defense and goalkeepers here and there seemed impenetrable. And suddenly the temperamental Shota Shavgulidze (No. 2) cuts the ball with a candle to his goal, to the very top crossbar.

Two Moscow forwards, Viktor Semyonov and Alexei Sokolov, rushed to an unexpected gift at the same time, they are masters of playing with their heads.The Tbilisi goalkeeper Alexander Dorokhov also rushed to the ball. All three simultaneously hovered in the air in high jumps. Dorokhov managed to hit the ball with his hands, but only ten meters and right on the foot of Spartak Andrey Protasov. Hit. The ball flew into the goal, but did not touch the net, as Shavgulidze, bursting in from the side, turned the ball into the field straight from the air. An instant before this, the referee blew the whistle for a goal, and his assistant flagged the goal as well.

Dynamo rushed to the referee. I admit that many of them sincerely believed that there was no goal.Everything happened so quickly that not everyone could see the position of the ball.

The referee pointed firmly to the center and Spartak won this tough semi-final.

An official protest from Tbilisi followed immediately, but in all sports authorities it was categorically rejected. All over the world, there is a law according to which only one referee on the field is given the right to determine whether or not a goal was scored. Here, the referee himself and his assistant firmly stated that they clearly saw how the ball crossed the goal line at least half a meter in the air and only then was knocked out by the defender.

A week later, Spartak played in the cup final with Zenit Leningrad and won 3: 1.

Everything seemed to be going well. True, the joy of victory was overshadowed by the disqualification of Alexei Sokolov. The Spartak player patted the Leningrader Shelagin on the chin with a dirty hand, and the judge graciously kept silent. The teams played in the rain, Sokolov fell into a puddle, jumped up, in the heat of the moment he wanted to pay off the offender much more energetically, but caught himself in time.

Several days passed, and Spartak entered the same field for the next meeting with CDKA.Reassured and vaunted, Spartak lost 0: 1. Here also happiness turned away from their favorites: Andrei Starostin’s arm was broken, and Konstantin Malinin was removed from the field along with his ward Pyotr Shcherbatenko for an exchange of unattractive courtesies.

The team’s position has become precarious. We are waiting for other results of the tour. Suddenly we learn that the game with Metallurg did not take place in Tbilisi and that the Tbilisi Dynamo immediately left for Moscow.

The next day the fans heard from the Georgian footballers at the Dynamo stadium that they had come to replay the semi-final of the cup.

We didn’t believe. How can you replay the semi-final when the final has already been played and the cup is solemnly presented to the winner in the presence of sixty thousand spectators ?!

Doubts were dispelled by the chairman of the All-Union Committee of Physical Culture and Sports VV Snegov, having officially announced that an order had been received to replay the semi-final.

Now our attempts to protest have been categorically rejected. “If you are really stronger, you will win again” – this is how they answered us.

About this event in the book of M.Merzhanov “Spartak is playing” (published in 1963) it is written briefly:

“Violating all provisions, written and unwritten laws, finally, in complete contradiction with logic, the governing football organizations satisfied the protest and decided to replay after the final match … the semifinal “.

The replay was scheduled for September 30th. The five days left before her passed in fierce disputes over the conditions of this unprecedented match.

First of all, we insisted on our right to expose the old squad, that is, to allow the disqualified Sokolov and Malinin to play.There was no talk about Andrei, his hand, clad in a plaster cast, rested on a bandage. That is why, after a fierce debate, the midfielder Malinin was allowed to play, but the striker Sokolov was not.

Then the question of judges came to a standstill. One after another, the candidates nominated by either Spartak or Dynamo were rejected. Then each side was asked to name ten priests of Themis in a closed envelope. They hoped that perhaps at least one candidate would be found acceptable to both opponents. But when the envelopes were opened, they contained twenty different names.After several more fruitless attempts to come to a unified decision, the Leningrader Nikolai Kharitonovich Usov was appointed by order of the match referee. A principled man, a communist, a military engineer, a football player, who lost a good ten years himself, he was an impeccable judge of responsible games.

Teams entered the field with the following lineups.

Spartak: Akimov (today is his turn to play), Viktor Sokolov, Malinin, Vasily Sokolov, Artemiev, Tuchkov, Protasov, Glazkov, Semenov, Stepanov and Kornilov.

Dynamo: Dorokhov, Shavgulidze, Frolov, Gagua, Jorbinadze, Chelidze, Dzhedzhelava, Berdzenishvili, Paichadze, Berezhnoy and Kharbedia.

The game began with gambling attacks from Tbilisi, who understood that the rebuilt Spartak defense should not be given time to play. The calculation was correct, but Akimov stood at the gates of the Muscovites. He parried the hail of blows with his usual ease and confidence.

The assault continued. And so Paichadze hit the right nine. Such balls are not taken if the goalkeeper miraculously does not bring it into this corner.Anatoly ended up there. There was something for the guests to be confused. Each army is strong in its rear, and here is a kind of devil in the Spartak gates …

The atmosphere was heating up. The stands, nine-tenths packed with Muscovites, supported their own. I was sitting on a low bench outside our gate next to Zhmelkov. Vladislav sympathetically watched as I pluck the grass in whole bunches.

The souls of those who were on the field were bubbling too: Spartak players came out to defend their right to the cup. Tbilisi residents also came to fight for justice: they were not very interested in formalities and staff tricks.They are fighters, their task is to put out all their strength, to stand up for their home club to the end. That’s why there were no bad players on the pitch, all twenty-two did more than everyone expected.

I do not believe in pre-designed tactical subtleties. But something fundamental can and should be suggested to the player. It is hardly appropriate to teach a football player what to do on the field. It is more practical to advise him on what he should avoid.

We knew that left midfielder Chelidze often rushes forward, and recommended right insider Georgy Glazkov not to pursue him, as was customary at that time, but to stay on the front line of attack: the Georgian midfielder could not threaten other’s goal to such an extent as having an excellent shot Spartak scorer Glazkov.

Hints are like a lottery. But this time he won the ticket. In one of the Tbilisi attacks, Georges, while remaining in the center of the field, received the ball. The road to the gate was momentarily open, the rest was decided by composure and technique. Pursued on the heels, he struck as soon as he entered the penalty area, and the ball, like a large pike, hammered into the net at the far goal post.

Instead of trying to figure out why this happened, the southerners, with their usual impatience, immediately rushed to recoup.Again the defenders and Akimov underwent a severe test. And again they answered excellently on all the tickets of football science presented. Passing to Glazkov, and then along the familiar path he rushes with the ball to the goal of Dorokhov, beats flawlessly.

I don’t pick grass anymore. “After all, there is no, – I think, – now in our country there is a team capable of snatching victory from Spartak, losing 0: 2”. And imagine, I was almost mistaken. The then coach of Tbilisi “Dynamo” Mikhail Pavlovich Butusov appeared at his gate and shouted something loudly and expressively to Chelidze, pointing his finger at Georges.I realized that our bet on Glazkov would be beaten in the future. As expected, the Georgians went for broke and finally hit their jackpot in this gambling game. The ball flew into our goal after two Spartak defenders rushed to it in excitement and interfered with each other. A subtle pass immediately followed, and after Boris Paichadze’s kick, the ball ended up in the net.

To break the score is 2: 1, which means that the deck of cards is reshuffled again.

What to do? The gate to the castle, trying to keep the minimum advantage in the account? No, we decide to storm.For this all in the locker room – veterans, coaches, and, most importantly, the players themselves. We have no doubt that the people of Tbilisi will rush forward.

We slightly rebuild tactics: we decide to attack with the flanks, they are fresher, and the enemy is waiting for attacks in the center more.

Direct push on both sides. But hot guests act more risky and reclaim the center of the field.

At first glance, this is good luck, but it hides the danger of missing someone else’s breakthrough into the bare rear. V. Stepanov catches it.All invested in the blow, he strongly and accurately directs the ball to the left edge, Pavel Kornilov. Now everything will be decided by speed, and in it the superbly built Kornilov has no rivals. With a sinking heart, I watch how he won the first race against Shavgulidze and, having thrown the ball into the field, competes with Gagua. Here is the second defender behind. There is one goalkeeper in front of Kornilov. I see that he is rapidly running towards the Muscovite, but Pavel is also outflanking the last support of the southerners. In a hopeless position, Dorokhov, lying down, grabs the Spartak player by the leg and knocks him to the ground.

Whistle. Usov points to the penalty spot. Kornilov is still on the ground: just in case, he demonstrates that capital punishment is just.

Unmistakable penalty taker Georgy Glazkov goes to the ball. He’s in high spirits after scoring two goals. There is no person in the stadium who doubts the outcome of a penalty kick. Dorokhov himself is probably convinced of this, because he decides to take a risk. Contrary to the rule – wait and watch – at the moment of impact, he swiftly flies to the lower right corner, where Glazkov usually hits.But this time the ball hit the very center of the goal, where Dorokhov stood a split second before. What is this – a maneuver? No, cutting – Glazkov plowed the ground with his foot. So, both made a mistake, but the goalkeeper missed first, and the score was 3: 1.

And the Georgians are twitching their nerves again. Their energy is inexhaustible. If only these damned slow minutes crawled faster! Butusov, on the other hand, probably thinks that time flies too fast.

Tbilisians are desperately attacking, their whole team is in the Spartak half of the field. But ours is also all here.

Last quarter of an hour. Everything was bunched together. Forgotten tactics, and sometimes technique. Bulk on the one hand, retreat on the other. Striker Stepanov is fighting at the very gate behind the central midfielder Malinin. Dynamo backs attack in front of their forwards.

Usually such confusion is fruitless. But in this historic match, fate itself wanted to be objective and fair. For Dorokhov’s mistake in the penalty kick she repaid with a mistake of one of our players. The unhappy one inadvertently stopped the ball on the goalkeeper’s court and instantly, along with the ball, was squeezed into the goal.The goal was scored by Berezhnaya (No. 10). In addition, Akimov was injured, he is being carried away. And what a blessing that it is not an ordinary understudy that gets into the gate, but Vladislav Zhmelkov himself!

3: 2 – and a few minutes before the final whistle. It seems to me – ah, a lot; Butusov – oh, not enough. He was right – it turned out to be not enough. Firstly, because our opponents were exhausted in the same way as us, and in football time trouble it is always easier to defend than to declare check on the king. Secondly, psychological blows have finished off the Georgian footballers.It’s not so easy to continuously recoup, and even with a difference of two goals.

The last whistle. Victory is ours! Some even cried as they left the field. Spartacus tried to cheer, console the losers. But the joy that frankly shone on the faces of the victors hardly helped to calm the vanquished.

Thirty years have passed since the day of this illegal fight, but its details are fresh and vivid in my memory. And if before her we in the team talked about a worthy footballer: “He played with the Basques”, but now the highest praise is: “He participated in a replay with Tbilisi.”

What would have happened if Spartak had lost then, we never found out …

A month later, we relatively easily defeated Dinamo Tbilisi in the second round of the championship with a score of 3: 0. The scrape with replay took a heavy toll on the nerves of the Southerners. The snowball, which suddenly covered the field before the last match, also helped us.

And Vladislav Zhmelkov also soon suffered a lot of unrest and left Spartak Moscow for a long time.

The brilliance of his game has sparked jealousy in the hearts of competitors.Everyone wanted to get themselves this star. And in the CDKA they found out that Zhmelkov had not served two months in the Belarusian Military District. On this basis, he was again called up, and in view of his categorical refusal to speak for the CDKA, he ended up in a military unit in Chita. Here in the spring of 1940 he suffered a severe knee injury in a competition.

After the end of the war, 32-year-old Zhmelkov, who had fought at the front for four years, tried to return to big football. But it was only a shadow of the unforgettable goalkeeper.A shadow both in skill and in relation to football.

The case of Zhmelkov is not typical for our sport, but it serves as an indisputable confirmation of the truth that violation of the regime and living standards of even the most gifted athlete inevitably leads to a loss of skill.

Zhmelkov’s forced departure for Chita shifted the entire burden of responsibility for the Spartak gate onto Anatoly Akimov. The technique and the special culture of the game won over him. He was impenetrable from long distances, excellently coped with all the riding balls.Tall growth and long arms helped him, it is easy to reflect and grassroots blows. But he also had an Achilles heel: Anatoly did not like going out of the gate in order to throw himself at the feet of the enemy. This brought him physical damage quite often.

Akimov’s initial path was similar to the one that Babkin once went. He went to Paris in January 1936 to play with “Resing” in “Spartak” as an unknown youth, and returned famous.

Four of our goalkeepers came to Paris – two with Spartak and two with Dynamo (after the national team’s match with Resing, Spartak left for the south, and Dynamo went to the north of France).

This text is for informational purposes only.

Continuation for liters

Dynamo Moscow Football Club :: Dynamo Legends

March 14 marks the 97th anniversary of the birth of one of the strongest goalkeepers in the history of Dynamo Moscow and Russian football, Alexei Petrovich Khomich.

KHOMICH Alexey Petrovich

(03/14/1920 – 05/30/1980)

On March 14, the famous goalkeeper Alexei Khomich would have turned 97 years old, but, alas, he lived only 60. Alexei Khomich, unlike his illustrious student Lev Yashin, did not play in the USSR national team, did not participate in the world championships, Europe, the Olympic Games, nevertheless went down in the history of Soviet football as one of the brightest goalkeepers.

Honored Master of Sports Alexey Petrovich Khomich was born on March 14, 1920 in Moscow.He began to play in 1935 in the youth team of the Tagansky Park of Culture and Leisure, and since 1936 he began to play in the teams of the “Meat Processing Plant” and “Pishchevik” clubs. In 1944 he moved to Moscow “Dynamo”, and in 1953 – to Minsk “Spartak”. He finished playing in the USSR championships in 1955, having played 198 matches in 11 years. Two-time champion of the USSR – 1945 and 1949, four-time silver medalist – 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, bronze medalist 1954

Russian sensation

The game of the Dynamo goalkeeper in Great Britain in 1945 made an indelible impression on the spectators and football specialists there.They were all extraordinarily struck by the fact that the goalkeeper, who did not stand out for special physical dimensions (height 172, weight 74), had a rare jumping ability, which allowed him to “cover” the entire goal area, a phenomenal reaction, an enviable goalkeeper’s grip, thanks to which he did not just beat, but and caught the balls that were considered unbeatable (in football slang – “dead”).

He was struck by his bright manner of playing, based primarily on coordination of movements, brilliant control of his body, soft, feline, explosive plastic movements, when, like a compressed steel spring, straightening up, he made reactive, unusually sharp and rapid jumps into the upper and graceful jumping-flights to the lower corners of the goal.

It was because of these qualities that, after the first match with Chelsea, English journalists dubbed him the nickname “tiger”, which remained with him forever. British experts did not remain indifferent to his amazing ability, like a gutta-percha dummy or a tumbler doll, to instantly jump up from the ground and again rush after the ball into the thick of legs and bodies. Of the three penalties awarded against Dynamo Moscow during this tour, one was realized, two others were repulsed by Khomich or taken tightly.

Although in those days various numerical calculations of player actions were not yet as common as they are now, meticulous Englishmen calculated that in the match against Chelsea Khomich interrupted 19 riding passes and 7 passes on the ground, 12 times he caught the ball after corner serves the same time he caught the balls sent into the goal, 14 repulsed or caught in jumping in the fall (of which, as Tommy Loughton himself noted, at least three are from the category of non-picks, after powerful and sharp strikes at close range from close range).

Vice-President of Chelsea FC, First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Alexander, at the Dinamo reception at this club, jokingly remarked: “If I were the leaders of the Football Association, I would not have let Khomich out of England. We really need him here. ”

Khomich is the best goalkeeper in FIFA ?!

After the devastating Second World War, FIFA, respectfully including the Soviet Union in its ranks, decided to play in May 1947 the match: United Kingdom against the rest of Europe.

During the period of organizational preparation for such an epoch-making event, FIFA Secretary General Dr. Jozsef Schriker persistently asked the chairman of the USSR Football Section M.S. Kozlov to send the best Soviet football players to the national team of continental Europe, including the name of the Dynamo goalkeeper. Five such letters were sent! To quote an excerpt from the last, fifth letter of the Swiss doctor:

“Mr. J. Rimet, our President, and the members of the Selection Committee have instructed me to earnestly ask you to tell us the names of your players whom you deem worthy to be on this team.Judging by the matches held in England, the Dynamo goalkeeper, who played during the performance of this team, we think is currently one of the best in Europe, and our Selection Commission would very much like to receive your consent to his participation ” …

But, alas, the “iron curtain” was already down. Only to the fifth letter of offer (!) Did our football officials give their negative answer. Of course, not at all because Mikhail Stepanovich Kozlov is such an impolite and ill-mannered person.He himself is a former football player and coach, in his heart he could not help but rejoice for the European recognition of the Soviet school of football. Surely he was forced to sign what he was handed, as they say, from the very top.

And that match took place on May 10, albeit without our participation. This football festival took place in Glasgow, not affected by the war, in the presence of, it is terrible to imagine, 137 thousand spectators. The British, who did not cope with Dynamo, this time they beat Europe 6: 1. It is interesting that the Swedes Gren and Nordahl played for the “Europeans”.In the autumn of the same year, Dynamo will mercilessly beat these really good players in friendly matches with a large score, both times 5: 1.

We can only console ourselves with the fact that the invitation of Khomich to the national team of the continent was the first official invitation from FIFA of a footballer of our country. If then the morals were different, the glory of our goalkeepers would have been recognized already in the forties. 16 years before the beloved student and successor of Alexei Petrovich in the Dynamo goal, Lev Yashin will establish the glory of the Soviet goalkeeper school.

After the end of his career, Aleksey Khomich worked as a photojournalist for the newspapers Sovetsky Sport and Football-Hockey until the end of his life. And in his new profession, he was also one of the best.

Over the past 120 years of the life of national football, there are not so many leather ball masters whose names have survived the heroes themselves for a long time. And those who entered the classics of Soviet (Russian) poetry are even less so. But Khomich remained on the podium here as well. His play and human qualities inspired Evgeny Yevtushenko to write wonderful poetic lines.The poem is called “Goalkeeper”.

You, like behind the bars of a cage, walk,
outside the game, behind the net of the goal,
the former “tiger”, the goalkeeper of “Dynamo” Khomich –
the camera takes balls.

I’ll always take a wonderful walk
from the podium.
You photograph someone else’s,
sometimes lousy game.

The names of others are thundering in “Spidol”
somewhere in the tundra near Anadyr,
but your breath on your back
hears the goalkeeper’s dirty sweater.

Do you remember when you were filmed,
blinding with death flashes,
Do you remember how the great Stanley walked towards you in the London fog
?

The sexton then looked like a boa constrictor.
Per Bober, crushing defenders …
A sleeping soul woke up in the barbell from the blows of
wood.

The circle is thinning … Where are you, Vasya Kartsev?
And sometimes you want to be in anguish
well, at least with your fingertips
to get your youth in a throw.

Only the crown
superacrobatic jump will not help either.
Age is a sneaky ball that
slips tricky between your legs.

And at night swimming sadly
over your pillow and fate,
old goalkeeper gloves
quietly stroking your gray-haired hedgehog.

But, hurrying to someone else’s fight,
you are always happy, no matter how sad,
at least one football blade of grass
on your knee from the edge to carry away.

And, keeping the experienced habits,
with the sight of your goalkeeper’s sight,
the lens rushes into the “nine”,
pulling the ball out of it!

Based on materials from Soviet and Russian periodicals

Can a penalty be taken?

There are no “dry” goalkeepers.But how do the players curse their “last hope” when the goalkeeper, pardon the jargon, catches “butterflies”. But there are many such unstable goalkeepers.

“DEAD” HIT! DO NOT AGREE!
I want to talk about the penalty kick, the penalty kick. What a storm of applause rolls across the stands when the goalkeeper parries a penalty kick. But perhaps his triumph is a matter of chance? I do not argue, it also happens. But I am ready to kiss the goalkeeper even for trying to take a penalty kick, not to mention the case when he manages to perform this goalkeeper miracle.And is it a miracle? Let’s remember the wonderful goalkeeper of the Moscow Spartak team Vladimir Zhmelkov, who took seven penalties out of seven possible in one season! This is no longer an accident. Apparently Zhmelkov had his own secret, inherent only to him! A goalkeeper who has thoroughly studied the opponent, his manner of hitting, his “favorite” leg, methods of hitting, who knows the principles of ball flight, cannot and should not be in the state of a victim doomed to be killed when defending the goal from a penalty kick.

Many talented goalkeepers, after unsuccessful attempts to parry penalties, lose faith in their abilities, and some become the authors of “theories” of the impossibility of defending the goal from a penalty kick.It is not right. Of course, it is difficult to hit the ball sent from such a close distance, but the goalkeeper is obliged to prevent the attacker, to deprive him of his “easy life”.

I remember the match between the Moscow Dynamo team and the Turkish team Fenerbahce. In this game, two penalties were awarded: one against the Muscovites, the other against the guests. Both Lev Yashin and his Turkish colleague made throws to the right, while the ball was sent to the opposite corner of the goal. Both goalkeepers were deceived. Why? Because they acted at random, hoping for the so-called goalkeeper intuition? Frankly, I was seriously worried about Yashin before the USSR national team left for the World Cup in Sweden.What if our gate will appoint a penalty. What then? Guess again? Fortunately, Yashin confirmed his high class and managed to take one of the two penalty kicks.

“Attempt is not torture,” says a Russian proverb. A goalkeeper who uses the slightest opportunity to influence the psychology of a penalty kick-off striker, trying to deprive him of his confidence at a crucial moment, always has a chance of success in this, frankly, unequal duel.

Let me not be considered immodest if I remember that in the seasons of 1914-1915.out of thirteen penalties assigned to the team of “Morozovtsev”, defended by the author of these lines, I missed only one, and in the match with the Moscow club SKL took three penalty kicks.

Maybe young goalkeepers will be interested in learning my method of preparing for a competition and, in particular, how to protect the goal from a penalty kick.

I’ll start with general provisions.
Every goalkeeper knows that a penalty is difficult to parry. But the same goalkeeper should never forget: it is not so easy and accurate to score the ball.Many, probably, have seen humorous drawings, which show how huge the gates become in the mind of the goalkeeper and how microscopic – in the eyes of the striker. This is a very aptly captured detail in the psychology of both participants in the duel!

The goalkeeper is obliged not only to always remember this state of the opponent, but also to try to influence his psyche, to strengthen his doubts . Even players who have excellent control of the kick with any foot often get in a fever at the crucial moment from the penalty spot.And when the batter’s nerves got naughty – don’t expect an accurate blow! The enemy will definitely want to punch the ball hard, and such blows, especially on heavy ground, may not reach the goal.

It is possible, for example, to induce the striker to direct the ball into a specific space, especially controlled by the goalkeeper. To do this, the goalkeeper should take an unusual place at the goal. This position almost always makes the attacker think for a while and lose confidence.

How to choose the right position?
If the goal line is divided into three equal parts, the goalkeeper should move closer to the boundary between the left and middle thirds (for a left-handed goalkeeper, closer to the right third).Depending on his own physical data (height, flexibility, jumping ability), the goalkeeper himself determines which balls going to the left corner he can take and which part of the goal remains “dead” and inaccessible for him. Standing in such a position, the goalkeeper shows that he is closing the left corner of the goal and, as it were, inviting the opponent to send the ball to the open right side (Fig. 1).

Imagine the state of a player who is used to hitting the left corner in such cases and already intends to hit the usual place.Perestroika on the fly is unlikely to suit him. True, even now he can choose “his” favorite corner, but there is so little “dead” space there that the ball must be sent with pinpoint accuracy. It is difficult to do this, and the goalkeeper may have time to intercept or return the ball.
The new, unusual setting catches even experienced penalty shooters by surprise. Where to beat? How to beat? There is little time to think it over! And most often they send the ball to where there are more chances to score it, that is, to the more open part of the goal. And this is already an achievement of the goalkeeper!
When a player, succumbing to mental pressure, chooses the direction indicated by the goalkeeper to hit the right third of the goal (the center and left thirds are well controlled), the ball often goes off the goal, hits the post or goes so close to the goalkeeper that it becomes prey.

POSTING AND TRAINING
Protecting the goal from a penalty kick requires the goalkeeper to fully exert himself. He not only needs to skillfully fall, rush after the ball, confidently take or hit the ball flying at any height with his hands, fist, palm or fingers, but also play well with both feet. It’s good when a former striker is at the gate! Such a goalkeeper, who knows all the subtleties of kicking the ball, can more easily recognize the most insidious blows of the opponent, better determine the direction, height and angle of the ball.
The batter may not be known to the goalkeeper at all, but this should not be embarrassing. To become a good goalkeeper, it is important to learn the ability to see the departure of the ball in the very first moment after the strike and to immediately recognize the direction of its flight to the right, left, straight. This can be achieved by training.
In the shortest possible period of time, the goalkeeper (usually already in the throwing position) decides whether to stop the ball, poke it just barely reaching it to change the direction of flight, or try to knock hard into the field with the fist of the extended right hand in the fall.
The goalkeeper’s throw to the right corner resembles a spring that has just been released tightly. Therefore, you first need to gather in such a “spring”, that is, to concentrate, to mobilize attention, will and skill.

For the shot, the goalkeeper must develop a comfortable starting position. At the time of the impact, it is advisable to take such a stance.

1. The feet, depending on the developed gait, are placed in a comfortable position (p and p. 2). Legs bent at the knees – on toes. These are the fulcrum points when throwing, so it is advisable to bring the socks closer to 25-30 cm.This starting position will allow the goalkeeper to make it easier and stronger to throw to the left or right.

2. Keep the body as low as possible, but always in a comfortable position: push the upper part forward a little. The arms are bent at the elbows, the unclenched hands are on half of the thigh. Everything is in a free state, without tension (p and p. 3).
At the moment of impact, the goalkeeper should slightly move the body forward, move the body support almost to the toes, so that the fulcrum points during the throw are strong and elastic (p and p. 4), and sit down slightly, that is, make all the necessary preparatory actions for a large and strong throw.

All these techniques, and especially the throw with the extension of the right (strongest) hand to hit the ball with a fist, should be practiced daily. It is imperative to exercise in any weather in order to develop a “ball feeling” (dry and wet), a sense of points of support on damp, bare and hard ground or on soft grass.
It is not difficult for the goalkeeper to practically determine the fulcrum. First, he lays aside about half a meter from the left post along the goal line. This segment will be the “dead” space for him in the left corner.Then, resting in this place with his palm, the goalkeeper stretches out to his full height along the goal line. The footprint left on the ground from the foot of the left foot will be the fulcrum of that leg. The right leg is attached to it.
This is the position of the goalkeeper before the penalty kick. In the future, gaining experience, the goalkeeper will learn to quickly take the necessary position.

Having taken up the stance, the goalkeeper begins to swing the body up and down. The hands of the arms bent at the elbows lightly touch the half of the thigh.This swinging (short and frequent squats) helps the goalkeeper better prepare for the shot. It is very important at the moment of separation of the ball from the opponent’s leg to be in the lower position. All of these elements should be practiced without the ball.

The ability to see the first moment of the ball after a hit is achieved by carefully observing the positioning of the batter’s body, legs and feet, as well as the ability to quickly assess the position of the attacker before hitting.

In training, the attackers should hit the ball in different directions and not very hard so that the goalkeeper has time to distinguish the peculiarities of techniques in one or another hitting variant.

Through constant exercise, the goalkeeper eventually acquires a certain intuition (based on experience) , the habit of capturing the moment of the ball and recognizing its direction when hitting medium strength. In further training, it is necessary to repeat the same exercises, but try to parry the blows of a snake of greater strength.

End each such workout with several throws (right, left) without the ball , preferably on the grass. Once in a stance, imagine the ball going to the right corner.Throw after him as far as possible with the subsequent extension of your right hand, as if knocking the ball into the field with your fist when falling. Then make several throws with the simultaneous extension of both hands first, then only the right one, with the palm outstretched. Make throws to the left corner of the goal as far as possible, followed by the removal of both arms and outstretched palms.
Having mastered the exercises without the ball, practice them in training, and use the skill in matches.

BASIC COMMANDS OF THE GOALTENDER
The goalkeeper must always be in the most comfortable position for a shot at the moment of a shot (and not only for a penalty kick!).He is obliged to take such a stand instantly, and not only at the gate, but also when meeting the opponent in the penalty area.
In the position of the goalkeeper’s body before the throw, one should feel lightness, composure, readiness at any moment to “dive” for a low ball or turn around in a high jump.

The goalkeeper especially needs to train his eye. A good eye allows you to quickly intercept the ball and then accurately address it to your teammates.
It is equally important to be able to play freely and confidently not only with your hands, but also with your feet (especially with your left).
And, finally, the goalkeeper must be able to run fast and tirelessly, make instant jerks from a normal stance.

Can the oil workers’ defense cope with the loss of Oscar Klefbom?

Train Depth and the Edmonton Oilers have been mutually exclusive over the years.

Remember when head coach Dallas Eakins showed up at the training camp in 2014 and announced, “We have two NHL centers now.” He didn’t complain. He just watched.

Then in the middle were Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Boyd Gordon, Anton Lander, Tyler Pitlik and 18-year-old Leon Dreiseitl.Dreiseitl ends the season with the Hart Ros Trophy today and is Edmonton’s second center.

Nugent-Hopkins has moved to the left flank for good, and Kyle Turris begins his life as a third center after over 700 games as a top 6 center player.

It’s fair to wonder if there are too many Oilers on this list of the same six; whether the defense will be able to survive the loss of Oscar Klefbom for the entire 2020-2021 season; Are goalkeepers good enough to win the playoffs?

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions for Edmonton.

But depth and skill are important in the regular season, especially when the schedule is tight and injuries are expected to rise. In this regard, the team is better than it has been in recent years, as General Manager Ken Holland had his second season of free agents to work with his squad.

So let’s see what the Oilers look like on Coach Dave Tippet’s board, starting from a position that Eakins once questioned. The one that could be the strongest group in the NHL today.

CENTER

1. Connor McDavid
2. Leon Dreisitel
3. Kyle Turris
4. Gaetan Haas
5. Jujhar Haira

What else do you need in the top six than the top two NHL scorers in the 2019–20 season? McDavid and Dreisitl are luxuries that any team would be happy to have, and Turris is probably too qualified (offensively) as 3rd center.

Questions only arise in defense and when playing in the minority.How the team will play against the best opposing player and be able to defend the advantage in the third period is the problem with the Oilers losing to Chicago in the qualifying round.

This group of centers can beat any opponents. But if Jonathan Taves is going to eat his lunch at a critical juncture, as he did in the summer, then there is still room for improvement.

Holland still has time to find a good center in the 4th link.

LEFT WING

1. Nugent Hopkins
2. Dominic Kahun
3. James Neal
4. Tyler Ennis
5. Joachim Nygard

Adding Kahun really helps balance the Oilers top six – assuming he is a true top six left winger. Most likely, he will start alongside his compatriot Dreiseitl, with whom he played since the age of 14. This allows Nugent-Hopkins to live alongside McDavid by beautifully balancing the top lines.

Nugent-Hopkins is in contract year, but with the new economics of the NHL pandemic and the fact that RNH is now deployed as a full-time striker, he probably won’t get a giant boost from his current $ 6 million price tag. He complements McDavid or Dreisitel perfectly, as all three cannot score and shoot first, which means they can trade goals all night long without worrying about who will score.

Underneath is a slightly odd mixture: $ 5.75 million Neil who still has play but lacks rolling speed; Tyler Ennis, who in a pinch can work higher in the squad, but is essentially a left wing of the last six and does not contribute to the size of the team; and Nygard, who is injured again in Europe.Tyler Benson is worth mentioning, but he needs to find some speed to use his AHL skills in NHL success.

RIGHT WING

1. Zach Cassian
2. Kyler Yamamoto
3. Jesse Pulujärvi
4. Josh Archibald
5. Alex Chiasson

in the real striker

best and did a good job with Dreisitel last season. He is a bulldog, and even though the Oilers have too many small wingers, he combines fearlessness, hands and speed.

The addition of Kahun, along with pushing Nugent-Hopkins up with McDavid, brings Cassian back to the top line, where he is great as a guy who can defend the franchise, trade goals with highly skilled players, and is good enough to play in special teams. They pay Cassian $ 3.2 million on a contract before the pandemic starts when he’s lucky on time. But playing with McDavid and RNH, Cassian can make that money by bringing it in every night.

Pulujärvi – third best right winger? Not yet, but he will have the opportunity to prove that he can. If he’s good enough, he’ll take Cassian’s place. But for now, the big Finn just needs to get comfortable in the league and prove that he can be a regular player, probably alongside Turris.

Archibald is very similar to Yamamoto – a small bag with a lot of pieces. And Chiasson will have to fight for ice time on the crowded right side.

LEFT PROTECTORS

1 *. Oscar Clefbom (* LTIR)
1. Nurse Darnell
2. Caleb Jones
3. Chris Russell
4. Philip Broberg / William Lagesson

breath, but all indications are that Klefbom (shoulder injury) will be on the injured list when the season starts and may not play in 2020-21. So Nurse (Nurse) moves up into the top 2 and, like Jones, will have to chew on extra minutes.

The first had 350 games played, so adding a couple of extra minutes per night is probably perfectly feasible. Jones is a pig in a poke – he only played 60 games, up from 14:08 a game last season. Will he be able to play 21 minutes? That’s a 50 percent jump.

Russell will secure the third pair and minority before being left open in the expansion draft, and then we will see who from Broberg, Lagesson or Evan Bouchard make the team. Neither Broberg nor Bouchard are not special contenders for 7th defender, so unless one of them proves that he can play every night, Lagesson has a way to 7th defender at Edmonton.

RIGHT DEFENDERS

1. Ethan Beer
2. Adam Larsson
3. Tyson Barry
4. Evan Bouchard

We will give the Bear # 1 status as he is plays with Nurse and must spend adequate time on the ice. However, he is only a repetitive year, so there is no guarantee that he will be able to handle the minutes and top pair matches as well as Ners.

Larsson is coming out of a tough season and having a terrible qualifying round.Now he will be without his partner Klefbom, and he will probably be tasked with training Jones. This is a contract year for Larsson, and he needs to rebuild his reputation as a tough, hard-to-play physical defender.

After them – Barry, who will take the place of Klefbom in the majority. He will love playing the Oilers’ top six hitters when they have the puck, but Barry has to prove he can survive when Edmonton is out of possession. Barry’s reputation, as they say, is that he is addicted to both ends of the rink.As part of a one-year free-agent deal in Edmonton, Barry could have found a longer-term deal if he had only demonstrated his ability without the puck.

There is also Bouchard, a professional who has been playing in Sweden for the second year. Privately, there are some concerns about the progress of this 10th quarterback overall. He would benefit from being in preseason like Broberg last summer and show his superiority. However, Bouchard will likely remain in the AHL, as Holland is not the kind of manager who spends a year developing as a # 7 or # 8 defender in the NHL.

GOALKEEPERS

1. Mikko Koskinen
2. Mike Smith
3. Anton Forsberg

Koskinen, who had 0.917 percent shooting last season, is not a problem for the team. But the aging Smith (38) worries Oilers fans both with his performance and the fact that Koskinen will be unable to handle too many starts if Smith is injured. Forsberg is an insurance plan for veterans.

Oil workers will be updated here over time.They just couldn’t do it this summer.

Based on the article sportsnet.ca

The table shows numbers from 1 to 90. You need

A line from the poem by A.S. Pushkin. Here’s a hint that you need to unravel the confusion starting with one of the letters in the upper circles. Please note that several lines extend from some circles, which means that there is a danger that you will go down the wrong path. Be careful!

WONDERFUL WORDS

Three friends met and started talking.

– I, – said the first, – I know a word that has seven identical letters.

– And I, – said the second, – I know a word that has forty letters, and also all the same.

– My word is still the most amazing! – declared the third. – It has one hundred letters.

What were those words?

EPIGRAPH

A good character is wealth for life,

a smart head is a problem for life.

AMERICAN SYMMETRIC

CROSSWORD

Horizontal: 1g.Performance in honor of one of the participants. 2a. A bird of a squad of parrots. 2k. Thin cake. 3f. Provencal writer, author of the poem “Toulouse”. 4a. In China: cargo suno. 4h. A kind of monocle. 6b. School discipline. 8a. The German physicist who created the crystal detector. 8i. A genus of literary works. 9f. In old Poland: landowner, master. 10c. Icon setting. 10h. Film by I. Annensky “… on the neck”. 11f. One of the main gods of Scandinavian mythology. 12a. Indent at the beginning of the first line. 12 and. For Christians: a spring holiday.14b. Higher educational institution. 16a. Imitation of a fall from a horse in a circus. 16h. A southern tree with aromatic wood. 17e. Solemn poem. 18a. Thick silk fabric with iridescence. 18k. A kind of ensemble. 19g. The correctness of judgments, actions and thoughts.

Vertical: a7. Attack of the enemy ship. b1. A satirical depiction of someone. b16. People’s poet and singer. at 4. An unjustly inflicted insult. at 12. Large mass of snow blown by the wind. r1. City in Germany, on the Rhine river.r8. Film directed by L. Golub “… the youngest son”. d16. Freshwater fish. d4. Track protective shell. d12. Part of a wheel in a gear train. e1. Complete contentment. e9. Situation in a chess game. e16. Connoisseur, master of his craft. g5. Boiled oil used to saturate the surface of wood, etc. g11. Musical and dramatic work. h1. The ancient Greeks: a bowl in the form of a wide bottle with a narrow neck. h9. A hybrid from crossing camels of different species. h16. Granular starch groats.and4. Electric lamp. and 12. The first step of the range. k1. Short-term stay of those liable for military service at the disposal of the military department for training. k8. A bird of the raven family. k16. Diplomatic document. l4. An established measure. l12. Shooting shooting range. m1. Plain ribbed fabric. m16. Part for voice. h7. Antique peasant outerwear.

ANSWERS

to the page “Relax, think!”, Published in No. 172.

CROSSWORD

Horizontal: 6.Version. 7. Request. 8. Priority. 10. Sulfur. 11. Azer. 12. Minus. 14. Tolokno. 15. Brother. 18. Movie. 20. Sleigh. 21. Treasure. 22. Columbine. 25. Doctor. 26. Channel.

Vertical: 1. Beshmet. 2. Liter. 3. Old man. 4. Four of a kind. 5. Doppler. 8. Chamber. 9. Tarataika. 12. Miner. 13. Streak. 16. Bolt. 17. Capron. 19. Robbery. 23. Trench. 24. Nord.

HOW MUCH IS 2 X 2?

1. In the letter “O” you need to write the numbers 7 or 17. Then you get a small rebus that can be read as “eight” or “eighteen”.

2.4 brothers, 3 sisters.

3.6 p.m.

4.18, 10, 8 jacks.

ANAGRAM

Rope – roll – tank, sect – mesh – cleaver, batun – butane – herd, channel – lanka – glow, cleaver – pendant – slope.

RIDDLE REBUS

A bag of needles runs under the pines and under the trees.

REBUS GUIDE

Mailbox.

INTERESTING ARITHMETICS

HOW OLD IS OLEA?

When Olya gets older, Lena will be one-fifth younger than Sasha.Last year, Lena was twice as young as Sasha and two and a half times younger than Olya.

How old is Olya?

APPLES

Petya received 1/3 of all apples and two more apples, Seryozha – 1/4 of all apples and one apple, and Kolya – half of the remaining apples. As a result, 1/6 of the original number of apples remained. How many apples did each of the children get?

FIND THE NUMBER

Some number ends in “2”. If you rearrange the number “2” from the end of the number to the beginning, you get a number that is twice the original.Find this number.

SEVEN OF TWO

How to get the number seven with five twos?

HC Avangard | News | Will the French “butterfly” spoil the favorite of Bilyaletdinov?

Despite Semyon Varlamov’s brilliant start at Colorado (his club was defeated by Anaheim yesterday – 6: 1), the question remains: will the potential first number of the Russian national team benefit from the new style of play imposed by French Canadian coaches Patrick Roy and François Aller?

FIRST FAMILY

Journalists are people too, and it so happens that, what can we hide, they breathe unevenly towards some athlete.And if it comes to that, then for your particular correspondent one of such athletes was the goalkeeper of Colorado and the Russian national team Semyon Varlamov, who is indebted to my family.

If the Russian goalkeeper did not play in Washington at one time, perhaps your correspondent could have avoided a nightmare fate that he would not have wished even for the worst enemy – to become the goalkeeper’s father. But Varlamov played in “Washington”, at first it was simply amazing, and my seven-year-old son Timur, who was calmly playing hockey in a modest local club, one day announced that he wanted shields, a trap and a sweater with Varlamov’s number 40 at that time …

Varlamov is the third season as in “Colorado”, where things are going with varying success, and I still remain on the goalkeeper-father’s calvary, falling into the cozy arms of a heart attack at every match of the children’s hockey league of the states of Maryland and Virginia … However, not How much in vain will I find fault with the young Volgar.In any case, thanks to him personally, my view of the most difficult of all sports professions has acquired a certain depth over the past few years.

And now, when the French-speaking masters Franusa Aller and Patrick Roy have taken up Semyon in the distant Colorado mountains, they began to crush, press and blow his goalkeeper style, all this arouses genuine interest in your correspondent. The very fact of such serious reforms in the game of the main (or one of the two main) goalkeepers of the national team should interest and worry any Russian fan.Even if he personally, unlike the author of these lines, breathes quite evenly towards Varlamov.

ALLER, BUTTERFLY FATHER

As for the main actors in the process, one of them is known to everyone. Roy is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, popularizer of the butterfly style, which is now practiced by almost the entire goalkeeper workshop on both sides of the ocean. But Aller is none other than the teacher Roy, who invented this very “butterfly”.

However, let Saint Patrick introduce him to us.

– Do you know how the real “butterfly” was born? – Told Rua a couple of years ago in an interview with “SE”. – Once in training, I jumped for the pucks like a man possessed. He fell to his knees on every throw, fell on his side, lay down on the ice. The then coach of “Montreal” Jacques Lemaire called one of the assistants to him and whispered something to him. He drove up to me and said: “The coach is wondering if you need a mattress and pillow.” At that time people did not understand this kind of goalkeeper game. But Aller, apparently, had an inspiration.He realized that I was hitting the puck better on my knees and decided: “What if Patrick really stays down on the ice as long as possible?” But at the same time he also thought: “Why would Patrick dive for a rebound and lay flat on the ice? It’s ineffective. Much better if he remains on his knees.” That is, he hit the puck, pushed off with a skate, went sideways – and is ready to reflect the second shot in the same “butterfly”!

Now the butterfly stance and the roll on the pads are the basics of goalkeeper’s art. T.Malamud was required to fully master these elements when he was accepted into the Major League 11-year-old squad. It’s hard to believe that Aller introduced this elementary thing into the goalkeeper’s arsenal just some 30 years ago.

The master’s philosophy was simple: the goalkeeper in this position tightly covers the lower part of the goal and a significant area of ​​the upper part. Butterfly is the best way to take away as many targeting options as possible from the attacker. That is, the whole point of the style is to play ahead, pragmatism and increase the statistical chances of salvation.“Butterfly” is a goalkeeper who is primarily a blocker, not a reactive one.

Whereas Classic or Hybrid styles involve a soccer-like approach — reaction to a shot, explosive side-to-side movements, active footwork. But isn’t the butterfly already ubiquitous? What exactly was wrong with the Warlamo style? Do you need to change so much in it? And if so, will it not ruin the Olympic goalkeeper for us, at least for this season?

EXPERT EXPLAINS

To answer these questions, it took a person who understands flaps and pancakes at the professional level, and this one was close at hand.American specialist Jason Wolf , who previously played in farm clubs, now runs his own goalkeeper school Wolfe Hockey in the vicinity of Washington, coaches goalkeepers in the Demoyne Buccaneers US Junior League team and oversees work with goalkeepers in the club of the same journalistic offspring. Wolf knows everything there is to know about goalkeeping styles and how to adjust them.

“I don’t want to incur the wrath of Roy, but I’ve never been a big fan of the French butterfly,” said Wolf .- The thing is that when Aller came up with it, in the NHL most goals were scored from the bottom (according to Aller’s own calculations, about 70 percent. – Approx. SM ), but times have changed. Over the past three years, for the first time in the league’s nearly 100-year history, overhead shots have been more effective. This means that NHL strikers are adapting to the butterfly. And today’s composite sticks, which allow you to easily shoot the upper corners of the goal, greatly facilitate their task. The same Jean-Sebastian Zhiguer – Varlamov’s competitor in Colorado – is just an ideal example of the French butterfly.He had a great season at Anaheim in 2003, but things got worse after that. Yes, look at a selection of “highlights” of any game day. I guarantee that in the shot of every goal you see, the goalkeeper will sit on his knees or lie down!

– What exactly were Varlamov’s problems, if he now urgently needs to be redone?

– Its main problem is stability. But do not forget that he is still very young, and this is the trouble of all goalkeepers at the start of their careers. It was difficult for him to control the situation, especially during quick breaks into the zone.The trap is a problematic topic. When going one-on-one, the forward could throw him on the left side and most often achieved success … But I always liked Varley’s style, because he is not a pure butterfly, but something in the middle. He sat in the “butterfly”, but actively acted with his hands and a club. He more often knocked out the puck with a sharp movement of his foot than the same Zhiger. Varley was always active, even on his knees.

– And what will Aller do to him?

– A more stable goalkeeper. Will try at least.This is a big deal because goalkeepers have one step from a great game to a failure. Just look at the adventures of Braden Holtby, who replaced Varley in “Washington”. From Varlamov to “Colorado” will now make a more systemic goalkeeper. So that if they shoot at him with the same throw a hundred times, he will take the puck a hundred times in exactly the same way. This is stability. Roy, in his prime, put out the same product on the ice from match to match until the playoffs began, where he played in such a way as to completely dim the light.

MINES UNDER SOCHI?

Stability, no doubt about it, a good thing. Semyon will regularly play matches, like just now against Anaheim – who will object? But it is worrying that a style change is fraught with a painful transition.

No one denies that it is possible to change the goalkeeper’s style, and even with great benefit for the goalkeeper. Duane Roloson, for example, transformed his career when he was in his 30s. But to do this, he had to spend an entire year in the AHL learning and honing new techniques.Meanwhile, to Sochi – a few months. This Rua and Aller have nowhere to hurry: from “Colorado” this season no one expects a triumph, and in addition there is a fellow countryman and like-minded Zhiger in reserve. But it would be desirable for Zinetula Bilyaletdinov to get an unspoiled goalkeeper as soon as possible.