Epoch Lacrosse Shaft Shapes: A Comprehensive Guide to the Dragonfly 8 Series

How do the different Epoch Lacrosse Dragonfly 8 shaft shapes compare. What are the unique features of the C, E, X, and F shaft designs. Which Dragonfly 8 shape is best for different playing styles and positions.

The Revolutionary Epoch Dragonfly 8 Lacrosse Shaft Series

The Epoch Lacrosse Dragonfly 8 series represents the pinnacle of lacrosse shaft technology, offering players unparalleled performance and customization. These shafts are renowned for their lightweight construction and innovative features that enhance player performance on the field.

At the core of the Dragonfly 8’s success are two key technologies:

• Torque Box 2: This technology maximizes energy transfer during passes and shots, improving power and accuracy.
• Reload: This feature optimizes the shaft’s responsiveness, allowing for quicker and more efficient play.

The Dragonfly 8 series offers four distinct shaft shapes: C, E, X, and F. Each shape is designed to cater to different playing styles and positions, ensuring that every player can find their perfect match.

The C-Shape: Traditional Comfort Meets Modern Performance

The C-shape is the most popular option in the Dragonfly 8 lineup, and for good reason. It features a traditional concave geometry that many players are already familiar with, making it an easy transition for those upgrading from alloy handles.

Key Features of the C-Shape:

• Classic concave design for comfortable grip
• Smooth transition for players used to traditional shafts
• Available in both attack/midfield (C30) and defense (C60 and C60XL) versions

Why might a player choose the C-shape? This design is ideal for players who prefer a familiar feel but want the advanced performance benefits of the Dragonfly 8 technology. It’s versatile enough for various positions and playing styles, making it a safe choice for many lacrosse athletes.

The E-Shape: Ergonomic Design for Enhanced Control

The E-shape introduces an ergonomic design that prioritizes comfort and control during play. This unique shape is engineered to fit naturally in a player’s hand, potentially improving their ability to maneuver the stick during intense gameplay.

Distinctive Features of the E-Shape:

• Indentations on each side of the shaft
• Wider topside and narrower underside
• Natural thumb channel for improved grip

Who benefits most from the E-shape? This design is particularly advantageous for players who rely on quick, one-handed maneuvers. Midfielders and attackmen who frequently engage in dodging, quick direction changes, and one-handed drives may find the E-shape gives them an extra edge in control and precision.

The X-Shape: Maximizing Feel and Grip

For players who prioritize tactile feedback and a secure grip, the X-shape offers a solution. This design is tailored to outside shooters and players who want to feel every nuance of the stick’s movement during play.

X-Shape Advantages:

• Enhanced tactile feedback
• Improved grip for powerful shots
• Reduces slippage during intense movements

When is the X-shape the right choice? Outside shooters who rely on powerful, accurate shots will appreciate the X-shape’s ability to transfer energy efficiently. Players who value fingertip control during dodges and shots may also find this shape enhances their performance.

The F-Shape: Engineered for Face-Off Specialists

The F-shape is a specialized design catering specifically to face-off players. Its unique geometry is optimized for the demands of this crucial position, giving face-off specialists a competitive edge.

F-Shape Unique Features:

• Triangular shape with sharper angles near the head
• Designed for the “motorcycle grip” technique
• Increased surface area for generating torque
• Transitions to a concave “C” shape in the lower half

Why choose the F-shape? Face-off specialists who employ the motorcycle grip technique will find this shape perfectly suited to their needs. The design allows for a powerful clamp and improved control during face-offs, potentially leading to more possessions for their team.

Technological Advancements in the Dragonfly 8 Series

Beyond the unique shapes, the Dragonfly 8 series incorporates cutting-edge technology to enhance performance across all designs.

Key Technological Features:

• Lightweight Construction: The Dragonfly 8 shafts are the lightest ever produced by Epoch, improving maneuverability and reducing player fatigue.
• Carbon Fiber Material: Offers durability and responsiveness superior to traditional alloy shafts.
• Torque Box 2 Technology: Enhances energy transfer for more powerful passes and shots.
• Reload Technology: Improves the shaft’s responsiveness, allowing for quicker play.

How do these technologies benefit players? The combination of lightweight design and advanced materials results in a shaft that is both durable and highly responsive. Players can expect improved shot power, more accurate passes, and reduced fatigue during extended play.

Choosing the Right Dragonfly 8 Shape for Your Play Style

Selecting the optimal Dragonfly 8 shape depends on various factors, including playing position, personal preference, and specific on-field requirements.

Considerations for Choosing Your Shaft:

1. Position: Face-off specialists should consider the F-shape, while midfielders and attackmen might prefer the E or X shapes.
2. Grip Preference: Players who like a traditional feel might opt for the C-shape, while those seeking maximum grip might choose the X-shape.
3. Playing Style: Quick, agile players might benefit from the E-shape, while power shooters might prefer the X-shape.
4. Experience Level: Newer players transitioning from alloy shafts might find the C-shape most comfortable initially.

How can players make the best choice? It’s often helpful to test different shapes if possible, either by borrowing from teammates or visiting a local lacrosse retailer. Pay attention to how each shape feels during different lacrosse movements and choose the one that feels most natural and enhances your play.

The Impact of Shaft Shape on Performance and Technique

The shape of a lacrosse shaft can significantly influence a player’s technique and overall performance on the field. Each Dragonfly 8 shape is designed to optimize specific aspects of play.

Performance Impacts of Different Shapes:

• C-Shape: Offers consistent performance across various techniques, suitable for all-around players.
• E-Shape: Enhances one-handed control, beneficial for quick dodges and direction changes.
• X-Shape: Improves power transfer in shots and passes, ideal for players with strong outside shots.
• F-Shape: Optimizes face-off technique, potentially leading to more won possessions.

Can the right shaft shape improve a player’s game? While skill and practice remain the most crucial factors, choosing a shaft shape that complements a player’s style can enhance their natural abilities and potentially improve their on-field performance.

Maintenance and Longevity of Dragonfly 8 Shafts

Proper care and maintenance of your Dragonfly 8 shaft can significantly extend its lifespan and maintain its performance characteristics.

Tips for Maintaining Your Dragonfly 8 Shaft:

1. Regular Cleaning: Wipe down the shaft after each use to remove dirt and sweat.
2. Proper Storage: Store the shaft in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
3. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Don’t leave the shaft in hot cars or freezing conditions.
4. Check for Damage: Regularly inspect the shaft for any signs of wear or damage.
5. Use as Intended: Avoid using the shaft for non-lacrosse activities that could cause damage.

How long can a properly maintained Dragonfly 8 shaft last? With proper care, many players find their Dragonfly 8 shafts can last multiple seasons. Epoch backs their product with a 1-year warranty, demonstrating confidence in the shaft’s durability.

The Epoch Lacrosse Dragonfly 8 series represents a significant advancement in lacrosse shaft technology. By offering multiple shapes designed for different playing styles and positions, Epoch has created a line of shafts that can enhance the performance of players across all levels of the sport. Whether you’re a face-off specialist looking for that extra edge, a midfielder seeking improved control for quick dodges, or an attackman aiming to boost your shooting power, there’s a Dragonfly 8 shape engineered to meet your needs. As lacrosse continues to evolve, innovations like the Dragonfly 8 series are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the field, allowing players to perform at their highest level.

Understanding The New Epoch Lacrosse Shaft Shape Lacrosse Video

Jan 10, 2017

What is the difference between the best-selling Epoch Lacrosse Dragonfly 8 lacrosse shaft shapes, you may ask? The Dragonfly 8 series of shafts are the lightest ever produced by Epoch, and feature their “Torque Box 2” and “Reload” technology to maximize energy transfer during a pass or shot, and are the main reasons these handles are flying off the shelf. Equally important is the grip, and Epoch has options that let you pick which best fits your personal style of play. Let’s look at the makeup of the four shaft shapes and what type of grip and feel you can expect from these elite level lacrosse shafts.
 

Jan 10, 2017

What is the difference between the best-selling Epoch Lacrosse Dragonfly 8 lacrosse shaft shapes, you may ask? The Dragonfly 8 series of shafts are the lightest ever produced by Epoch, and feature their “Torque Box 2” and “Reload” technology to maximize energy transfer during a pass or shot, and are the main reasons these handles are flying off the shelf. Equally important is the grip, and Epoch has options that let you pick which best fits your personal style of play. Let’s look at the makeup of the four shaft shapes and what type of grip and feel you can expect from these elite level lacrosse shafts.
 

The four options for shape on the Epoch Dragonfly 8 lacrosse shaft are C, E, X and F.

Specifically designed for the face-off guys that love to use the motorcycle grip. It features a triangular shape and sharper angles near the head of the stick, creating a better feel and more surface area to generate torque and a powerful clamp. The shape here is designed to angle perfectly into your front knuckles, allowing you to get the full weight and force of a stalemate clamp to come out in your favor. You will see the signature grey business end of this shaft all over the best high school and collegiate teams this season. The bottom half of the shaft features the traditional concave “C” shape for when you win the draw and scoop up the ground ball, you can feed the point on the fast break or take it to the net yourself.
 

This shape is designed for the outside shooters who want the most feel and grip. The Dragonfly 7 shafts naturally have a bit of a gritty feel to the carbon fiber, but this shape lends mostly to those who want the full force of their body and arm torque to follow into the shaft without any slippage. If you like finger-tip feel when you dodge or shoot this is your shaft.
 

The E shape was designed with an ergonomic shape that fits well in the palm of your hand. It features an indentation on each side of the shaft as well as a having the topside of the shaft a bit wider than the underneath. This has the effect of seating the bigger, rounder edge into your palm and allowing your fingers and knuckles to wrap around the skinnier bottom rail. At the same time, your thumb will naturally find that long channel. This has a great feel when dodging one handed. Shifty hands.. speed dodgers with change of direction.. one handed drives.. this is your shaft.
 

This is the most popular selling shape because it has a traditional concave geometry and makes for an easy transition for players who want to upgrade from their alloy handles. Epoch has changed the lacrosse industry with their Dragonfly C30 and with the new Dragonfly 7 technology, this is a must for your season. New for 2017, Epoch has introduced a refined C shape for their defense handles, the C60 and C60XL, allowing defenders to get a true C shape while getting the performance they love of a Dragonfly. No dings, no dents and backed by their industry best 1-year warranty. The Dragonfly 7 is a must for advanced players looking to upgrade their game this season.
 

 
So, that’s the scoop on one of the hottest names in lacrosse shaft technology right now. Be sure to pick up a friend’s Dragonfly on the sidelines soon and see what all the buzz is about. All of these Epoch shafts are sold at Lax.com for the GUARENTED LOWEST PRICES anywhere in lacrosse. If you need any help picking out the best shaft for your age, ability and skill level, just give us a ring and we will put you on with a collegiate all-american who can give you some excellent options. See you on the fields!
 
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Players: How To Choose A Shaft

The hour has come: it’s time for you to buy a new shaft. Maybe it’s your first time buying a shaft rather than a complete stick, or maybe you’re a veteran player with tons of experience shopping for gear. Either way, the game has continued to evolve over the past few years, and shafts have changed with it. Here are the first steps to take to help you in your search for the perfect new addition to your game.

Picking Your Material:

Even for experienced players, it can seem like all lacrosse shafts are alike – after all, they serve the same essential purpose. But, a closer inspection reveals distinctions in material, engineering, and technology that have major performance effects whatever your level of play.

In today’s lacrosse world, there are 2 main types of shaft: a composite (made of carbon fiber) or an alloy (made of metal). Carbon fiber composites can be more expensive than alloy shafts, but they have some major advantages and benefits over their metal counterparts: they have a natural feel, they boast both impressive strength and a light weight, and they can take a lot of climate-based stress (they stay cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather). All in all, carbon fiber shafts have become increasingly prominent and dominant in the retail market, and there are tons of options to choose from.

Picking Your Carbon Fiber:

While most lacrosse brands offer carbon fiber composites, the quality of shaft isn’t the same from company to company. When picking your new composite, be sure to consider the features and technology of the shaft. Epoch Lacrosse takes pride in their attention to detail and commitment to tech and engineering, and it shows as they lead the carbon fiber revolution with their composite shafts.

Shafts are Epoch’s specialty, used by players like Matt Rambo and Dylan Molloy as well as collegiate programs like the University of North Carolina women’s team. The nature of Epoch’s composite shaft and innovative Advanced Carbon Layering technology allows engineers to carefully adjust the level of flex, durability, and weight in each shaft. Just like in hockey, flex is especially important when looking at shafts because different flexes are suited to different styles of play. For example, do you like to take step-down shots, make tight finishes, or shoot on the run? Your playing style, whether it be power, speed, or a dynamic combination of the two, can help determine whether you’d be better served by Epoch’s stiffer, softer, or in-between flexes respectively. In addition, all Epoch shafts have Slip Grip technology that provide a consistent feel in any weather condition. Best of all, whereas competitors source their shafts from foreign countries, all Epoch shafts are made in the USA.

Epoch also knows that player preference matters: everyone is looking for something different in their shaft. For that reason, their engineers dedicated their time to designing shafts that match the tendencies of each individual athlete. If you’re a women’s player, check out the Dragonfly Air iQ 9. This shaft, the lightest handle in the game, is a product of epoch_labs, a division that showcases Epoch’s in-house design team and engineers. Or take a look at the Dragonfly Purpose for a light-to-mid weight shaft with increased durability.

On the men’s side, the Dragonfly 9 offers a light-to-mid weight shaft with proportional durability. If you’re looking for a stick that’s capable of taking the most extreme wear and tear, consider the mid-weight Dragonfly Integra with the most durability in an Epoch field shaft. Both options boast HD Resin technology that increases the mechanical strength of the shaft and directly benefits the preexisting tech within it.

The result? Epoch shafts are the some of the most technologically advanced and highest performance shafts in the game. In addition, they’re offered in a variety of geometries (concave and ergonomic, for example) depending on personal preference. They also come with different flex iQs designed for specific styles of play to help you take your game to the next level.  

Mogul track

Patent authors:

IGOR ALEKSANDROVICH VOLF

A63C19/10 – ice run new paths and (or) paths for roller skating; slopes and tracks for skiing or skiing or for skiing (slides for skiing A63G 21/00; lifts for skiers B61B 11/00; processing and maintaining snow or ice surfaces suitable for road traffic or sports purposes E01H 4/00; removal of snow or ice from road surfaces E01H05/00; production of ice or snow F25C03/00)

The invention relates to sports facilities, tracks for skiing, and allows to simplify the technology of making tracks and improve the efficiency of the training process. The Mogul route contains a slope 1 with a sliding surface, for example, made of snow, on which there are obstacles 2 for the skier to move along the descent path, made in one piece in the form of a continuous shaft 3, also covered, for example, with snow and having a bell-shaped cross section, and the longitudinal axis of the shaft coincides with the longitudinal axis of the route. Going down the track, the skier has the opportunity to slide both along the smooth part of the slope and with the intersection of the shaft, and the number and frequency of crossings are determined by the skier. 1 ill.

UNION OF SOVIET

SOCIALIST

REPUBLIC (51)s A 63 C 19/10

STATE COMMITTEE

FOR INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES M

AT USSR State Committee on Science and Technology

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

TO AUTHOR’S CERTIFICATE (21) 4445671/12 (22) 06/22/88 (46) 01/07/91, Bull. % 1 (75) I.A.Vulf (53) 685.659.3 (088.8) (56) Kleshovė M. Take a closer look at freestyle. (54) MOGULAL TRAIL (57) The invention relates to sports facilities, skiing tracks, and allows to simplify the manufacturing technology of the track and increase the efficiency of the training process. Route

“J2” 1618431 A1

Mogula contains a slope 1 with a sliding coating, for example, from snow, on which there are obstacles 2 for the movement of the skier along the descent path, made in one piece in the form of a continuous shaft 3, also covered, for example , snow and having a bell-shaped cross section, and the longitudinal axis of the shaft coincides with the longitudinal axis of the route.

Going down the track, the skier has the opportunity to ski both along the smooth part of the slope and with the crossing of the rampart, and the number and frequency of crossings are determined by the skier. 1 ill.

1618431

Compiled by N. Bocharova

Editor L.Zaitseva Techredist M.Morganthsë Proofreader M.Maksimishinets

Order 7, Circulation Signed

VNIIPI of the State Committee for Inventions and Discoveries poi GKNT USSR

113035, Moscow, Zh- 35, Raushskaya emb. 4/5

Production and publishing plant “Patent”., r. Uzhgorod, street, Gagarin, 101

The invention relates to sports. structures, trails for skiing. zhah.

The purpose of the invention is to simplify the manufacturing technology and increase the efficiency of the training process.

The drawing shows the Mogul track, general view.

The Mogul track consists of a slope 1 with a sliding surface, for example, snow, on which there are obstacles 2 for the skier to move along the descent path, made in one piece in the form of a continuous shaft 3 also covered, for example, with snow. In cross section, shaft 3 has a bell-shaped shape, and its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the route, i.e. directed along the slope.

Going down the track, the skier has the opportunity to ski both along the smooth part of the slope and through the intersection of a continuous swell, and the number and frequency of swell crossings are determined by the skier.

The bell-shaped cross-section of the shaft allows the skier to cross it from any side both without take-off and with a jump and pirouette in flight.

Claim

Mogul track containing a slope with a sliding surface

10 and relief obstacles located on the slope to the skier’s movement along the descent path, characterized in that, in order to simplify the manufacturing technology and increasing the efficiency of the training process, the relief obstacles are made as a single whole in the form of a continuous shaft, the longitudinal axis of which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the track and has a bell-shaped cross section.

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The invention relates to skiing and concerns a sports complex for ski competitions 9The invention relates to a game that combines the features of playing lacrosse and various riding properties in-line skates, and develops a special combination of exceptional individual skills aimed at skillful cohesive team play

How does the most unusual Russian goalkeeper live? It is there that the indefatigable Grigory Ivanov, the honored worker of Uralmash and the president of the football Ural, commands; it is there that there are no legionnaires even in those times when both the middle peasants and outsiders have them; they won the futsal Champions League in 2008.

Zuev became known to the general public when, together with his former VIZ partner and one of the world’s best futsal players, Dmitry Prudnikov, he decided to leave the national team. The reason is a bunch of naturalized Brazilians in the squad.

Since 2014, Zuev has been playing for Dina, with whom he went to the Champions Cup final in Lisbon (without much success). There, Yuri Dud talked to him.

Photo: TASS agency

For 13 whole years, Sergei Zuev was one of the main stars of the most colorful Russian sports club – mini-football “ VIZ – Sinara”. It is there that the indefatigable Grigory Ivanov, the honored worker of Uralmash and the president of the football Ural, commands; there are no legionnaires there even in those times when both the middle peasants and outsiders have them; they won the futsal Champions League in 2008.

Zuev became known to the general public when, together with his former partner in VIZ and one of the best world futsal players Dmitry Prudnikov decided to leave the national team. The reason is a bunch of naturalized Brazilians in the squad.

Since 2014, Zuev has been playing for Dina, with her he went to the Champions Cup final in Lisbon (without much success). There Yuri Dud talked to him.

adv.rbc.ru

– You are from the city of Severouralsk – it is 500 km from Yekaterinburg. If suddenly I decide to take a walk around Severouralsk, at what minute will I get a tambourine – for my hair, for example?

— Ha-ha, everything will be fine, you will definitely take a walk. Yes, we have a small mining town where bauxite ore is mined. Who does not know: bauxite is the one from which aluminum is made. You may have heard: recently on the central channels they said that a new deposit was discovered there, its reserves will last almost a hundred years.

– Wikipedia says that you played hockey all your youth and quit only at 17 years old.

— That’s right. It is clear that I did not reach any heights there, it still gave me a lot. For example, not to be afraid of the ball – because after the puck there was nothing terrible in it at all. Now this form is modern, but I found those times when it was much simpler. Heavy shields and everything else – my parents dragged me a trunk with a uniform for up to 12 years; not because he was lazy, but because it was really possible to overstrain.

I started playing football at the age of ten. And then – at first he played right-back. But then they found out that in hockey I play in goal, and on occasion they put me in a frame. It began to work out – and it went. A goalkeeper in hockey and futsal has quite a lot in common. Firstly, intensity: you are constantly in the game, in tension. Secondly, the meaning: both here and there, if the goalkeeper drags, then even an average team can reach at least the finals.

When I graduated from school, I had a choice what to do next – either hockey or football. Invited at UPI – Ural State Technical University. Learn and play – they had a major league futsal team.

– The most dangerous story from your childhood?

— Fell into a pit at the age of fourteen. Pits used to be dug in garages – for potatoes, pickles, jams. My father and I – he is a mechanic of the sixth category – came to his friend to repair a motorcycle. I went in, to the left of the entrance there was a pit, but I did not notice it. The depth is four meters, I fell on my back. It was saved by the fact that the goalkeeper was able to group – he broke three or four steps of a wooden staircase, but there were no consequences.

— In one of the interviews, you told how you traveled with your parents to the taiga.

— In the ninth grade, we went on an excursion with our parents. First they boarded a bus, then the road ended and they boarded the Urals – a car with six drive axles, the body is covered with an awning, in it there are wooden benches on which passengers sit. There are wonderful places: for example, the Zhigalansky waterfalls. They formed during the Ice Age, just as the glacier was moving towards the ocean. You walk through an impenetrable forest, get out of it – and these waterfalls are right in front of you. Unique beauty, I remember for the rest of my life. And the water is icy and pure.

There are also mountains with huge boulders, which seem to have been hewn on purpose – round, round. You go there – and the valleys open up, where the indigenous population of our region lives – the Voguls. Reindeer pastures, herds, houses that look like yurts.

* * *

– You published a book this year. For what?

– Firstly, over the years that I have been playing, a lot of information has accumulated – I wanted to share it. Maybe help one of your colleagues. We have a young sport, unlike in football, where each team has a goalkeeping coach.

I wrote it myself. I sat down at the computer and wrote.

– It seemed to me like a term paper – one borrowing on the other.

– I agree that it looks like a course paper – after all, this is my first experience, I do not pretend to a literary award. But even in term paper, there are things that can help.

– The sports book that made the biggest impression on you?

– Biography of Sven-Göran Eriksson. There, for example, about how to get out of depression – not only for athletes, in general for everyone. Well, in general, there is a lot about psychology – and in modern sports, it is she who decides, and not physics. The most striking example of this is when we VIZ won the UEFA Cup in 2008. In the final, we played with the Spanish “El Pozo” – in terms of composition, experience, they were stronger in everything. But we believed in ourselves, showed character, endured, and won on penalties.

– In the book you write about some amazing exercises that you practice. One of them: without looking up, look at the pencil for several minutes. For what?

– Not necessarily a pencil – even a pen, even a phone. You take it and look. Watch without looking away. You look, concentrating, not being distracted, not thinking about anything – just stupidity. This is useful, because in the game you concentrate on the ball in the same way – you follow it, and what happens around is completely unimportant. I can look at a pencil for a minute or two. The goal is to learn not to think about anything but one thing.

– Another exercise is playing silence.

– Mostly at training camps – you shouldn’t do this at home. I wake up and start to be silent. Well, “hello hello” is possible – that’s all. I don’t warn anyone about this – that’s the point. The interlocutor is trying to bring you to some kind of dialogue, you are silent and this puts him into a kind of stupor. But goalkeepers are always said to be crazy people. My record is that I didn’t say a word for two days, absolute silence.

This is, firstly, concentration. Secondly, internal dialogue. Well, it is also interesting to observe the reaction of others to your silence. Still, a person is a social being, and when you drop out of communication for a while, there is a different reaction. Someone gets mad, someone says that your head is not right. Being able not to react to annoying factors is also useful.

– You practice qigong.

– At one time there were problems with preparing for matches: I realized that I was not reaching the optimal state. After talking with some people who practice breathing exercises, I decided to try it. It began to work out. Basically – like exercising in the morning. Well, during the warm-up before the game, I try to monitor my breathing.

– You were once coached by a handball goalkeeper.

— I was lucky: Tamara Aleksandrovna Morozova is a wonderful coach. She worked in UPI , in the handball team UPI -Patra. Sergey Bannikov, our trainer at UPI , asked her to work with us. The technique of kicking, the attitude to the matter, the understanding that the goalkeeper is more than a player – all this comes from her.

Plus, she taught me how to hit the ball correctly. It is clear that the technique is different: in handball they throw from top to bottom, in futsal they hit from bottom to top. But thanks to her, I learned how to turn my foot on the ball correctly. There was an exercise when she taught us how to turn the pelvis correctly. To the one who unfolded badly, she gave a pendel. It doesn’t seem to hurt, but it’s strange: a woman beats!

Are futsal goalkeepers really trained with a tennis racket?

— Yes, this is practiced now. The coach takes a racket and a lot of tennis balls and hits the goal from different distances. It helps to develop automatism: you react to the ball without thinking: the hand-foot went – and you know exactly where it will meet the ball.

* * *

– The most unusual conditions you have ever played in?

– When Evgeny Lovchev’s Spartak still existed, they played their matches at HSS Friendship. There, the tribune hangs behind the gates – this is how they regularly spat at goalkeepers from it and threw coins at them. Previously, one could regularly hear mate from behind the gate, but when I played, I earned a little authority, the situation changed. Sometimes they say: “Seryoga, well, skip at least a golik.”

We also played a friendly match against El Pozo in Spain. There was a hall where the air conditioner worked only on one half of the field. It turned out that in the first half you were fried, and in the second half you were cold.

Huge flies once flew in Brazil. After all, they don’t build halls as thoroughly as we do here. We set up a tent – and forward. The flies reacted to sweat and flocked. We joked with each other: like cows in a pasture, just have time to brush it off.

– A match when you were really dumb?

— My first trip to Brazil. In 1999, I went there with the Russian student team, and we played a friendly match with the Brazilian national team. They came out – for the first time in my life I saw 8 thousand people in the stands, who were yelling with might and main. Your partner is two meters away from you, but the noise is such that you cannot say a word to him. Against us are Manuel Tobias, Schumacher and other stars who, at 1996 became world champions. Previously, I saw them only on TV, but now they are on the same platform with you. For the first time in my life, I had a tremor in my knees – they were really shaking.

But after this trip, I began to look at football with different eyes. Firstly, I realized that I can’t do anything at all in football: against the background of Brazilian stars, I looked very weak. It’s great that I went at that age. Because I realized that I need to plow. And there was still time for this work to give some result.

— How many times have you been to Brazil?

– Eight. There were many places. I remember well the trip to Recife – six degrees to the equator. Unreal humidity: when we trained, after 15 minutes I had to take off my T-shirt and wring it out. As a rule, I brought coffee from Brazil – it is different and very tasty there. Sometimes he carried 5-7 kilograms.

— The most unexpected point on the map, where did futsal take you?

– Igarka. We flew to Norilsk, but due to the weather, the airport did not accept flights there. Our AN-24 had to be landed in Igarka, which is a very small settlement, but there is an airport there: shift workers arrive there and fly by helicopter to other places in the Far North. We got off the plane – the snow was naturally knee-deep. The airport building, 300 meters from it is a hotel, between them there are five or six houses without windows and doors, all around is tundra. You walk and think that you are in a horror movie and now zombies will crawl in from all sides.

Drunk shift workers were walking along the hotel corridor offering drinks. There was a small shop at the airport — dried fish, caviar. Before leaving, we did some shopping there and the joyful saleswoman said: “After you, I can not work for six months.”

* * *

– They say you are a fan of aquarium fish.

– At one time I was breeding them. Now I keep it for the soul, I like it. I have a small 200-liter aquarium, two fish live there now. In a way, it’s like fishing. You keep an eye on the aquarium, fiddle with the fish – you switch and relax. I have a friend who says: “You should always switch your TV. You can’t work on one channel.” Fish are one of those things that helps me change the channel.

– Partners in “Dina” made you more than once at the knitting training camp. Really?

– I try not to talk about this: after all, there is a stereotype that knitting is a purely female occupation. Although, in fact, it used to be thought that it was purely masculine. The story is like this. My daughter came from school and said: dad, we were taught to crochet at the labor lesson, nothing worked out for me, the teacher asked me to practice at home. Well, that’s it, we sat down at the computer, opened the almighty YouTube and began to learn from the videos. I got hooked, got a taste of it and knitted blankets for her dolls. Then he decided to improve his skills and knitted socks for his wife, daughter and himself. My daughter passed by five.

Knitting is also useful. Firstly, it develops fine motor skills of the fingers. Secondly, it develops concentration.

– You like heavy music. Which one?

– Metallica – in 2010 I even had a chance to visit their concert. My wife made a birthday present – tickets to their Moscow concert, specially flew with her from Yekaterinburg. Always dreamed of an unforgettable experience. I first heard them in 1991 – when their famous “Black Album” and Nothing Else Matters came out. And it was not a cassette, but a disk. My friend had a computer – at that time it was just space. I copied from him on a cassette and began to drive it to holes.

I also love Pink Floyd, AC/DC — Angus in shorts and frontman Brian Johnson are legendary people.

My three favorite things from Metallica? Master of Puppets. Stone Dead Forever. And No Leaf Clover is a song from an album that was recorded with a symphony orchestra.

– You have the names of your wife and daughter in Sanskrit engraved on your hands. Why on it?

– An ancient language, considered the mother of all languages, according to many studies, Russian also originated from it. For a long time I chose between Sanskrit and Russian, weighed it and decided to fill it with it. Looks unusual and beautiful.

* * *

– You are one of those who refused to play for the Russian national team, because it is full of naturalized Brazilians.

– I have expressed my civil position. Maybe I’m mistaken, maybe I’m intolerant, but I think: the players who were born and raised here should play in the national team. My conviction is that even if the legionnaires remain in our country, their souls will still be where they spent their childhood and youth. I repeat, I may be wrong, but I made such a decision. The attitude in the team has changed. When there were only our guys, it was easier to come to an agreement – both in terms of the game and just the team was stronger.

As a human being, I have a wonderful attitude towards legionnaires. I don’t like the attitude in the game. When you need to endure, when you need to step on your own toad’s throat, this does not always happen.

– This happened after losing the Euro 2012 final, right? What exactly happened there?

– Someone will think: I was offended that I was not put in the final (the goalkeeper of “Sibiryak” and “Dynamo” Gustavo played at the gate. – Sports.ru ). No, it’s the coach’s choice. Firstly, I was tired and, perhaps, that’s why I threw everything out at Media . I could be wrong about this – I should have announced more quietly. Many misunderstood my words, thought that I was a fascist, racist, Nazi. I am about something else. I talked about the attitude towards football players in the national team, and not about who is what color. We all live on the same planet, all people with two arms and legs. It’s about the team. If legionnaires make mistakes in a match for the national team, they are not told anything. When the same thing happens to our footballers, they are shoved to the fullest. Some are imprisoned for this for a can, others play for the same. It is not right. I was taught, with whom and wherever I played, that everyone is equal on the football field. Even if you are a four-time world champion, but you are afraid, you do not play.

* * *

— My main impression of the Champions League Futsal Final Four is that most teams play with a keeper. Why are Latin goalkeepers so great with their feet, while ours are not?

– I may be wrong, but as I understand it, in Brazil, goalkeepers are those who could not become an outfield player. That is, they have skills. In our country, the goalkeeper is perceived as a shield – to hit. It is only now that it is being used.

I first saw such a game at 1999 – just when we were in Brazil. The match of the Cup of the country, in both teams the goalkeepers joined the attack – for me it was a real discovery. I’m used to the fact that we don’t go beyond ten meters, but here they connected and hit the goal shamelessly – this was encouraged by the coaches and was perceived as part of the tactic. I looked and did not understand what it was for. Moreover, the match ended with a score of 12:9.

— Do you protest this tactic now?

– I think this is killing our sport. We have a 4v4 game – people come to watch just that. It happens when teams kill time this way. Previously, people simply stood in their half of the field and rolled the ball – for 10, 15 minutes. It was pointless to go and take the ball from them – because you were simply torn apart. Now, after changing the rules, this is impossible, but still.