Diving feet first

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[dave711]

I was told today, that this is a no-no. But i do it lots of the time. I much prefer doing this cos it means i have more of the pad to get the ball with. and also, it either stops the attacker, or sends them flying! anybody else share this view, or do you think it is a no no also?

[Goalie64]

If you send the attacker flying you should expect a PC and possible yellow card.

Remember, your attempt to get the ball should not be making contact with the attcking player.

[dave711]

if i get the ball and he carries on running into me, then how can i be at fault?

[Snoody]

If you commit to a feet-first challenge and send the attacker flying, even if you get the ball, it should be at least PC and yellow, as G64 says. And if the umpire thinks it was a deliberate act on your part, PS and longer yellow. Certainly if I was umpiring and I saw you do it, I'd likely be pointing to the spot.

If you're static and the attacker genuinely runs into you, then it is likely to be a FHD. But I'm presuming from your first post that you're moving and probably aiming to get man and/or ball. And honestly, if you are static and sitting there, feet-first waiting for an attacker to conveniently run into you, then something has gone majorly wrong in your goalkeeping technique... (no offence)

[ozzie]

I much prefer doing this cos it means i have more of the pad to get the ball with.

thats true.. although control and vision would be really limited - and yeah, despite you being a goalie, i don't think you'd get away with full on karate kicking some forward.

and surely you can't move through the air as fast?

[The Camel]

...or sends them flying!

What's the appeal of doing this? Why would you want to inflict pain on someone else? What's wrong with just stopping the ball? Change your objective dude!

[gratcliffe_96]

surely if dave gets the ball, then it does not matter whether the attacker does a front flip?(unless he deliberately changes his path to take the forward after he has the ball) i was always of the understanding if you got the ball then it was ok, please correct me if i am wrong.

[mani]

When you say 'feet first'......do you mean like a 2 footed lunge in football?

[DoubleR]

Nothing wrong with tackling with your feet if you need to - depends what you mean by diving in feet first though.  As a word of warning from my experience in recent years and the higher level you go "collisions" with outfield players seem to be getting more and more PC's and PS's against.  While it may be fun to go for the wipeout good players don't care that you knocked them over once, they'll still come back and try to score.

[dave711]

i think you guys are getting me wrong. I'm not like intending to kill this person who is running at me. I think a better way to phrase it would be to be "PAD" first, so that i could make contact with the ball with my pad, and clear it like that. Not a roy keane attempted assault!

[dave711]

ahI think my mistake was in saying "diving." apologies. Ok, almost, sliding out PAD first, might well be a better way to put it. Almost logging, but whilst propelling myself forwards, so that i can block the ball from going towards to ball, and making contact with the ball to clear it.

[Freebird]

Is this kind of feet first as if you were heading down a waterslide? 

Going in sideways you provide a greater surface area, and reduce the chances of the player slipping it past you. It's a strange thing to practice to get the best technique.

[dave711]

Not, going down a water slide, but this is more going in for a tackle, PADS first. I was told the other day that I should not do this, and should stay up and if i DO go down, to try get the ball with my stick and hands. This seemed a l ittle strange to me, because I prefer using my pads on the floor because they do a better job of blocking the ball from getting towards the goal.

[ozzie]

I think I understand what you are talking about, dave...

I did this for a while     and I think that if your going to commit to it you need to make sure you do so with a great deal of speed - otherwise there is far too much chance of the player casually dribbling the ball past you.

do you keep your legs completely straight, when tackling this way?

[biggaygoalie]

Dave it's all situational. As a rough guide, if the attacker has good control of the ball, stay up, slow him down and wait for an opportunity to make a tackle. I personally would suggest that using stick and gloves for this tackle would be effective as you have more control, better vision and don't risk ending up on your arse.

If the attacker doesn't have control of the ball i.e. moving at pace with the ball in a poor carrying positioin (be careful moving up the levels, it is incredible where certain players can get a shot away from!) you've a better chance of winning the ball by going to ground. In this instance, the traditional slide on the hip or outside of the bottom leg is very effective, try to keep it one fluid movement and make sure you hit the ball with enough pace to get it clear. Be wary of trying to "take the player out" as decent forwards have no fear of 'keepers and some will simply lie on you and stop you getting up properly.

Good luck