Diving feet first

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[Zak]

Something I used to do, (back in the days of black and white TV and grass pitches,) was to actually slide and out make the tackle with my right foot. (So my right foot and leg wer out 90 degrees from the rest of me, (like the vertical part of a letter T.) Suprised the heck out of the attackers, but still left ground coverage with my body, arm, stick and left leg. (Oh the days of being flexible eh???)

My excuse was that's how I used to play at football!

[unlivedexpert]

Every keeper has their own preference and style but it really depends on the situation whether you should slide feet first or use another method. As a general rule I slide sideways to the ball just before contact and act as more of a block to stop the ball. This does mean that on occasion the attacker lands at the other side of me. Please note I have not yet been carded or given away a PC. Alot of it has to do with experience and changing of rules. Hope this helps!

[DoubleR]

Ok, now i getcha....

All depends on the situation.  You may be more comfortable sliding to intercept/ block/ tackle with your pad but this leaves a big space round your "feet" side (as opposed to your "head" side) I think most importantly with this technique it needs to be timed right so that you are not offering a lift over you and you are not inviting an attacker to dribble round you.  An U21 international GK I used to play with used to slide out almost sat on his backside with his left inner leg and right outer leg in contact with the floor (if this makes sense) and would kick-through when he made contact, clearing the ball quite effectively.  With his body upright he could quickly extend to his right and be more mindful of lifted balls.

 You need to also be competent at making blocks, etc with your gloves and stick as situations developing in a game often demand it.

[CCG]

As an out field player, I'd hope this stops for my sake! However, I love watching people get sent flying from these sort of challenges (have been sent myself a few times) and for the entertainment of the game, please GKs, keep doing it! 

[mani]

UNLIVED......that has to be the most ridiculous post ive seen on here for a while.

Genuinely.

And your quote No ones got hurt yet from me doing it!............less said the better!

[Goalie64]

mani - spot on with your last comments.

unlived - I am genuinely shocked by your post.

[Snoody]

Absolutely mind-numbing stupidity.

Please, just re-read what you wrote, and if that's honestly how you feel, then I suggest packing up your gear and walking away from the game before you do yourself or someone else serious injury.

[unlivedexpert]

Sorry thats wot i get for doing too many things at once and not reading it after. I have deleted the post. 

[MrVaepOr]

well the way i was taught to go out is take the ball first and if you get the player bad luck its not your job to concern yourself with the opp players saftey?

[mosley59]

well the way i was taught to go out is take the ball first and if you get the player bad luck its not your job to concern yourself with the opp players saftey?

This is incredibly wrong. Please read the rules, especially the guidance to rule 10.3a - "Goalkeepers are not permitted to conduct themselves in a manner which is dangerous to other players by taking advantage of the protective equipment they wear.".
Basically, it IS your job to keep it safe, whether that be from a raised clearing kick or a slide for the ball. If you take out a player as a result of dangerous sliding, you could very well be looking at a PS and YC or RC. That said though, if you take the ball cleanly and the player keeps going straight into you and falls over you when they could have swerved away or jumped over you, it may be a FHD to you - I say MAY as the distances and positions will also effect this situation.

[Snoody]

well the way i was taught to go out is take the ball first and if you get the player bad luck its not your job to concern yourself with the opp players saftey?

No, that's just wrong. Whoever "taught" you is wrong. And if you keep doing it, you're just prolonging the error.
Read the rules. Learn the rules. Speak to other keepers who know the rules. In fact, watch decent hockey, like the EHL - when would you ever see that happening? Simple answer, you won't. Because. It's. Wrong.
You risk giving away PCs or PSs, being given yellows or reds, and injuring your opponent or yourself.

Clear enough?

[DoubleR]

Had a PC given against me for trying to make a tackle with my gloves - the player moved the ball round me and jumped over my hands making no contact with me whatsoever.  He still got a PC.

Have had PCs and PS given against me in Junior National level tournaments (some years ago now!!!) for tackling "aggressively" when winning the ball clean.

This is the way umpiring is going - maybe its right?  All you need to do is catch someone's ankle wrong, or see them land awkwardly and snap their collarbone. 


On the flip-side don't you worry about your own safety?  I've been knocked unconscious through a decent Bauer helmet in a collision with a player's knee or shins... not nice opening your eyes to see both umps and the oppo. GK stood over you!

[ozzie]

On the flip-side don't you worry about your own safety?  I've been knocked unconscious through a decent Bauer helmet in a collision with a player's knee or shins... not nice opening your eyes to see both umps and the oppo. GK stood over you!

did you make the save?

[DoubleR]

No idea!

Didn't save a PS that was awarded when the game was to resume (think this was for feet on the goal line by a defender).  Looking back on it I really should have gone to hospital.  Was only 14 at the time!

[Ninja GK]

A slide tackle that takes out the foward can play into developing a "big presence" on the field. Can make the forward think next time about getting the ball around you instead of getting it in the back of the cage. MAke no mistake though, stopping the shot is priority 1.