How To Be A Good Field Hockey Goalkeeper

By: Kathryn Gierok

Break Studios Contributing Writer

By keeping some basic guidelines in mind, you can learn about how to be a good field hockey goalkeeper. As with most sports, learning how to be a great field hockey goalkeeper requires lots of practice. Athletes should be prepared to spend several hours each week devoted to the sport of field hockey in order to achieve optimal results.

  1. Learn the basics of the sport. This is essential in order to achieve great results as a field hockey goalkeeper. Goalkeepers should not only understand their basic duties, but also the responsibilities of the other players of the team. In addition, field hockey goalkeepers should understand how goals are scored and the intricacies of the sport in order to be most effective.
  2. Use the right equipment. Field hockey goalkeepers should have shoes, pads, and a field hockey goalkeeper's stick that is of the right length and weight for them. These sticks can typically be found at most sporting goods stores.
  3. Increase strength and endurance. Field hockey goalkeepers not only require high amounts of upper body strength, but also require explosive speed in order to quickly respond to goal attempts by opponents. Those who are interested in being a good field hockey goalkeeper should engage in both cardiovascular and strength training in order to be the best.
  4. Practice. Field hockey goalkeepers should devote several hours to the sport each week during the season, and at least a few hours per week, even in the offseason. This prevents extreme deconditioning, and ensures that players are in great shape at the start of each new season.
Posted on: Jan. 19, 2011