Category: Positions
Type: Tip
MAKING THE SAVE - 1
As a continuation of our look at the goaltending skills, we have already established the responsibilities of the goalie (See Philosophy of Goaltending) as well as your standard position (See Goalie Standard Position), waiting for the shot. The shot is coming…..now what???
There are several things that you could do to stop the shot. Much like hockey goaltenders, water polo goalies, after playing a while come up with their own style of blocking the shot. It may be a one-handed lunge for the ball, or it may be two handed. Some goalies may decide not to lunge for the ball, in order to not leave an entire open net for a rebound. Either way, there is one thing in common, they all get very high out of the water. Goalies, when they commit to a shot, should get their torso and stomach (at least to the middle abdominal muscle) out of the water to try and cover the cage. It helps when trying to make that save at the upper corners and practically eliminates the goalie 5-hole (right above your head).
One of the more common styles of save techniques is the T save (also referred to as the “iron cross”). To do the T save, the goalie begins in the standard position (hips up at the surface of the water, upper body hunched over, legs and hands churning hard). The shot comes and the goalie gives one last push in the water with the hands and keeps the legs cranking. The chest and head sit vertically above the water and arms are spread out wide to the side. From this position, the goalie can move his arms up or down in the air to stop the shot. Do NOT swing your arms toward the shot (you are not playing tennis, you know). This will cause the ball to fly out back into the field of play leaving an opportunity for a rebound shot and open net, catching you (the goalie) during your recovery from your initial save possibly leaving an open net to shot at. Just letting the ball hit the arms and hands will most likely cause the ball to go directly into the water in front of you or up in the air and over you head. Other shots may ricochet to the corners of the pool, which is still in the field of play, but doesn’t leave a direct return shot on the net, giving the possible shooter a very tough angle to hit.
Some people get confused, wanting to use their dominant hand all of the time to make the save, while pulling themselves through the water with their other arm. Resist this, as it is very ineffective. Your body is not square to the shooter, and this leaves way more net to be open, should the shooter decide to make a different shot.
This that I have described to you is just one of the standard save techniques. Some of the best water polo goalies in the world use this type of save regularly. Beginning goalies will find this style to be very comfortable. More will come on different ways to stop the ball. Play hard and remember…”if you touch you stop it.”
Submitted by: Coach Dave
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