Goalkeeping Tips
No, this isn't humor, but just a page for you goalies out there that need a little help!
Grounders. Keep your legs straight, with your feet a few inches apart, and bend forward at the waist as the ball arrives. Reach your arms down with your palms forward and slightly cupped. Allow the ball to roll up into your wrists and forearms. Return to an upright position, clutching the ball tightly to your chest.
Chest & lower air balls. For balls that arrive between ankles and waist, bend forward at the waist as the ball arrives, extend arms down with palms up, receive ball with wrists and forearms and cup it to the chest.
Chest & higher air balls. Position your hands in the diamond position with fingers spread and thumbs almost touching, extend your arms, slightly flexed at the elbows toward the ball, catch the ball with your fingertips and use arms to cushion impact and cup it to your chest. You can also hop up to receive the ball.
Diving. Step with the foot nearest the ball in the direction you are going to dive, push off that foot, extend your arms and hands toward the ball, position your hands in a sideways "w" and receive the ball on your fingertips & palms, pin ball to ground, & contact the ground with your side, not your stomach.
Collapsing on the Ball. Collapse on your side, bringing the ball in and your top leg up in a fetal position. Don't lie on your back or stomach, but on your side.
Distributing the Ball. Rolling, throwing (overhand, underhand, etc.), kicking, drop kicking. Kicking is less accurate than throwing.
Stay tuned for more SouthernAngel's sports!