Area of assessment 2-
Weakness-Skill: one against one
This skill has proved difficult for me to get the technique correct every time. This is because
as a goalkeeper I need to attack the ball, meaning timing has to be perfect otherwise it could
result in a goal or me being sent off. A 1v1 happens when there is a break or a quick
turnover ball in which an attacker from the opposing team enters the D unattended. The
main components involved in executing this skill correctly are speed, tracking, positioning,
smothering and decision making. Speed is essential in the movement towards the player as
closing them down quickly allows me to pressure the attacking player to make a decision, as
the closer we get the less time available they have on the ball and the less area of the goal
they can see. Due to the angle of the goal being closed down for the attacker, this usually
forces them to take a quick shot in which is easily saved or attempt to take the ball around
me, which proves much harder. As a goalkeeper its essential that you are confident in
decision making as it reflects in your performance and allows you to assert a confident
presence within the D, this tends to put off the opposing team. Decision making has to be
very quick but also effective, this is because things happen very quickly in the D and there is
a lot of pressure to not concede or gain a short corner.
In a recent match this season, I was playing in a trial game for North England performance
centre, I was faced with a 1v1 situation. This was during the 65 th minute, we were 2-0 up
and Durham performance centre had caught us on the break. Due to the quick turnover, my
team didn’t react fast enough, leaving the opposing team plenty of time and space on the
ball to gain an advantage. As I was closing down the space between me and the attacker,
the phases leading up to my single smother stack were executed correctly and effectively.
This is because I had the speed to get off my line quickly, giving less time for the attacking
player to make a decision with the ball, my tracking was executed correctly, and I had run
out angled to my left so that the forward would take advantage of my right. However, this is
a strategical move as the right is my strong side, so I had pressured the forward to go the
way I wanted them to go which gave me an advantage. When I met the player at the top of
the D my timing was off due the fact that I had hesitated when making my decision as
whether to go and meet the player. This was because I was so focused on making a great
save to impress the scouts watching, this meant I had ineffectively placed myself in line with
goal. I had gone out too far to my left, so that I was in line with my left post. This left the
whole of the right-hand side of the goal open for the attacker and made it easy for them to
take the ball round me.
Compared to a correct execution, my stick wasn’t far enough out therefore I had less
coverage of the ground. I also had my legs in a double stack position this was because I
realised, I was too far left when attempting to go to ground, so I hesitated which meant I
didn’t get my body close enough to the ground to be in the correct single stack position. This
consequently made it harder for me to push my body across the floor in an attempt to take
, Millie Armond- Hockey Goalkeeper.
the ball from the forwards stick by sweeping my own stick across the ground once they had
taken it to the right of me. This then meant that they had an open shot on goal as I couldn’t
meet the ball and the player due to my legs being in the wrong position. This therefore
meant that Durham went 2-1 up, meaning we had to press high and defend strong for the
last 5 minutes of the game in an attempt to make the score 2-2.
Tracking-
Tracking is another essential skill when in a one vs one, this involves sideways movements
(similar to side stepping) which is essentially closing down the player and making the goal
less visible to the attacking player. This allows me to get the player to go the direction I want
them to go and also put them in a vulnerable situation that may force them to make a
mistake. Tracking also assists in getting the player into a position which is harder for them to
get a shot on goal as their back is facing me meaning they can’t see the goal. When tracking
the hands need to be at lowered to the ground, around knee height and in an open position,
this is because it makes it easier to cover any smaller flicks, a blind shot on goal and also
drop to the floor if necessary whilst also giving room to move and react to higher shots.
Additionally, during this process it’s important to keep your weight forwards, by staying on
the balls off your feet makes sure that if an initial save is made you don’t become
unbalanced an also when dropping to the ground there is no rotation backwards. when in
this situation I struggle to make sure that all the technique is correct this is because it’s a
highly stressful situation as I have no help from the defenders to clear the ball once a first
save and even rebound save is made.
Image2- this image you can see Maddie Hinch (EnglandWhenIncomparing
this image ofmy
me performance
you can see howto
mythat of
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and GB goalkeeper) shadowing the attacker using the Maddie’s I can differs
and stance see thatfromshe’s is Maddie’s
that of able to track
correct form and technique. the player successfully, this is down to a
number of contributing factors. The speed that
she comes off her line enables her to force the attacker into this position, where they have
their back to goal, allows the view of the goal to be hugely narrowed and also forces the
attacker to get their head down. This means the forward cannot get a shot off on goal
without taking the ball around her or transferring the ball wide or out and back into the D.
Her body positioning is kept low and close to the ground. By maintaining this position, it
makes her more agile and becomes easier to get into a smothering position or to dive across
the ground if the ball is sent to the wide post. The hips are positioned to be bent over the
body which allow the body to be closer to the ground and ensures that the movement
needed to go to floor would be done quicker and smoother. It also helps with creating more
power when going to ground, the body can be extended which creates a larger coverage of
the goal and also helps with quick movements needed when responding to a shot, for
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