Floorball. The Goalie

In this sport the goalkeeper has a special role and equipment compared to all the other players. To stay in goal you need a lot of spirit of sacrifice and the right knee pads

Being a floorball goalie is almost a mission. Because being on your knees for almost 2 hours is not something everyone would do. Plus as a goalkeeper, you are the last defender on the pitch: an attacker can make mistakes, you can't.

But it is also a role full of satisfaction. There is no better feeling than saving an "unstoppable" shot or winning a 1v1 against an attacker launched alone towards the goal.

To start playing in goal you first need an approved helmet, body protectors and long knee pads. In floorball the goalkeeper does not use the stick like in ice or field hockey and saves using only his hands. Gloves are optional and in any case cannot increase the bulk of the hands as happens, for example, in football.

If helmets and protections are not available during demonstrations or workshops, especially with children, the goalkeeper is replaced by an outfield player equipped with a stick. A bit like what was done in the early days of this discipline.

Basic techniques in Floorball

The goalkeeper's characteristic position in floorball is kneeling, partially squatting (i.e. not sitting on his legs) and with his toes touching to prevent the ball from passing through. The head and torso are always facing the ball and the arms form a 90 degree angle with the chest. Important: Your hands must always be in your field of vision.

To block, apart from the "square" movements of the legs and "butterfly" movements of the arms, the criteria used in other sports are valid: remaining light on the legs and narrowing the attacker's field of vision as much as possible while advancing.