Calling all junior goalkeepers!

A good goalkeeper, stopping the opposition shots and running the defence as the ‘on field general’ is the backbone of any good hockey side.  These days, with light, protective modern equipment, the goalie is also mobile and well protected. 

SUHC values our goalkeepers and we will be running specialist goalkeeping training for our junior goalkeepers in 2012.

We are keen to see you there if you are already a goalkeeper, or even if you just want to give it a try – it doesn’t matter if you haven’t kept before.

We are really pleased to announce that, for this season, Dave McPherson, who has had an outstanding goalkeeping career at State League, National and International levels has kindly agreed to share his experience with our young goalkeepers.  We are also really pleased to announce that SUHC adult goalkeeper Brad Byrne will continue training our goalkeepers as he did last year.  Brad has made a real difference to our young goalies and brings tremendous enthusiasm to every session.  We also hope to announce another senior goalkeeper who can help us with training shortly.

Our expert coaches will teach our young players valuable skills in terms of positioning, stance, mobility and shot blocking.

With Dave’s involvement, our plan is to run a few less sessions than in prior years, but to substantially increase the intensity.

We will begin at Farm Road on Tuesday 28 February and Tuesday 6 March from 6.00 to 7.30.  During this time we will ‘kit up’ players with equipment and get the training underway. 

As we assess numbers we will advise of the plan for the rest of the season, but it will involve high intensity sessions about once every four weeks on Tuesdays at Farm Road – 6.00 to 7.00.  We will ‘lock in’ the dates for these sessions and advise you shortly.

This is a great opportunity to learn about goalkeeping, under instruction from a really experienced coach.

Could you please advise by email on jrarnold@tpg.com.au if you intend to attend, letting me know if you will need to borrow equipment and about your experience level, so that we can make sure we have enough people there to fit equipment and hit balls.

Roger Arnold

SUHC Junior Leader.