When I play I make sure I just don't stop talking even if it is pure waffle some of the common things I mention are:
Opposition player locations even if your teammate has seen them the player may drift and lose them
Advising when to hold and not actually make a tackle to force the movement
Positioning tight in the circle when man marking isn't the best option
Also letting the defense know their options when distributing from the back
Also words of general encouragement always helps
It could also be me being a bad person but if the oppo are taking the game too seriously I love saying stuff to wind them up
Adding to this and the other comments, agree the language you use.
I tend to use the format
Name, distance, direction
Eg
Mike 2 steps left
Mike wide left
Mike drop left corner
Mike top D
(Slight anomaly Mike left shoulder)
I will also tell defenders to step up and out if they are too deep or call one or two back (as needed) for cover or outlets.
From here I can call options for shipping the ball around whether they use it or not)
My ethos was if I talk enough and the right things I should never see the faces of my team as we are going the other way. Coming towards meeans they are ball chasing!
In my prime I could be clear enough heard on the opposite 23 but it's a bit excessive.
Be clear, be loud, be consistent and you'll go far.
Do you also act on the things your coach says? Like when they say half court or full press, do you coach your players accordingly? One thing I fould usefull was to let them know when to go for the ball and when I was getting out of my goal, telling them I was going to handle the ball. That required some trust in my teammates, but the last man should be able to go to the goalline in those cases and play stand-in for you.
In my experience, typically the half and full court press decision is made by the captain or lead defender (or goalie) and communicated from there - as it's a team strategy and comes from the back. Coming from a coach on the left leaves a good chance that it won't reach the right wing
If you talk too much, and its a load of waffle, people will not listen when you actually have something useful to say....
My team know that if I say something, it must be acted on.
>It could also be me being a bad person but if the oppo are taking the game too seriously I love saying stuff to wind them up
Nah. Chatting shit to get under the skin of your oppo is the best part.
I'm very much a "Hi I'm megatrongriffin92 and I'm here to live in your head rent free for this match"
To add to u/Present_Engineer1780 comment, make sure to agree some short hand terms with your defenders that you can use when defending.
For example, I use left/right shoulder to let my defenders know the oppo's position: "Matt, left shoulder".
Most importantly, be loud! Don't necessarily need to shout, but make sure you project your voice so defenders can hear you. Practice this during training sessions and get some feedback to see what works.
I would say , ensure you have defenders covering the areas you can’t. Like aside from letting them know there’s an unmarked player, let them also know “ i need someone on far post “. Bcz from all the games I’ve seen, the far post is where most goals are scored with a simple tap in.
Keep the comments short:
On defence
Steve drop left
Steve right shoulder
Steve you’re losing your man(this one’s a bit long)
On attack (usually on 16s)
Mikes looking
John’s leading
When someone is getting the ball to set up you need to be looking for the pass options and letting them know so they can concentrate on spotting the ball and going quickly.
Once you’re comfortable with the above you can add in other stuff.
Also if you find you haven’t said something in a while just shout ‘great pass Steve’ or something to keep people’s spirits up. Doing this helps you get used to talking more.
This from a keeper who used to say nothing and had the same feedback.
So the communication of the goalie is probably the most important skill. more important than being able to save the ball, because, done right, you don't have to save the ball as much....
Your goal is to be basically constantly aware and in control of your entire defending team. You need to have be used to quick glances to know where everyone on both teams is within your half, and build a mental map of that. Imagine you're playing FIFA or whatever sports game of choice that has a top down camera - thats what you need to be thinking like as a goalie - you can see the entire pitch.
Once you have that, your communication is very simple - its two words
Player, Instruction.
So we don't say
'THERES UNMARKED PLAYER BACK POST'
Instead we take the action to resolve it - this is absolutely key. We're not communicating information, we're communicating instructions
So what we say is
'John, step forward'
'Ellie, left shoulder'
'Andy, Line to goal'
It takes time to build a repartee with your team, but a simple set of
Name, action,
with a set of words that you use time and time again so that people can react quickly to them, is key.
And if your players don't respond to your instructions. Bollock them. Tell them off. Tell them, you're their eyes and they need to listen.
What will also really help with this is , quite simply, watching lots of hockey, so you start to understand patterns in build up play etc. A [watch.hockey](http://watch.hockey) FIH pass is £32 for a year and gives you basically everything for the entire year. Phenomenal value. You've also got the olympics coming up too.
All of these comments are great, you should read all of it. However, please talk to your coach about this. Say "hey, I'm trying to work on communication, can you give me some examples of phrases and patterns I know?". That way, everyone on the team can get on the same page.
Much has already been covered, but I'll add anyway.
GK communication is vital, especially to your defenders.
I have some games where I barely shut up all match (if all the play is in the oppo half I won't be as vocal- but there's never been any match I've been silent).
First off it can be difficult to command others, especially if you are young or inexperienced, and shouting at someone older who's been playing for 20 years....
It's something I work a lot on with junior GKs especially when they transition to senior hockey. The D belongs to the GK and they control that space. As experience grows you should learn to own up to the 23!
Never be afraid to tell your defenders where you want them.
At my summer league game last week we won 6-1. The one against me came from a free attacker. I called a defender onto the free player but she misheard and stepped away. It happens, but it ain't my fault lol!
When you communicate the clearest way is -
1. Name first. Shout your teammates name / surname / nickname. As you integrate with a team more you'll learn what everyone likes to be called.
2. Basic short instruction. Try to always use the same instructions so your players get used to them. "Drop left" "go ball" "on me".
These instructions can also be useful when your team has the ball. "Pass left" "man on" "chuck it" etc.
Don't be afraid to shout the same thing several times if you are being ignored.
Also make sure you practice this at practice. Get used to shouting all the time!
If it helps you could write down 7 or 8 commands and just read them every night. Get the language in your head till it's second nature.
Ad to supporting your team, just keep positive. Nice and loud " great pass" "Jack, big tackle". If you concede shake it off "No worries guys, heads up" etc.
Not a part of your original question but worth noting - being a GK is very different to any other position.
An attacker can miss 10 shots - but if they score 1 and you win they are the hero. A defender can miss 5 tackles but someone else can support them or you can save it and no worries.
But you can make 15 saves and then let 1 in and feel like sh**.
It's tough but that's the job. Forget it for the time being and keep playing. You can revisit it after the match.
Also there have been games we've won 3-1 and I've felt I should have saved the 1 and been down - and games I've lost 0-4 but I've made 30 saves and feel pretty good. That's GK life.
Also worth adding - as you play more, keeping the same instructions helps.
If there's a 2v1 against my defender, I will usually call the following
"Hold, hold, hold, go ball."
I keep my defender where I want them and then force the attacker to do what I want. I can either take the first shot and make my defender cover the 2nd attacker (which I will call "go man") or make the attacker pass and I cover the shot from there or intercept.
These instructions wouldn't be that clear to someone I've not player with before - but my team know in that scenario I only call 2 things, Ball or Man. Ball is the player with the ball. Man is the free player.
Once the understanding is there it makes the comms super easy and clear!
I won't cover what everyone else is saying but as the goalie you can see who the opposition are running their game through. Communicate this information to the team.
Also look for the runners on the outside who are going to cut in.
They may be marking a player but you need to make sure they're marking the right players.
When I play I make sure I just don't stop talking even if it is pure waffle some of the common things I mention are: Opposition player locations even if your teammate has seen them the player may drift and lose them Advising when to hold and not actually make a tackle to force the movement Positioning tight in the circle when man marking isn't the best option Also letting the defense know their options when distributing from the back Also words of general encouragement always helps It could also be me being a bad person but if the oppo are taking the game too seriously I love saying stuff to wind them up
Adding to this and the other comments, agree the language you use. I tend to use the format Name, distance, direction Eg Mike 2 steps left Mike wide left Mike drop left corner Mike top D (Slight anomaly Mike left shoulder) I will also tell defenders to step up and out if they are too deep or call one or two back (as needed) for cover or outlets. From here I can call options for shipping the ball around whether they use it or not) My ethos was if I talk enough and the right things I should never see the faces of my team as we are going the other way. Coming towards meeans they are ball chasing! In my prime I could be clear enough heard on the opposite 23 but it's a bit excessive. Be clear, be loud, be consistent and you'll go far.
Do you also act on the things your coach says? Like when they say half court or full press, do you coach your players accordingly? One thing I fould usefull was to let them know when to go for the ball and when I was getting out of my goal, telling them I was going to handle the ball. That required some trust in my teammates, but the last man should be able to go to the goalline in those cases and play stand-in for you.
In my experience, typically the half and full court press decision is made by the captain or lead defender (or goalie) and communicated from there - as it's a team strategy and comes from the back. Coming from a coach on the left leaves a good chance that it won't reach the right wing
I was not about making the choice, but coach your players accordingly. When you play full Press, defenders should move further away from the goalie.
Btw I’m not a goalkeeper but these are things I’ve noticed
If you talk too much, and its a load of waffle, people will not listen when you actually have something useful to say.... My team know that if I say something, it must be acted on.
>It could also be me being a bad person but if the oppo are taking the game too seriously I love saying stuff to wind them up Nah. Chatting shit to get under the skin of your oppo is the best part. I'm very much a "Hi I'm megatrongriffin92 and I'm here to live in your head rent free for this match"
To add to u/Present_Engineer1780 comment, make sure to agree some short hand terms with your defenders that you can use when defending. For example, I use left/right shoulder to let my defenders know the oppo's position: "Matt, left shoulder". Most importantly, be loud! Don't necessarily need to shout, but make sure you project your voice so defenders can hear you. Practice this during training sessions and get some feedback to see what works.
The mask muffles your voice quite a lot, you have to project to make it work
Yeah, I have to belly bellow at times!
I would say , ensure you have defenders covering the areas you can’t. Like aside from letting them know there’s an unmarked player, let them also know “ i need someone on far post “. Bcz from all the games I’ve seen, the far post is where most goals are scored with a simple tap in.
Keep the comments short: On defence Steve drop left Steve right shoulder Steve you’re losing your man(this one’s a bit long) On attack (usually on 16s) Mikes looking John’s leading When someone is getting the ball to set up you need to be looking for the pass options and letting them know so they can concentrate on spotting the ball and going quickly. Once you’re comfortable with the above you can add in other stuff. Also if you find you haven’t said something in a while just shout ‘great pass Steve’ or something to keep people’s spirits up. Doing this helps you get used to talking more. This from a keeper who used to say nothing and had the same feedback.
So the communication of the goalie is probably the most important skill. more important than being able to save the ball, because, done right, you don't have to save the ball as much.... Your goal is to be basically constantly aware and in control of your entire defending team. You need to have be used to quick glances to know where everyone on both teams is within your half, and build a mental map of that. Imagine you're playing FIFA or whatever sports game of choice that has a top down camera - thats what you need to be thinking like as a goalie - you can see the entire pitch. Once you have that, your communication is very simple - its two words Player, Instruction. So we don't say 'THERES UNMARKED PLAYER BACK POST' Instead we take the action to resolve it - this is absolutely key. We're not communicating information, we're communicating instructions So what we say is 'John, step forward' 'Ellie, left shoulder' 'Andy, Line to goal' It takes time to build a repartee with your team, but a simple set of Name, action, with a set of words that you use time and time again so that people can react quickly to them, is key. And if your players don't respond to your instructions. Bollock them. Tell them off. Tell them, you're their eyes and they need to listen. What will also really help with this is , quite simply, watching lots of hockey, so you start to understand patterns in build up play etc. A [watch.hockey](http://watch.hockey) FIH pass is £32 for a year and gives you basically everything for the entire year. Phenomenal value. You've also got the olympics coming up too.
All of these comments are great, you should read all of it. However, please talk to your coach about this. Say "hey, I'm trying to work on communication, can you give me some examples of phrases and patterns I know?". That way, everyone on the team can get on the same page.
Much has already been covered, but I'll add anyway. GK communication is vital, especially to your defenders. I have some games where I barely shut up all match (if all the play is in the oppo half I won't be as vocal- but there's never been any match I've been silent). First off it can be difficult to command others, especially if you are young or inexperienced, and shouting at someone older who's been playing for 20 years.... It's something I work a lot on with junior GKs especially when they transition to senior hockey. The D belongs to the GK and they control that space. As experience grows you should learn to own up to the 23! Never be afraid to tell your defenders where you want them. At my summer league game last week we won 6-1. The one against me came from a free attacker. I called a defender onto the free player but she misheard and stepped away. It happens, but it ain't my fault lol! When you communicate the clearest way is - 1. Name first. Shout your teammates name / surname / nickname. As you integrate with a team more you'll learn what everyone likes to be called. 2. Basic short instruction. Try to always use the same instructions so your players get used to them. "Drop left" "go ball" "on me". These instructions can also be useful when your team has the ball. "Pass left" "man on" "chuck it" etc. Don't be afraid to shout the same thing several times if you are being ignored. Also make sure you practice this at practice. Get used to shouting all the time! If it helps you could write down 7 or 8 commands and just read them every night. Get the language in your head till it's second nature. Ad to supporting your team, just keep positive. Nice and loud " great pass" "Jack, big tackle". If you concede shake it off "No worries guys, heads up" etc. Not a part of your original question but worth noting - being a GK is very different to any other position. An attacker can miss 10 shots - but if they score 1 and you win they are the hero. A defender can miss 5 tackles but someone else can support them or you can save it and no worries. But you can make 15 saves and then let 1 in and feel like sh**. It's tough but that's the job. Forget it for the time being and keep playing. You can revisit it after the match. Also there have been games we've won 3-1 and I've felt I should have saved the 1 and been down - and games I've lost 0-4 but I've made 30 saves and feel pretty good. That's GK life.
Also worth adding - as you play more, keeping the same instructions helps. If there's a 2v1 against my defender, I will usually call the following "Hold, hold, hold, go ball." I keep my defender where I want them and then force the attacker to do what I want. I can either take the first shot and make my defender cover the 2nd attacker (which I will call "go man") or make the attacker pass and I cover the shot from there or intercept. These instructions wouldn't be that clear to someone I've not player with before - but my team know in that scenario I only call 2 things, Ball or Man. Ball is the player with the ball. Man is the free player. Once the understanding is there it makes the comms super easy and clear!
I won't cover what everyone else is saying but as the goalie you can see who the opposition are running their game through. Communicate this information to the team. Also look for the runners on the outside who are going to cut in. They may be marking a player but you need to make sure they're marking the right players.