By Lisa Brown
It’s time to check in with that ever so special group of ringette players known as the goalies.
Recently, I was chatting with Leanne Fedor, who played goalie for the Canadian Ringette team from 2002-2007. I asked her how ringette goalies like her are so good at stopping breakaways.
(Of course, I was listening for a couple tips that could help me score even more!)
Here are the highlights of what I got out of Leanne:
- On a breakaway, patience is the key for a goalie.Players are most often going to make more than one move so you have to stay in position for that first move and not fall for it.
Some goalies get into big trouble because they go down early and leave the net wide open for the shooter.
- Watch the player’s stomach when she is skating in.You cannot “fake” with your stomach (you should try this some time, it looks hilarious!).
If a player’s stomach is headed to the right, that is where the rest of her body is going also.
- Never get caught flat footed (standing still).You can’t react fast enough when you are standing still. Ringette goalies should start out at the top of their crease and back in slowly with the shooter as they are coming in.
Some goalies make the mistake of moving towards a player when they are coming in. If you make this mistake, you can kiss your shutout goodbye!
- Stay big. Everyone thinks the goalie is intimidated on a breakaway. In fact, a goalie can intimidate a shooter into taking a bad shot by staying big!
Shooters, do you know the secrets to scoring on a breakaway?
- Use your speed (and I mean all of your speed!)
- Do not plan your move before you shoot. Rather, read what the goalie gives you and then react.
- If the goalie is challenging “too far” out of her net, then deke her. If the goalie is sitting back in her net, shoot for the corners without deking.
- Visualize breakaways often and tell yourself, “I can do it. I can score!” This will help you when you are facing a showdown with a goalie.
