Rhea taking the helm for Wimbledon indoor

With James Bailey busy with international duties, the decision to have a second goalkeeper in the first team squad is starting to take shape and make a lot of sense. And with the departure of Millington, having Rhea available to start gave Wimbledon the opportunity to focus their efforts behind a regular and consistent goalkeeper between the posts for the indoor season.

For Rhea it gave him the chance to get more playing time with other team mates (which always helps for communication purposes with defenders etc.) and get some indoor action to help with his USA selection, experience he can fall back on when called up to play for them in indoor competitions.

http://www.hockeyimages.co.uk/4j67973-1

Potton major boost for Sevenoaks

In a move similar to that of his predecessor (George Harris) at East Grinstead, who went to play for Fareham where he has been a rock for their defence, Potton has left the Premier league side and joined Sevenoaks in their national league push this season. With EG signing Patrick Smith from Cannock and him taking the position of incumbent first choice goalkeeper, a move seemed likely for regular playing time (I don't know too many national league goalkeepers that are happy to bench!) and with Giles Deakin there already, various connections made the move obvious.

Potts brings with him a wealth of experience (playing in Euro Hockey League action along with Premier league apperances) and an elite level playing standard (being involved in the England squad when Brothers was unavailable and a broken toe removing other options for cover for example). With him to organise the defence, Sevenoaks can really benefit and attack with confidence in not conceding.

Interestingly, the coaching staff have gone ahead with giving both Giles and Potts playing time during games, rather than a game split (i.e. one game on, one game off) between the duo. This is interesting because of how the defence has to respond to the changes, and the affect it has on the goalkeepers.

Like changing a QB (quarter back) in American Football as a parallel as the goalkeeper is the bedrock of the defensive line, the goalkeepers themselves have to work on their concentration and effort, giving it all they've got for their half, whilst being alert to any dangers. They also need to communicate well with their defenders and come to an understanding to match their playstyles so that the defence gets used to the goalkeeper behind them for the next 35 minutes and so on, if continued throughout the season.

Given their league position so far (joint third), I'm sure they can go into the second half of the season with confidence pushing for winning results.

Potts is sure to be acknowledged for his efforts, with his indoor experience coming in handy as well with the Oaks' success in the Super Sixes currently.

http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/20151018-Southgate-v-Sevenoaks/G0000zLNRAiW8eSk/I0000a.m6vcru8hI/C0000c4Rt8kydBRU

http://www.hockeyimages.co.uk/4j67329-1

Dierickx playing for Swiss indoor squad

Another interesting point is that Dierickx was involved in the Swiss indoor league this season, making the travel at weekends to join the squad for games and focusing on personal training to keep him ship shape. He was successful at winning goalkeeper of the tournament for his efforts. And more than that, shows an interesting change in hockey players looking to make the most of opportunities to play abroad, even if for a change of pace and standard/level of exposure, due to changes in the game across the globe.

You can read more here, although might need Google translate to get a fuller picture!

http://okey.lalibre.be/fr/international-laurent-dierickx-meilleur-gardien-en-suisse.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=1151

Neusser helps EG to back to back medals in Maxifuels indoor tournie

Filip Neusser was in good form at the weekend for East Grinstead to help them to back to back success in the Maxifuels finals. After signing with the Sussex based club last year Neusser made the trip back to offer them an experienced goalkeeper with indoor pedigree as they looked to challenge for titles in England and in the Euro league competition. Rushing around like a madman apparently, Neusser was in fine form and put in the legwork to make the difference.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/hockey/10613759/Towering-Czech-goalkeeper-Filip-Neusser-stands-out-from-Wembley-crowd-to-lift-East-Grinstead.html

TK producing indoor pad covers??

With quite a few goalkeepers wearing TK embroided pad covers for indoor hockey in England, one wonders whether they will actually be producing them in the near future. Although they look more like a design in the vein of adapted pillow cases, taped on at the sides of the pads, versus the strapping system Verbunt use, someone has still made the effort to get the TK logo embroided on them! Canterbury's Diccon Stubbings (as illustrates below) could be seen wearing them, with a few others spotted in them. James Bailey has also been spotted in them in indoor action for club side Reading and internationally with England indoor of late. Allan Dick playing for Holcombe was also wearing them at the Maxifuels Finals in Wembley yesterday. Seem to be quite a few of the England sponsored TK goalies in them, so are they going to be on the market any time soon?!

Dick and Forrester representing Scotland in indoor

With the indoor season more than underway, international friendlies are also on the go. Scottish international and Holcombe star Allan Dick has been playing for his country in indoor competition alongside fellow National League East Conference compatriot (and opponent!) David Forrester. Both have been partaking in the English indoor season so far with Allan playing for his Kent side club and David playing for Essex side Old Loughtonians. Or at least David will be, when his fixtures start at the weekend!! Holcombe have been doing pretty well so far, and having helped them gain promotion to the Premier division last seaso, I'm sure Allan will being doing all he can to help them stay! Unfortunately no photos/videos (that I've been able to uncover!) of the guys in action for Scotland!

Tube rhp popular in English indoor

Another interesting thing to pick up on for the indoor season so far is the preference for the tube style rhp for ground work and low to ground technique; with clearances and stick tackling easier with that sweeping motion and greater level of contact when diving etc. Although there is a bit of an even split in the men's premier division, there are a fair amount of goalkeepers making use of this style of glove. Filip Neusser (who wears the same rhp for outdoor play anyway!), along with Bowdon's Rob Turner, who has previously prefered the larger blocking surface of the hi rebound Obo rhp are some key wearers of this style of glove. Deakin playing for Sevenoaks (ex-EG) also prefers this style of glove for indoor and outdoor. Interestingly Maddie Hinch in the women's is using the larger hi rebound as mentioned, compared to her usual use of the hi control design.

http://adykerry.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/EHB-Picture-service-2013-2014/G0000WDa_LRS.izM/I0000I6FaTbbolj8

http://adykerry.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/EHB-Picture-service-2013-2014/G0000WDa_LRS.izM/I00000hJmJ3jWlWU

Brothers playing indoor as season gets underway...

With the indoor season underway in England, and the Maxifuel 5's series taking place under the new indoor rules format changes, it looks like Nick Brothers is back playing for Reading, albeit indoors for now! Not sure if there's anything on the rumour train to suggest if he's making a comeback, but interesting to see him playing again after his retirement (perhaps it'll be short lived?!). There was a lot of high scoring games so far in the men's, and the next round will take place next weekend.

I can't seem to embed the video (as usual!), so here is the link for the video:

link

Super 9 Series goalie highlights

With the Super 9 Series game highlights having been up for a while, the compulsory (well, it's got to be!) highlight reel is up on Youtube. A la the NHL and some of the football top 10 rundowns you can see some of the world's best goalies in action for their home nations. With the altered format making life difficult for those "under the crossbar" it's great to learn and observe how inventive they are with their save making, which is something you might find useful for bringing into your own game, especially with the need for quick, fast paced adaptive changes and movement around the D, as with the indoor game, where the mobile goalkeepers achieve better results!!

Annoyingly I can't seem to embed this clip (which would have been nice!), so you'll just have to click the link to see the goalies in action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qD8xB07nPk