Dowse switches to helmet/cage combo: a reverse of trends

Equipment wise, it's also interesting to note that Dowse has switched from a mask to an old school helmet/cage combo style of head protection.

Cheaper as well as with a wider view for the goalkeeper with that extra advantage of greater peripheral vision being a difference maker (however slight) at the higher levels, this setup can provide a different approach to the game for various reasons. Still very popular in Holland, Germany and India, they are being used less and less in the English game at the top levels as trends change and styles evolve (at least definitely from the time they were introduced and the days of Ian Taylor!).

Whereas masks being based off ice hockey masks which have a more closed shape to aid in protecting the face, with the cage fixed on and screwed into the mask, the older approach has a wider vision, which can help compensate when dealing with broken plays and ones that need a more horizontal viewpoint, like pushing off the post to deal with a pass and shot towards the corner post.

With Canterbury's Stubbings having switched to a mask a few seasons back, and Allan Dick as well making the change in his headgear, there are notably fewer goalkeepers at the national league stage wearing this set-up. Jimi Lewis stuck with the setup to the end of his playing days, but Mason has actually stuck with his new ProMask mask since trying it out last season.

Tommy Alexander actually used to wear a mask in his early days at Reading before switching over at Surbiton and the Gym, whilst Bailey has always stuck with the helmet style as far as I know. With masks more readily available and popular it sticks out that young goalkeepers coming through the ranks are actively chooisng this style of headgear, with its greater peripheral vision at the small cost of protection around the face/ears. I'd like to think that this is down to a higher level knowledge base and a push towards wearing and using bespoke kit perfected to the user's needs and style (something Tommy talks a lot about, and is the genesis basis of his goalkeeping store's customer approach).

As far as I know, this sees the following list of goalkeepers in the national league with this set-up, notably young goalkeepers and those new to the league as well:

• Tommy Alexander (Prem)
• James Bailey (Prem)
• Chris Rhea (Prem) - interesting in that both Rea and Bailey wear the same without having influenced each other (Rea already using the setup!)
• Dowse
• Harleston's Livings (East conference)
• Loughborough's starter (North conference)

Whether we'll see companies look to modernise this design like Mage did with Tim Thomas and ice hockey remains to be seen, but fingers crossed we'll continue to see more goalkeepers going with their personal preferences, and more importantly, knowing the why behind their reasons.

Mason switches headgear

Gear sightings wise, Simon Mason has recently switched over from the helmet/cage combo he has been wearing for quite some time, back to a mask design. Mason has worn a mask style headgear previously, as with Olympic/international action during his time with England/GB back in the day, but it is of interest that he has made the switch, for the potential upgrade in protection. The mask itself is a Wall (poorly illustrated below, but you can just about make up the lettering. Interestingly, Wall is a popular ice hockey company for ice hockey masks based in Finland so how he came about to finding one such design is out there. It metaphorically makes sense given how much of a 'wall' he is for Guildford anyway!

http://www.wallmask.fi/en/

Season in review: Mason is still awesome (and Guildford surely can't survive without him!)

Another reflection learnt from the season past, is how important Simon Mason is to Guildford. A wily veteran of the league and practically a legend of English goalkeepers and goalkeeping history, the multiple Olympian is still going strong. On another team, Mason could be winning titles or topping tables, a true competitor like that of Schmeichel, but at Guildford he is arguably the difference maker. Showing just how important it is to have an elite level goalkeeper to steal their team points and earn points with their performances over the course of the season. Something that has helped the Surrey side avoid what seemed like inevitable relegation due to poor results early on and an injury to Mason (the injury again affirming how important he is to the team).

Just like Brad Freidel had an "Indian summer" after signing with Tottenham under Redknapp, Mason is still going strong. If he continues to play like this, with the fitness and mental awareness/focus to keep going, who knows when the day will be when he does actually retire!

To save me from writing an analysis report akin to War and Peace (and you from having to read it!), I'll bullet point what makes Mason so good right now and useful to his team mates.

• Still has the athleticism to dive across and save in extension
• Flexibility also still intact to do the splits and recover quickly!
• Agility - able to sprint out to reach attacks and 
• Rebound control refined through countless experience to really limit opponent's scoring chances to a minimum
• Years of game experience combining with desire to compete and technical experience making him nigh unbeatable (i.e. to score against!)
• Reaction speeds are still in tact to be able to play against the fast pace of hockey (a high paced reaction sport where goalkeepers have to able to react instantaneously, versus say football which is slowed down by the offside rule and trap)
• Still 'in his prime'; is on a 'hot streak' that would benefit a high level team and keep him on the radar of others
• A team player able to communicate strongly to his team to explain to them what he wants them to do to close down shooting lanes, angles etc. and provides constructive feedback and knows how to get the best out of his defenders
• Leadership skills that have helped him play a greater role in his team, helping them to do their job with greater structure and understanding; providing positive psychology to keep battling
• Strong mental attitude - has battled through poor results, plugging away rather than folding in, in order to help his team as and when they need him, especially in crunch deciders

With no recent video footage, here are some photos to illustrate. The following pictures are of Mason making a spectacular double save sequence stop at a crucial short corner against Havant, reacting in miliseconds to get back up and dive across to save again, in which they turned them over for a 1-0 win, which is more than proof that he is a more like a mere spring chicken in goal!

Ultimately, Guildford cannot survive the national without ex-GB goalkeeper Simon Mason. Without Mason they lose points, lose confidence and could end up relegated. They will soon be looking for a replacement and given the lack of options and goalkeeping depth in hockey in England compared to say the structure of football or other sports, it will require scouting and the right fit. Make no mistake (as they say!), Mason is a quality goalkeeper of elite status; without him Guildford just won't win, arguably. It would be like HGC losing Vogels to retirement or similar (although Vogel's replacement Van der Ven is a very good replacement!). And as each season goes by and he ages, Mason gets closer to retirement and Guildford get closer to a time of rebuilding their back line, with a new man under the crossbar, one who might not "fill his boots" so well.

Diletti's foundation work built on by Malaysia

Damon Diletti was one of the first goalie coaches (essentially!) to come from overseas to offer some advice and impart some goalie wisdom on assisting Malaysia's top level goalkeepers a while back now. And helping setting up the foundations for the national system to work upon, there has been improvement over the course of time. Bringing in Simon Mason for coaching camps and courses with select goalkeepers for long term potential and with well renowned and respected goalie coach Martin Drijver also coming back to the home of hockey in the island in the Eastern Asian continent, over time, Malaysia should be well on its well to building and progressing to have their own goalie coaching system to produce the best out of their available talent base. Already well known for having talents like Sumar as the backstop to their international success and rebounding from learning curves, Malaysia are in a good position to push on and challenge globally once more.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Story/?file=%2F2006%2F2%2F1%2Fsports%2F13269563&sec=sports

Mason: Guildford's "grey beard"

Leading the pack of the veterans of the English national league is stalwart "old timer" (meant positively using the American slang of the NHL and beyond!) who offers a different approach to the game and an intense level of consistency for the team he plays for. With a style of hybridised technique and broad depth. With his wealth of experience and level of consistency, he is an example of elite level goalkeeping for others to learn from, and has great insight into the game, on a higher level of thinking.

Mason provides an incredibly stable presence "between the sticks" for the Surrey outfit, a high level of goalkeeper and player that Guildford can rely on to bail them out of trouble and keep them in games or keep them "leveled up" (i.e. ahead of the opposition on that front!), as he practically steals wins for them with his play. For instance, in their win at home over a strong side in Havant (which I was lucky enough to get alone to, a great goalie performance to watch). But I think sometimes they can end up over relying on the ex-GB Olympian as they sometimes expect more of him than the required effort of playing as a team!

Whilst his playing style might hark back to a game from days gone by, he proffers an important signature on the coaching of goalkeepers. He plays a style that is totally unique to him and whilst now all sports seem to be obsessed with coaching a system for all, rather than coaching out the natural born (god given, however you want to phrase it!) talents, to the detriment of goalkeepers' development. I would go as far as saying coaches should coach goalkeepers appropriate to the goalkeeper, and place emphasis on the positives of playing as Mason does. With his extreme height, agility, athleticism, and ability to read the game like a chess board (like Hasek did in the NHL and the best natural shot stoppers purely do!).

Mason plays a style that is unique to his physiological nature and inherent talents, a sort of Pat Jennings of hockey, with his long limbed lackadasical approach, a lot like Triggs (who could probably also be playing if he wanted to, given his level of talent!). For goalie coaches and developing goalkeepers alike, he is a goalkeeper to inspire, encourage and learn from, if England hope to ever have another star goalkeeper in their midst. Rather than copy literally, it's important to focus on the goalkeeper as their own goalkeeper, rather than the "next Simon Mason" as England hockey seems to be obsessed with, though!

Mason goes retro...

Kit wise that is (as Mason's style is pretty old school, but works and makes him difficult to beat as hard to read how he'll react, so can't see there's any problem with that!)!

Another loose connection gear sighting wise for the season, is with Guildford's well known starter and ex-Olympian veteran Simon Mason, who has changed his set-up for the new season. I managed to get along to their home game this weekend to have a look see. Mase has gone for white pads and kickers over the traditional Mercian blue he normally wears. The umpiring/ruling body has forgone the limitations on colour, with white having been removed from possibilities, with goalies around the national league now able to wear white again!

Apparently the set is a one-off set just for him, with the foam based on the Academy mould but to a protection level and foam density of the Xtreme range. But it's fun just to see more goalies with differing gear styles to add a little colour/flavour (whatever's a better metaphorical analogy?!!) to the league as an observer and goalie geek.

Guildford HC adding to goalie ranks

It looks like Guildford are doing more to shore up their goalie ranks with the registering of goalie option Edward Burton-Brown, adding to their options of Simon Mason and Greg Lewis. Lewis, the older option ahead of Mason (age wise, Mason being the obivous incumbent!) by a year, rejoined the club after an absence and is available if needed; he was used as an option from the bench, in terms of playing on Mason's behalf in his absence, like at the first game of the season against Havant last season. Mason has obviously been the clear cut start since Jennings brought him over from Reading after Nick Brothers took over back in the day, but has seen other commitments cause headaches. Ed has experience of playing in regional leagues whilst away at university and was at Woking before his degree stint (as far as I know), and could be seen as the future for Guildford given it can't be too long before Mason hangs up the pads for good, although it would have been good to see a Dino Zoff scenario! Ed has switched from Gryphon foam to Obo, favouring ice hockey elbow pads for more movement (the Reebok 5k's), and has been involved in pre-season fixtures, giving him the opportunity to gain more game experience for this level of representative hockey.

http://www.englandhockey.co.uk//fl/ehl/current_teams_reg_players.asp?t=24&l=1&section=