Goalkeeper

“ The better the goal-keeper, the more good fortune he enjoys as a rule. Forwards seem somehow magnetized into shooting where he is.
"How about that hatful of goals your team were going to score?" Robin Arkness wanted to know, after twenty minutes of this sort of thing. "Rather overlooked the fact that our side had a goalkeeper, didn't you, Cuthbert kid?" ”

“ I have played against both on several occasions, and cannot honestly say that one is greater than the other, for what one is deficient in the other makes up for in some other way or by some other method. The goalkeeper, like the policeman, has a very happy time in comparison with fifteen years ago. In the olden days one could practically do as he liked, and it was not at all uncommon to see the goalie bundled over the line ere the ball came near him. He is protected now in every way, and he cannot now be charged except when in actual contact with the ball. ”

“ Any player between the opponent's goal and goalkeeper (unless he has followed the ball there) , is off-side and out of play. The Goalkeeper is the player on the defending side, for the time being, is nearest his own goal. ”

“ To kick off when the ball has been sent behind the goal-line by one of his opponents.
Another great point where the goalkeeper must use special discretion is whether to run out to meet the forward or to "stay at home," as it is called in the football world. Undoubtedly if the forward is clear of the other players he should leave his post and endeavour to meet the forward. Every yard he goes out means that he leaves less space to be guarded. ”

“ All the great goalkeepers have been of a fearless disposition, practically throwing themselves at the ball, even at the risk of receiving a kick from the attacking forward. Fearlessness is undoubtedly a tremendous asset in the making of a great goalkeeper. ”

“ If it passes over the goal-line at any time without touching one of the defending side, it has to be kicked out by the goalkeeper or one of the backs from a line marked in front of goal, the spot selected being in front of the post nearest the point where the ball left the field of play. ”

“ Gillespie supplies the link which binds the players of the dead past to those of the living present. He is still to the fore, and does duty as well as ever. Early in his football career Mr. Gillespie was not a goalkeeper, for I am certain I saw him play at back in some of the early matches of the "Light Blues." Nature, metaphorically speaking, never intended him to be anything in the game but a goalkeeper, and a brilliant one, too. How he kept goal in this great match, and dozens of others, is still fresh in the memory both of old players and spectators. ”

“ All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the opponents' goalkeeper, shall be outside the penalty area. The opponents' goalkeeper shall not advance beyond his goal line. The ball must be kicked forward. The ball shall be in play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from a penalty kick; but the ball shall not be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. ”

“ Something has been written of late about a goal-keeper letting his side down in a final tie, but I cannot believe that any player, whether goalkeeper or forward, could or would let his side down.
I do not care to enter into the year when my old club, Tottenham Hotspur, won the Cup, but one of the biggest officials in the Football Association came along to compliment me, and said that my side gave the best display of football since Aston Villa won the Cup—indeed, he implied that it was even better than that given by the Villa, which compliment I naturally appreciated. ”

“ Heading is quite an art of its own, and takes a long time to master. You should be able to get at the ball not only with the forehead, but with either side of the head.
There should be a general understanding between the two backs, and also between them and the goalie. Each should understand the other's play to a nicety, and cover one another's mistakes to a certain extent. They must have confidence in their goalie, and should give him plenty of room in which to operate. It is also important to know when to pass back to the goalkeeper, and to do so correctly. ”

“ The players have to place themselves in a line with their respective goals, and are not allowed to start swimming to the centre of the bath until the word “Go,” is given. They are usually divided into 3 forwards, 1 half-back, 2 backs and a goalkeeper. ”

“ In one way he does not require such a severe course as a half-back, who has to go through much more work than he does. He should go in for plenty of short sprinting, so that when running out of his goal to meet any forward who has broken through he will be able to meet the ball quicker than his opponent. The reason for this is obvious, as half a yard in twenty will make all the difference between a goal being scored or not. I do not believe a great deal in gymnastics for footballers in general, but this method of training does a goalkeeper a world of good. ”

“ A forward or a half-back is always in the midst of it, and gets warmed whether his side are losing or winning, but the keeper has often to exercise the faculty of patience. There have been many great goalkeepers, and it is very hard to pick out even half a dozen who stand out for their fame. In Scotland, when I was a boy, Macaulay was considered to be the principal goalkeeper, and quite deservedly so, if only for the simple reason that in International matches, especially against England, he always rose to the occasion. ”

“ You will see, in the first place, that the sixth-form boy, who has the charge of goal, has spread his force (the goalkeepers) so as to occupy the whole space behind the goal-posts, at distances of about five yards apart. A safe and well-kept goal is the foundation of all good play. Old Brooke is talking to the captain of quarters, and now he moves away. See how that youngster spreads his men (the light brigade) carefully over the ground, half-way between their own goal and the body of their own players-up (the heavy brigade) . ”

“ In the event of a free kick or throw in from touch near the goal-line, or a corner-kick, the goal-keeper should not be hampered by the backs, but allowed plenty of room and a good sight of the ball This is of urgent importance, as any restriction of his freedom at such times prevents him following the ball closely, and where the smallest hesitation ' is fatal he should have nothing to interfere with his view of the ball.
Practice will alone make a really expert goal-keeper. ”

“ The goal-keeper must not during play lie, kneel, or sit upon the ice, but must maintain a standing position. He may stop the puck with his hands or feet, but may not throw or kick it away from the goal. He must play it properly with his stick.
Two half-hours, with an intermission of ten minutes to regain breath and wipe off the perspiration, is the time allowed for a match, the team winning the most goals being the victors. There are no other points than goals to be scored. ”

“ With regard to all passing, the forward must use his judgment and decide quickly, and always pass slightly ahead of the player passed to. "When the time comes for shooting, the forward should not make straight for the goal-keeper, as then there will be but little room to shoot past him. A good cross shot is the best; and often, too, a shot with the outside of the foot will quite puzzle the goal-keeper, as he cannot tell to which side of the goal it is going. Some goal-keepers who are efficient at saving lofty shots will often fail at a low shot, and vice versâ. ”

“ Should goal-keeper ever leave his place?—As a rule, if there is only one reliable goal-keeper in a match, he should not exchange permanently with another player; but there are occasions in nearly every match when games are saved and danger averted by a reasonable desertion. It would be folly to pass the goal crease if the game narrows to a bunching attack: in such a case, whether your opponents are unskilful players or not, you should keep your post.
If an opponent has a clear field, and makes an unchecked charge at you, what should you do? ”

“ We rather fancy they would approve of not training special men for goal, for good goal-keeping has so often baulked their best shots, and defeated even four and five of them, tipping and swiping at the flags. Who doubts whether the splendid Indian goal-keeper at the Montreal matches on Dominion Days, 1867 and 1868, was goal-keeper by chance or selection? And why does each succeeding year develop better red-skin goal defence? Simply, because one individual man trains for the post. ”

“ There are qualifications required of a goal-keeper in an eminent degree, which, owing to the singleness of his responsibility, are as imperative as a strongly woven crosse. If it does not need courage to stand at the flags, and fear no pace of a ball, which would kill a dog if it struck it, tell us what does? What needs more undivided attention, more promptness, self-reliance and coolness, than when your goal is crowded by four or five red skins, and your own men in a desperate attack and defence? ”

“ The very best, and equally good for all parties, is to place the flags in the centre of the field, to radiate players from them, at different distances,—as seen in the following diagram,—with three or four balls, and give it to goal-keeper hot and heavy. Begin by long shots, closing into the goal gradually, until one ball will be sufficient to keep up a succession of tips and throws, that will make a goal-keeper active on his pins. We have found an hour's such practice more benefit than a month's ordinary play. Goal-keeper turns around and changes position rapidly to meet front and rear balls. ”