One hand slide move

How do strikers score the most against you? Is it a distance shot or is it a 2 vs 1 situation where one player passes the ball fast through the slot to the kick in player at the long post? In this post, we want to show you one more fast movement to the long post to defuse situations where a fast pass crosses your slot.

How to do it?

This movement creates the cover for a 2-on-1 situation, in which one player runs with the ball towards the goal, and when entering the slot and passes the ball from the right side (goalie view) close to the far post where another striker has run up to score.

Starting Point

• Initial sideway position on the right post – first post (short shot) is closed ensuring the striker has no chance to score there
• Even when you see a player running towards the far post, you keep covering the first post, as letting go of the first post will open up the short shot for the player with the ball to score.

Movement
You see how the player passes the ball to the incoming player on your far post. The pass crosses the slot and you react with the Hand-slide-move.

1. Block the shot
• Put your right hand on the floor
• Relocate your body weight from your knees to your right arm
• Pushing your body over the floor towards the far post
• However, do not lose your hips and break your base pose, meaning to keep your torso is always in a vertical position. If you lose your base pose in this move, you’ll slide into the candle emergency save, which should only be used as last resource to make a safe.
• Your left hand is always ready for the ball
• You are always focused on the ball
• Left foot reaches for the far post to ensure that no ground shot will lead to a goal
• Once you are in the position, you are on the other side of the net in sideway position, mirrored from your starting position
• Actually, it is a shift of the initial sideway position which you had on the right post
• We recommend to place to left hand right above the left leg to cover additional space of the lower part of the goal
• Our experience should us that most of the goals from a kicked in player happened in the bottom third of the goal
2. Block the rebound
Once the shot is blocked, the situation is still dangerous as you haven’t controlled the rebound ball yet. This is why you complete the move by getting back to the post and regaining your base position on the new short post (now left).
• Stay balanced and switch the position of your legs>
• Your torso will automatically moves to the short post and closes the open space (s. video below)

Final point
After the kick you are sitting down, which is a very inflexible position and makes a rebound shot very dangerous. Therefore, reverse your movement to get back in starting position.

• Initial sideway position at the left post

Summary

This movement is actually a movement out of two parts. The first one saves the first flat shot from the kicked in player at the long post and the second movement repositions yourself to be prepared against the rebound.

This movement is similar to the emergency save candle. But there are minor differences in our opinion. With the candle emergency save you are a bit fast at the long post with your legs, but you are not too good prepared for the rebound. With the hand-slide-movement, you are bit slower but prepared for the rebound. In our opinion, you have to scan and analysis the situation to decide which movement is the best. It does not help you to be prepared for the rebound, if the running in striker was fast and already scored with the first shot. Now, it is up to you. Try it out and tell us your story with the movements