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How Simon became hockey's top stopper | |
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Around the Academy: |
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GB star Simon Mason is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in hockey. At 6'6" he really is head and shoulders above the rest! Here he reveals how he got to be the best shot-stopper on the planet.
I think you've got to have the desire to be in goal in the first place. What happens a lot of the time is that the people who end up being in goal are the ones most keen to avoid spending their games lesson running around the pitch! I believe you have to want to be there. Most of all you've got to believe in yourself. In any sport, if you have that self-belief and desire the sky's the limit. Do it for yourself but it's also important to have the support of the people around you. Convince them of that belief and you can achieve your potential. Whether it's an international side or your school team, always strive to be as good as you can be. You don't have to be big to be a goalkeeper, but being 6'6" hasn't done me any harm! Penalty corners are such a massive part of the game now and the more of the goalmouth you can cover, the more of an advantage it is. After all, long limbs are going to help you reach the far corners of the goal. The only trouble with being long-limbed is that you have a wider stride pattern which leaves a gap between your feet where the ball can get through. To minimise that gap I had to work really hard to alter my foot patterns and mimic the smaller, more agile goalkeepers.
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