To block and perchance to steal...
1) Start thinking of your goalmen as individuals. They should work indepentantly, but in harmony with each other. Rarely, should they move in unison.
2) Hold the handles loosely so you men can retain the ball after the block.
3) Learn the pull-shot options. If you know which holes
can be hit then you will know which hole open
4) Best advice I've received - "put a man there". If you are always getting beat to the long-hole -
put a man there and make you opponent hit (o,r miss) something else. Take away his best shot.
5) You can react quicker if you use you fingers instead of you arms to move the men.
6) Don't freeze! You are too slow to race a good pull-shot - and not only
you.
7) Your movements needn't be frantic - it's ok to slowly drift into/out-of a hole.
Be aware of what is opening when you move.
9) Bait and switch.
10) Try not to leave several hole open at the same time -
know what is open, always!11) Don't type an 'eight' followed by a close-quote because it shows up as a smiley with sunglasses.
Paul