sort of off topic but I ran accross this yesterday, I hadn't read it in quite a while and it is a CLASSIC great post on what makes a good goalie...
if you like this sort of thing, this FOR SURE is a keeper
current best goalies overall (offense, defense, intangibles)
Todd, T-Mac, Rico, Bobby Dias, Lewis, and Spree...Trevor is highly underrated in my opinion but noted for his blistering 2 rod...
Best ever? Dang, who knows, Fury would have to be on the list...there were other great goalies in the first era
Phillip Gootee , ProMaster goalie from MN , March 2006
There is too much here to blister my digits typing until I get carpal tunnel. So, read it and reflect on the above postings, as I can not answer them all. Some are funny, some are ignorant, and general truths are found in amongst the words of B*ll Sh*t slingers or thinkers. What are you thinking making your primary position a Net-minder?
Everyone starts off a back player, simply too much five bar time is needed before a forward’s game can hold it’s own in doubles. So, what if you perused that coarse. Do you want to be a Fooser who plays backs, or do you want to become a Goalie, better think about it. Are you sure, because it's pretty easy to be the guy pulling over points, while your thinking about your aching back and wishing your forward would hurry up and win, that way you could grab a ***tail, a snack, and nap before your next match. But a Goalie, I mean a honest to God, committed to the position Goalie, those guys are a different breed of cat, and should be committed. The dedication to becoming a Top Goalie, a Master Goalie, that tag exacts a price.
Consider this path carefully, only a rare or few Singles title(s) will ever be yours in the upper classes, and no Mixed titles. To advance in class you must get all your points in Doubles, and a poor finish in Singles often negates these points. It takes years or decades to move up at the top level, and when you do turn pro, you will only get your points from one Doubles event (Open) tournaments are a lot less fun when you go out early. So you better learn to D-up strong, and get your forward the ball. It's a tough road to hoe, and even being one of the top goalies won't allow you to automatically play with the elite top forwards (a la Gummy, Rico, Terry, Etc). They may respect your game skills, but without those points, they'll be giving up the seeding advantage, and the other elite contenders love any extra advantage. So, you'll have to win dozens of regional events to get to the top. But if over time, the millions of mistakes and errors that cost your team dearly, will painfully teach you the art of being a Goalie.
It is not and never will be the glory position; your job is to make your forward’s job easier. Make them, and thus the team, look great. I love to vaporize an ear shattering 2-rod match winner, as much as the next guy does. But If you never have to score a shot in the tournament, and there are mumbles about how your forward did it all, and made it look easy, you must have played f*cking great! The axiom – The loss is always the Goalies fault, and the victories belong to the forward, is generally true. But any veteran player with a brain knows who the anchor is on any given match.
It doesn’t matter (they are just forwards) and you have to do what it take to LEAD your team to victory. Yes, I said LEAD your team. The forward is the talent and, you must get that talent to shine. If they’re in the zone, kick the ball down the side, watch the show, and slide the points. Simple! Now, if that’s not the case, how simple or complex it is to get them playing well depends on your forward’s abilities, mental toughness, confidence level, your opponents strengths and weaknesses, table conditions, etc, etc. It’s your job to stay in the match until they figure out what adjustments must be made, start executing, or get motivated. You can help them by:
1. Keeping the crap out of the net – SLOP POINTS ARE TITLE KILLERS!
2. If the ball enters your area, IT DOES NOT LEAVE, without your controlled planned release. Or you dig a piece of the ball preventing your opponent a clean chance at control as it escapes your zone.
3. Once you control the ball, your EXICUTED play on the ball MUST clear your opponents 3-rod.
4. Block, and adjust as necessary. If your opponent is in the zone, and your getting torched. ADJUST YOUR D! The worst thing that can happen is you continue to get torched. At the very leased, you MUST get a percentage.
5. Communicate with your partner, If you need to Shut the F*ck up, and let them work it out then, zip it! If you need to tell your partner to Listen the F*ck up, because they’re being F*cking retarded. Then do so (In a supportive team manor, if possible) i.e. I’m going to brush the lane, that’s what he’s leaving, and that’s what’s open, look to pick up the ball there. Or I’m going to pound it through the zone on net, look to pick up the ball off the goalie’s men. In short get on the same page and play as a team.
6. Sign the match card or let your forward do it, what ever they want.
7. Listen for your match and expect your forward to do so as well.
8. Communicate with your partner, as to your whereabouts if you’re leaving the tournament room (Forwards or Goalies). Don’t make your partner hunt for you, lie, stall, and fake a heart attack, so you can get to the table.
9. Score, Pass, and Clear when appropriate throughout the match.
10.Make sure they get your name spelled correctly on your jacket. (Yes double check for your Pre-Madonna partner, after all there only a forward, and can’t be expected to over think things.)
When you achieve your veteran Goalie status, through many tournament titles, heartbreaking defeats, glorious victories, and have been forged into the flawless defender, with a 2 bar cannon, that was deep inside you. Your journey has just begun.
Your tenacious never give in partner, that has fought with you back to back, through many a Foos-war, has plateu'd or can’t rise his game to the next level. Eventually, you know in your heart, the team can not win with that level of play form the front rods, in any event of size. Goalies hate to lose, and now you are going to shoot for 5th for the sake of loyalty to your friend, and the team. Or do you take one of the quietly offered partnerships, from the selection of the phenomenal players noticing you’re the type of Goalie that wins championships. Ouch! If you want to be a Goalie, it’s a rocky road to the top of the mountain my friend. Nope, no ego coddled; glitzy it’s never my fault forward fun feast, if you chose this path.
All this typing is giving me a pinkie blister, So I’m about done here. Think about what your goals are, and what you want out of the game. The know price for the prize you seek. It’s commitment, family time, money, and the other adventures and interests that will be forgone if you choose the Goalies path. You don't have to pay the full price in a lump sum, but the more you pay, the faster your goals may be reached. The less you pay, the longer it may take. And some times Father-time forecloses, or fate intervenes before you can take possession of your prize (or curse if you will), not playing, but BEING A GOALIE!
So, know the score, that’s the way it is! If you want to be a Goalie, get tuff, get mean, and get serious about it. Or start working on your 5-bar, your shot, and your Pre-Madonna it’s not my fault whining.
Me, I traded the center ring and spotlight on the glory rods, for a torturous crusade of never ending, iron willed Foos-wars, tournament after tournament. You know the kind of match, which decimates both teams to the point, where even the victor can no longer win the event. That’s what hardens you, eventually this continual pain and blistering heat twists into your ruthless ally, and you discover,…… It is Goalie blood running through your veins! Or your bones are crushed into dust and scattered across the unending desert of broken Foos dreams.
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