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The Basics So what now?
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Ok, I'm a goalie. So what now? If you want to be even an average goalie (and there's no such thing, because all goalies are amazing!!), you're going to need these three things: Basic Equipment Every goalie needs a set of equipment. While quite a few companies make field hockey equipment, it's still pretty expensive. And what makes things even worse is some equipment just plain stinks! But no matter what brand or style your choose to operate in, this is the list of some basic goalie equipment Kickers and Legguards Thigh Protection Chest Protector Helmet Gloves Stick Throat Protector Jock Strap/Jill Arm/Elbow Pads Shoulder Pads Mouthguard If you want more detailed info on the importance of this junk, and where you can get your hands on some, go to the equipment list page! Mind and Body If you want to be a goalie, you're going to need more than ten pounds of foam stuck to your body. You're also going to need some of these: Courage - For crying out sideways, you're going to have hard plastic objects flying at you. This goes without saying! Flexibility - You're really going to need this in flicks! And it has its uses beyond field hockey...*cough*cough* A High Tolerance Level - Most field players are really nice, but there are a few meanies! Some people are going to yell at you for letting goals in, as if they had nothing to do with the ball being down there in the first place...And you're going to have to learn to deal with it. Let them get mad. You'll get it next time. Agility and Fast Reaction - Well, obviously. Other Important Stuff You'll need, most importantly, a team to play with. Then, you'll need a team to play against. And finally, you'll need lots of practice! No one got good over night! A Word on Caring For Your Gear Goalie gear is expensive, and you really need this stuff, so you're going to need to take care of it properly! Try to use your foam pads on cement/concrete as little as possible or, preferably, not at all. Concrete is not nice to your pads, and will wear them out faster than you can blink. Sand-based turfs are also not good, but if you've got a game there, you're just going to have to hope for the best! While putting your upper-body protection through the laundry once in a while is definitely a good idea, washing your foam stuff is not. If there's caked-on dirt on your kickers from a muddy game, by all means wipe them down, but using soap on your foam things lessens the rebound and just isn't good for them. If you want to minimize the hockey-bag effect (by that, I mean the wonderful smell that all goalie bags seem to acquire), try airing your equipment out after every game/practice. That way, the odors have someplace to go, and aren't confined to your bag.
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