A weekend of coaching and keeping as the GoaleeGuru works with the Gibraltar Hockey Association’s Coaches, National Squads and Clubs.
Posted by on 6 January 2017
The Gibraltar Hockey Association (GHA) prepared a three day Goalkeeping (GK) and Coaching course last weekend to kick start 2017. Members have been given this opportunity as the new GHA committee is working to enhance the quality of provision for members.
Hockey goalkeeper coaching is often a neglected area, but not for the GHA. Goalkeeper training hardly gets looked at; this is why the GHA have brought over Graham Mansell-Grace, knowns as the Panda and the @GoaleeGuru.
Graham is an expert in his field and the GHA were extremely lucky to obtain his services. He is extremely busy working with GB and England Hockey as a Consultant, also he is a Performance Coach at Loughborough University as a
Consultant to the Womens Hockey programme. He is also an FIH Coach Educator within their Academy where he has coached some of the top GK's in the world, including GB’s George Pinner among others.
With three busy days of coaching the GHA qualified coaching staff and the National and Club Goalkeepers the coaching started not long after Graham had stepped onto the rock. Friday evening was the first training session where he began looking at the basics of Hockey goalkeeping. Starting off in the classroom, the first and only session lasted 30minutes, then it was straight onto the training pitch. Whilst on the pitch the participants were introduced into the stance, kicking, lunging, pad saves at knee height and moving efficiently in the circle.
Saturday was again an interactive session, with the GHA coaches looking at how they can incorporate exercises into training practices and the keepers on how they can self-practice together. The session looked at saving under pressure, using players and goalkeepers, decision making close to the goal, playing on the ground, smothering and making yourself big. During this session the coaches commented on how fantastic the content was. It showed progression from a basic GK activity to a more advance one. The U16 Girls National squad were then invited to work with the GHA coaches and Graham, this time with a particular focus on Integrating GK into small sided games. The objectives were to look at high energy 1:1 impact, different scoring methods, caring about the ball, forehand to forehand and developing passing around the circle.
On Sunday the GHA Mens National squad were invited to attend where the goalkeepers and coaches main focuses were on Penalty corners. Looking at the different types, the roles of the players and goalkeeper. How to setup the attack for the penalty corner and how to use the space were aspects that the GHA coaches looked at.
The three days of coaching has been expertly delivered by Graham and the Gibraltar Hockey Association would like to thank him for this. The GHA is investing in its’ players, the next course is the Level 1 Coaching qualification, on 20-22 January which is fully booked. This course will be delivered by Michel Kinnen who is the Belgium U21 coach.
If you would like more information on how you can get involved with Field Hockey in Gibraltar, then please visit our website at www.gibraltarhockeyassociation.com
