People, Participation, Progression, Performance in Hockey
| EYE CONTACT | Watch where the penalty taker is looking as they approach the penalty spot, as this can be a sign of where they are going to shoot. However if they are making it obvious which side they are looking at, it can be that they are trying to give you the eyes and go to the opposite side. |
| STANDING FOOT | Keep an eye on where the player's standing foot is pointing as they are about to hit the ball, usually a good sign of the direction they are going to hit it in. |
| MAKE YOURSELF BIG | Try and make yourself as big as possible and fill the goal. Intimidate the taker by waving your arms and jumping on the spot. Also don't dive too early, wait until the last minute until make your decision. |
| HIPS | Try to keep an eye on the direction in which the players hips are facing during the run up and just before they strike the ball. This can also be a good indicator of where the ball will end up. |
| PRACTICE | If you have a spare 15 minutes after/before training get your teammates to test you from the penalty spot. Use some of these tips and see which work for you. Pay attention to their body shape, run up and foot placement and see if you can spot any tells of your own. |
| JUST GUESS... | At the end of the day these tips are just theory, sometimes its best to just go with your gut, pick a side and hope for the best! |
