In field hockey, the goalie serves as the team's last line of defense. The goalie must be courageous and nimble, doing whatever she can to block the opposing team's attempts to score, from standing in front of speeding shots to scurrying from side-to-side in order to read plays and disrupt choreographed attacks. While amply protected, goalies perhaps rely most on their trusty stick to thwart scoring chances. A goalie's stick will often feature an extra curve in its head, making it unique among field hockey equipment. The curve creates greater surface area for the stick, increasing the goalie's chances of blocking a shot.
Stick
Made from wood or composite materials, field hockey sticks typically measure about 3 feet in length and consist of a two parts: the handle and the head. The handle makes up roughly one half of the overall stick and resembles a broom handle, possessing a smooth, rounded shape. The head accounts for the remaining portion of the stick and features a wide, flat front surface, measuring no wider than two inches at any point, and a rounded back surface. At its end, the head curls up like a candy cane.
Use
A field hockey goalie needs his or her stick to perform a number of different tasks. Above all else, the goalie uses the stick to block shots, skillfully wielding the stick to deflect scoring attempts to safety. The goalie will also use the stick to challenge attackers, intercepting passes and disrupting attempted shots. Goalies must even be able to use the stick to play the ball, assisting defenders and making passes to trigger the offensive rush.
Curve
Unlike other field hockey positions, goalies often choose to use sticks with curved heads. This curve occurs low on the stick just above the hook, with the handle swinging right and then curving back to the left to keep the hook in perfect alignment with the stick handle. As a result, the goalie stick head almost looks as though it's melting.
Function
The goalie stick's curve acts to create greater surface area, getting around the game's restrictions of stick width. The jutting curve increases the odds of a shot striking the stick, granting the goalie a subtle yet significant advantage. For this same reason, a goalie's stick will often feature an exaggerated toe hook extending higher than the hooks belonging to attacking players, with the extra size used to potentially deflect shots.
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