My Little Goalkeeping Project
So, I got this idea a while back, watching some old football clips. You know how you sometimes stumble down a rabbit hole online? Well, mine ended up on John Ruddy during his time at Norwich. Remember him? Big presence in goal for them.
I saw this one save he made, can’t even remember the exact match now, but it stuck with me. It wasn’t ridiculously flashy, just solid, dependable goalkeeping. Positioned perfectly, strong hands. And I thought, maybe foolishly, “How hard can that specific type of save really be?” You know, the ones where the attacker is bearing down, and you just stand big and make the block.
So, my little project began. First step, obviously, was watching more footage. I spent a good few evenings just looking for clips of Ruddy playing for Norwich. Paid attention to his starting position, how he narrowed the angle, when he decided to come off his line or stay put. It looked deceptively simple on screen.
Hitting the Pitch (Sort Of)
Next, I actually decided to try it. Dug out my old gloves – probably haven’t worn them in years. Went down to the local park where there’s a slightly battered goal frame. Didn’t have anyone shooting at me, mind you. This was more about positioning and movement drills I’d seen him do.
Here’s what I tried to practice:
- Getting the footwork right for closing down an imaginary attacker.
- Setting myself in that ‘big’ stance Ruddy often used at Norwich.
- Doing those little quick steps across the goal line he did.
- Even practiced falling onto the ball, trying to hold it securely like he did, though mostly on soft grass.
Let me tell you, it felt completely different doing it compared to watching it. My movements felt clumsy. Getting low quickly? Not as easy as it looks when you’re not a professional athlete. And just anticipating where the ‘shot’ would go, even an imaginary one, felt weird. I kept second-guessing my starting position.
I spent maybe an hour out there, probably looked ridiculous to anyone walking by. Lots of shuffling, some awkward dives onto the grass, and a growing appreciation for how conditioned these guys are. Especially someone like Ruddy, who had that commanding presence for Norwich for so long.
What I Reckon Now
So, did I master the John Ruddy Norwich-era save? Absolutely not. Not even close. But it was an interesting little experiment. Made me realise a few things.
Firstly, the basics you see pros do consistently require tons of practice. It’s not just natural talent; it’s drilled in. Secondly, watching Ruddy specifically at Norwich, you see that consistency. Game after game, similar setup, similar approach. That reliability was key for them, I reckon.
It was just a bit of fun, really. Didn’t achieve much beyond maybe pulling a muscle slightly, but it definitely gave me a new perspective on what looks straightforward on TV. Goalkeeping, even the seemingly simple stuff, is properly tough. Respect to Ruddy for making it look so routine during his time there.
