We tested the abilities of over 50 goalkeepers from 10 years to senior age, both male and female, of different qualities from the amateur to the national team level and compared the results with the performance of the goalkeeper technique.
Due to the specifics of stopping the low shots and different forms of "jumping techniques" we think it is extremely important to understand the connection between the process of Mark's health, performance, and motor skills.

The main conclusions are as follows:

1. By persistently repeating goalkeeping movements that require an ability that is limiting in Marko, we damage his health in the long run, and at the same time, the performance is unsuccessful.
2. Whether Marko will use the "Croatian style" or "Scandinavian style" must not be conditioned by tactics or our ideas, but by his abilities.
3. It is more rational to have a positive effect on the development of abilities that are insufficiently developed in Marko than to expect positive changes by persistently performing goalkeeping techniques and insisting on proper performance.
4. In the case of inefficient performance of a goalkeeping movement, it is crucial to determine which ability is a limiting factor and to create the preconditions for successful performance of the goalkeeping movement by positively influencing its development.
5. When choosing a goalkeeper, ie directing children towards defending, they need to be tested so that Marko would not find out after 10 years of defending that his body was simply not created for him to be a handball goalkeeper. It is important to emphasize that such a decision may protect or damage his health in the long run.
6. If Marko has an underdeveloped ability, he develops compensations over time and can be successful, but he creates preconditions for deteriorating his own health and in the long run, the automation of such a performance becomes a limiting factor in the realization of his potential.

“Croatian style” or “Scandinavian style” of stoping low shots

How to choose?

There is a direct limiting connection between the performance of "Croatian style" and "Scandinavian style" and the following abilities:

Our first goal is not to damage Marko's health, and our second goal is that he successfully stops shots on the goal.

If Marko has all the necessary skills, he can learn both styles and become a good goalie using the style which is common in his environment or is taught by his coach. If he has some movement restriction or weakness, it is wise to teach him the biomechanics of movement adapted to his abilities.

It is important to us that due to our prejudices, habits, ignorance, or tradition, he does not learn movements that he is not able to perform well because this leads to less effective performance and possible permanent health problems.

We also came to the conclusion that goalkeepers who are already using a certain style and have created habits need to be helped by an individual training program to help them be more effective in that style and maintain health.

There is a direct limiting connection between the performance of "Croatian style" and "Scandinavian style" and the following abilities: