At half-time in Berlin on 27 August, Füchse led Melsungen 17:9. By the final whistle, the margin was two: 33:31. Andreas Palicka had contributed important early saves and later stopped a seven-metre throw as Berlin protected their advantage.
The club’s report describes both the strong opening and Melsungen closing the gap late in the match. It would be misleading to tell only the first-half story or to describe the entire match as comfortable. Füchse Berlin match report.
In Kiel, the goalkeeper also found the other goal
THW Kiel opened with a 35:27 win over Lemgo. Andreas Wolff recorded 15 saves. He also scored into an empty goal during the first half, making it 16:13. His contribution included the stop and the opportunity that followed it. THW Kiel match report.
Two days later, Blomberg-Lippe beat Göppingen 37:34. Lara Lepschi entered for the second half and contributed during a difficult spell before stopping a late seven-metre attempt from Aylin Bornhardt. The home club’s report describes a match that required repeated work to regain and protect control. Blomberg-Lippe match report.
Coaching perspective: divide the match before judging it
A final save total can hide when the goalkeeper faced different demands. An early lead may change the attack’s choices. A substitution gives another goalkeeper a different point of entry. Playing against an empty goal creates decisions after a save or turnover.
Those possibilities need to be checked in the footage, rather than assumed from the score. Start with two periods of your own team’s match: one when the game felt under control and one when it became difficult.
Compare the shots faced in each period. Were attackers releasing from similar positions? Was defensive pressure different? Did the goalkeeper have enough time to prepare? Then examine what happened after each intervention, including rebounds and the first pass.
Ask the goalkeeper to explain one decision from each period before you give feedback. The aim is to discover whether the same problem repeated, or whether a new situation required a different response.
Finish with a correction you can practise in training. “Keep concentrating” is difficult to practise on its own. “Return to your starting position while the ball travels to the wing” gives the next repetition a clear purpose, if that is what your footage shows.
Wolff’s total, Palicka’s changing match and Lepschi’s second-half role each offer a starting point. Follow the sequence far enough to find the lesson that fits your goalkeeper.
