Being a water polo goalkeeper is never an easy job. From organising and controlling the defence to, of course, saving the goal all falls on those manning the back of the net.
A top goalkeeper must be mentally sharp, but to do this during a game is no small task. In this article, we take a look inside the minds of Spain’s two extremely talented young goalkeepers, Martina Terre and Unai Aguirre.
Terre and Aguirre were both born in 2002 and were both selected for the national team before the age of twenty. The secret of their early success is rooted not only in their talent and hard work, but also their mental health and how they approach goalkeeping.
It’s Impossible to Save Everything
Martina Terre started in water polo like everybody else – she wanted to have fun and enjoy her time in the water. Then, as Terre got better and better, she set herself higher and higher goals. When she felt the pressure of the national team, she knew it was not enough to train hard at that level; she needed to have an extra level, especially mentally.
Terre has a unique approach to mental preparation.
“The best thing you can do as a goalkeeper is to understand that you can't save everything, it's impossible to be 100 percent efficient at saving,” Terre said. “When I was a junior, I was so frustrated when I got a lot of goals. Sometimes, I could not handle it during the games. But I realised that I cannot change the past; I have to focus on the present.”
“When I was a junior, I was so frustrated when I got a lot of goals. Sometimes, I could not handle it during the games. But I realised that I cannot change the past; I have to focus on the present.”
The Four “F’s” | Fact, Fix, Forget and Focus
An international relations student at a Spanish university, Terre underlines that she has made the most progress in the area of her mental make-up.
“I have four words in my mind during the match: Fact, Fix, Forget and Focus. The goal is a fact, I cannot change it, because it’s the past. After the goal I have to fix my or the defense’s fault and I have to forget about it and focus on the present and the future.
“I need to be still in the game, focus on the actions, need to stop and save the next ball. There is no time in the water to blame myself.”
“I have four words in my mind during the match: Fact, Fix, Forget and Focus.”
Best Student in the Class
Unai Aguirre is probably the best student of water polo. He asks for videos of himself to critique his legs, everything. He studies every single shooter. He has a book for each shooter, or for each team he plays against.
Before each match, Unai looks to leave no stone unturned.
“Before every single match I try to analyze every detail of the players, watching video analysis about the opponent’s players,” Unai said. “During the game, I try to remember these things. For example, where is the good position for saving?”
Is an Experienced Goalkeeper the Best Goalkeeper?
Unai knows sometimes if he is mentally stronger than an experienced goalie, he can be better.
“The experience comes with the years, but I know not to rush. I try to do my best in every match, and I know I'm young and I have a lot of time to get better and better,” Unai said. “I feel stronger with that mentality.”
Goalkeepers Say | The Hardest Thing to Accept
The hardest thing for a goalkeeper is to accept the fact that the opponent scored a goal. Aguirre shares a similar insight to Terre into the mentality he takes into the net.
“When they score, I still have to be focused. I must not lose myself, my focus whatever happens,” Aguirre said. “I'm working with a psychologist to be better mentally because it's like swimming – you're not born with the ability to swim; you have to learn it.
“You have to learn how to control your mind, your thoughts, so the psychologist is a great help for me.”