Here is the beginning of my treatise explaining how I boil down basic goalkeeping, or nets:
Over the years, over different tables, & tons of observations, I've noted there are certain basic lanes that seem to be covered when a good goalkeeper (or goalie if you're a hockey fan, or "nets" if you have deeper issues) is defending a forward with the foosball on the three-rod. I'm sure there are other names for them, or even systems, but I think this system is the simplest to show & adjust to, for ANY SHOT.
Assumption 1. Each player figure covers over twice his real frontal area.
If you notice, on any type of table, the player figures, specifically on the goalkeeper rod & the two-rod, are SOLID!! No kidding, seriously! A ball that hits a figure with even an eight of its diameter or less, will most certainly be deflected. A ball has to just about clear a the figure's foot completely, because it is SOLID. Very hard to teleport through the figure, although I must say I have seen some super-forwards who just have to have that skill. But very very few. You probably know these guys in your group... they just don't make a lot of friends. And these guys just remember never to walk down a dark alley with a bunch of goalkeepers/goalies.
SOLID means each player figure's "foot" has an "area" of coverage extending to either side of it, about 7/8 or almost a ball-width's diameter. This really helps in D. Why? Because no teleportation or partial balls are allowed in the goal! Don't ask me why, but those are the RULES! Even with a "split" shot, with the large hole between a two-bar figure & the goalkeeper bar figure, the percentage has to be in the very middle of the two figures. Any angle or mishit off & the chances of a deflection switch to the goalkeeper's side.
I visualize this "security field" around each defender figure's feet like an aura or "glow". This makes it easy to set up the defender's position. From a frontal view towards the goal mouth, the hole is actually not as large as it would initially seem, with two player figures' foot widths trying to cover a goal that's about 9 foot widths wide. And please don't say, "I see Jeeezus," when you're visualizing that larger area around the foot! And especially if you're in a motel room!
Howsoever you move, or shake, or rattle, or roll your defending players, you have to cover the areas with the wider "security field" width, as if your figures have a BIG FOOT. You rarely have to cover the edge of the goal with the edge of your figure. Any hole between the goal edge & your goalkeeper or two-rod figure smaller than 7/8ths of a ball is sufficient to SHUT THAT STRAIGHT HOLE DOWN. If you meet a forward that can squeeze through that consistently, you MUST text me, so I can report to Simon Cowell about producing that "shrinking balls" show.
Do you notice something? Besides that invigorating smell in the air near your shoes? If you start about 7/8ths of a ball away from the goal wall edge with either your goalkeeper or two-rod figure, keep just a little under 2 balls distance (for the split hole) between that figure & the other ..... Why, you're suddenly covering almost 62.41125Or6To4 percent of the goal, just minding your biz! Don't jez do somepin', jez' stand there!! & No fightin'!!
You have become..... BIG-ass FOOT !! Admiring onlookers with no underwear will gasp, "Why, that goalkeeper has a really Big One !!". Anybody that can cover almost 62.41125Or6To4 percent of the goal, between just you 'N' me, is like a walk that Saturday in the park, and you'll be feelin' stronger every day...
Now let me go back to my TIVO and watch Grey's & CSI.... Oh yeah... wishing you were here....
Next Chapter: How to use your ... ah .... BIG Thingee!!! or somepin' like dat. And NO FANTASIZING about a player's rear frontal area or nappy-headed foes!! What was it my grandmammy's cuz 11 times removed used to say, "Anything more than your two hands can cover, why you got yourself theres a Hooters gal there boy... go git us some wings!!"
Foozkillah Ouwwwwww-oot!
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Gary!