Yessika är född -87 och spelar i Århus Floorball Club Tst.
For how long have you been playing?
I am 27 years old and I started playing in late 2009, so I have been playing for about 5½ years. I actually started as a goalie because I was overweight (I still am but not as much) and because I was born with some problems in my feet so I can't run very much. My friend who played on the elite team in the club I'm playing for now told me that they were always looking for new goalies and that being a goalie meant you didn't have to run so much so I ended up training with the best team since they only had one goalie. I was really fascinated by goalkeeping and floorball from the start. I was also fascinated by the fact that I could be part of a team sport but still be an individual player in that way because that is essentially what being a goalkeepers is.
You and I met at Warberg Goalie Camp. What did you think of the camp and what is your best memory from it?
I think the camp was great, I got to learn some new techniques and new ways of thinking in goalie training. I really liked the work we did on positioning and the rebounds! The thought of always working each exercise and each ball to its finish, we don't do this much in my club. Its more often just one ball after another at high frequency.
The best memory I think was just meeting all the other goalies and learning more about how they train in other places!
Yessika and her colleague Lasse at our station during Warberg Goalie Camp.
How did you hear about the camp?
I don't really remember, I think I followed blindsave on facebook and saw their camp. I then googled around to see if there were any camps nearby where I live and I knew a girl who played in Warberg. Maria Hellander. That is how I heard about Warberg Goalie Camp!
What is it that makes it fun to be a goalie for you today?
For me I think its being a part of a team, I've never done team sports before. The feeling when you win or loose a game, the feeling that you are one with the team and that all of you are training for the same thing. You are not training or playing for yourself, you are aiming for a common goal. I like challenging my body and mind and I love the success when something works and when you can see your progress and that you are improving.
What team did you start with?
I started playing with Aarhus Floorball Klub TST and I've never played for another club. I played for the second team the first full season and trained with the elite team twice a week, once a week with the second team, but I played the games for the second team.
I soon became a part of the first team but as a second goalie and I am now the first goalie for the first team.
I have done horseback riding and when I was little I did swimming, but I have no background in team sports. I also played a lot of music. I played the recorder for like 12 years in some orchestras and ensembles. I have also played guitar, bass and drums at home. I love learning new things in that area. I still have my recorder and one guitar and I had a piano but not anymore. I don't play a lot of music anymore. my focus is on floorball now!
Have you had a goalie coach in your 5½ years?
No, not exactly. I had my teams coach Lars Erik Bartels a couple of years ago, he focused some on the goalies but was in fact the head coach. He was good at focusing on the goalies so we were included a lot in the training, he was the best trainer I have ever had. I wouldn't have been a goalie now if it wasn't for him. As a second goalie you use a lot of energy in going to practice, trying to improve but you still get to play the bench which can be hard to cope with. Sometimes you feel that you have deserved to play the game but you realize its for the teams best to play the other goalie. Playing the bench can be frustrating and he has been a huge help for me in coping with this. This has been one of the biggest difficulty for me so far. For example last year the other goalie in my team was the best goalie in Denmark and even won "best goalie" 4-5 times. Now I still do all these extra things but now I get to play the games!
Do you have any tics or peculiarities as a goalie?
Haha I don't know I haven't thought about it!
Yessika saving the situation.Picture taken by Sanjin Savić.
Which is your favorite brand of gear?
I like the Salming kneepads, they work better for me than unihoc that I had before. I prefer Unihoc for the outer later; helmet, shoes and gloves, though I haven't tried anything else on the outer layer.
How do you prepare yourself for a game?
I always pack my bag myself in a specific way, the same way in the same order every time to know that I have everything with me. If we are playing a home game I always wear Barcelonas home jersey and if its an away game I wear their away jersey. I've always been a fan of Barcelona, they were in one of the first games I watched and then I just stuck with it.
I don't think I prepare by doing anything specific, but I always the same warmup. I don't think I have a specific routine for myself, I haven't thought about it. I do like music when we warm up on the court but I don't listen to my own music because to me that is like going into yourself instead of being a part of the team. I understand that some people do that because they feel it works better for them but I prefer not to.
Are you the joking type or the more serious type before a game?
That depends on the opponent. I tend to get nervous and I won't be joking as much then as when I'm not nervous. If its an easy opponent we joke around a lot. Sometimes its difficult to stay focused when you're going to play a game that you know you're going to win. This is my first year as a first goalie so I guess I'm expected to be nervous, haha.
If you could some give advice to newer or younger goalies, what would that be?
I think its important to find your spot on the team especially if you're a second goalie, to learn how important you are for the team as a second goalie and that you're a part of the team even though it might not feel like it. I used a lot of energy on realizing that even though I wasn't a part of every single game I'm still a part of every single training and, every shot that the players take on me is a part of them getting better. So yeah, I think thats something I've used a lot of energy on; finding my spot on the team and realizing how important the second goalie really is.
And also, remember to have fun! Don't take it too seriously/too hard because then every goal you let in will feel like a defeat. I don't think you can be a great goalie without having fun.
Remember that you're a goalkeeper and even though you are not on the field you can always do things at home and work with stuff even though you're not actually playing. I've been practicing throwing balls in the air, reading on mental training etc. You can improve yourself a lot even when you're not in the goal, analyzing and so on.
It has been a pleasure doing this interview with you Yessika! Good luck in the finals this saturday I will be rooting for you!
Picture taken by Sanjin Savić.
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