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This short podcast on the language of football introduces the phrase, ‘between the sticks’, which is a phrase used to talk about goalkeepers. Check out the transcript of the show below. You also make sure you check out our huge glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. Teachers of English can use the audio and transcript to provide practice for their students, too. Try a gap-fill activity for example. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com.
Learn English Through Football
DB: Hello everybody. My Name’s Damon and you are listening to the podcast for all those interested in the language of football and in learning English, languagecaster.com’s football language podcast.
Spring has sprung here in Tokyo. Blue skies, flowers blooming, and cherry blossom viewing season around the corner. This is also the season when the Champions League starts to get serious.
I wonder if Damian, based in London and the other half of the languagecaster team watched Manchester City put seven past RB Leipzig in their last 16 match. You’ve got to feel sorry for the goalkeeper in that situation, haven’t you!
The phrase we are going to look at today – between the sticks – is about goalkeepers. And, we’ll look at a few other words and phrases connected with this theme too.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in German)
DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com, and that message was in German. Send in an audio of you introducing languagecaster.com or your favourite team in your language and we’d be happy to add it to our podcast. Just send an audio file to admin@languagecaster.com.
Between the Sticks
OK, let’s talk about ‘between the sticks‘. Basically this refers to the goal. The two posts and crossbar that make the goal can be called the sticks, although usually only when part of this phrase.
A stick, of course, is a piece of wood, and the sticks here, are the wooden frame of the goal. In the past, the goals were wooden, not man-made as they are now. And between the sticks means to be the goalkeeper, whose position is between the posts and under the crossbar.
So, recently the Chronicle Live used ‘Loris Karius will likely line up between the sticks for Newcastle United this weekend’ to say they thought that the ex-Liverpool player, Karius, would play in goals for the team.
More generally, we simply would say Karius might play in goal or be in goal, but the phrase be between the sticks is not unusual.
Shot Stopper
One type of goalkeeper that you might find between the sticks is a shot stopper. This description is positive and negative. It is positive because it means the goalkeeper is good at stopping shots, saving shots.
It can also be a bit negative, too, because it may mean the other parts of the goalkeeper’s game are not so strong. Maybe they are not good with the ball at their feet. Maybe they can’t distribute, pass, the ball well. Or maybe they aren’t so strong when it comes to corners or free kicks.
Got a Rick in Him/Her
Finally, if a goalkeeper makes a mistake fairly often, we can say they have got a rick in him or her. A rick‘ in this phrase means a mistake, so it means we cannot rely on the keeper because they sometimes, or quite often, make a big mistake.
Here is a comment on the Anfield Wrap after Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final: “For the keeper’s mistakes, what can you say…probably won’t come back from that. We all know he’s got a rick in him, and last night we got two.” The Keeper, Karius, made two big errors in this match.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Italian)
Contact
DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and that message was in Italian. OK, we looked at three phrases today, between the sticks, a shot stopper, and got a rick in him or her. All were to do with goalkeeping, one of the most difficult positions to play on the pitch.
Contact us if you want to ask any football-language questions, have comments, or simply want to say hello at admin@languagecaster.com or by using our forum at languagecaster.com. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow and retweet, etc. Spread the word!
Remember also we have a transcript for the show. Come along to the site and you can read and listen. Oror if you’re a teacher you could use the transcript to make some cool activities.
Goodbye
DB: That’s it for now. We’ll be back soon. Enjoy the football. Ta-ra!
Free football language podcast for learners of English brought to you by Damian and Damon. Interviews, match reviews, predictions all with full language support for football fans around the world who wish to improve their English language skills.
