Inside the Circle with James Mazarelo: GB Hockey, Goalkeeping and Becoming “The Wall”

Goalkeeping is one of the most individual roles in a team sport.

You can play brilliantly and lose.

You can make save after save and still be remembered for the one ball that went in.

And for James Mazarelo, learning how to separate performance from outcome has become one of the most important parts of his journey.

Since making his Great Britain debut in 2021 and England debut in 2022, James has established himself within the senior international setup, competed at major tournaments, travelled to Paris 2024 as a reserve goalkeeper and taken on the responsibility of becoming England’s number one.

Alongside international hockey, his career has included Surbiton, a move to Old Georgians, the Hockey India League and regular work helping develop younger goalkeepers through coaching.

In this edition of Inside the Circle, James joins Total-Hockey to talk about the psychology of goalkeeping, moving through the England pathway, his OBO equipment setup, how goalkeepers adapt to different tactical systems and why the best young keepers need to learn that conceding a goal doesn’t automatically mean they’ve failed.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with James Mazarelo below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through England, Great Britain and elite goalkeeping.

A New Chapter at Old Georgians

James recently made the move from Surbiton to Old Georgians.

Changing club as an outfield player can require tactical adjustments.

For a goalkeeper, those differences can be even more noticeable.

The defensive structure in front of you changes.

Communication changes.

How involved the goalkeeper needs to be can change too.

Fortunately, James already knew plenty about Old Georgians from playing against them.

That gave him a strong idea of what to expect.

How Goalkeepers Adapt to Different Systems

James explains that the goalkeeper’s involvement depends heavily on the defensive structure.

In a man-to-man press, the keeper may have relatively limited involvement in certain phases.

In a zonal system, they may need to be much more active.

Aerial balls are a good example.

If the defenders are protecting spaces rather than directly following players, the goalkeeper may need to step forward and become involved in removing aerial threats behind the defensive line.

But James doesn’t believe adapting means completely changing who you are.

A goalkeeper still needs to retain the style and strengths that got them to that level in the first place.

Becoming England’s Number One

One of the biggest recent milestones in James’s career was becoming the first-choice goalkeeper for England at a major tournament.

That opportunity was hugely exciting.

But it also came with pressure.

The tournament outcome wasn’t what England wanted.

And goalkeepers know better than most how quickly results can be attached to the person standing in the net.

James takes a different approach.

Performance vs Result

One of the strongest themes of the interview is the distinction between what a goalkeeper can control and what they can’t.

A goalkeeper can perform brilliantly and still lose.

They can perform badly and have teammates score enough goals to win.

That makes judging yourself purely through results extremely dangerous.

James focuses instead on questions such as:

Did I commit fully to my processes?

Did I prepare properly?

Did I perform the way I wanted?

Was there anything realistically within my control that I could have changed?

That mindset has become crucial to the way he evaluates his own performances.

Why Goalkeepers Blame Themselves

James sees the same problem regularly when coaching younger goalkeepers.

A goal goes in.

The team loses 1–0.

The young goalkeeper immediately thinks:

We lost because I conceded.

But hockey doesn’t work like that.

There were dozens of actions before the shot reached the goal.

And the attacking team still had to create and finish the chance.

That doesn’t mean goalkeepers should ignore mistakes.

It means they need to judge themselves accurately.

Otherwise, the position can become mentally exhausting.

Taking Emotion Out of Analysis

Immediately after conceding, rational thinking can be difficult.

Could I have moved sooner?

Should I have saved it?

Was my position wrong?

James believes video becomes particularly valuable once the emotions have settled.

Review the situation later.

Look at what actually happened.

Sometimes there was something to improve.

Other times there genuinely wasn’t much the goalkeeper could have done.

Learning to make that distinction is part of developing maturity in the position.

Football, Cricket and the Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports

Hockey wasn’t the only sport James played growing up.

Football and cricket were both important parts of his development.

And he believes that multisport background gave him a huge advantage.

Football goalkeeping helped develop movement and footwork.

Cricket supported hand-eye coordination.

Different sports created different movement patterns and problem-solving skills.

All of that eventually transferred into hockey.

Why Early Specialisation Isn’t Always Necessary

James encourages young athletes to experience different sports where possible.

It can develop broader physical skills.

But it also helps maintain enjoyment.

Eventually, there may come a point where specialisation makes sense.

For James, that happened when the technical demands of football goalkeeping and hockey goalkeeping started pulling him in different directions.

But before that stage, the crossover was enormously valuable.

Not Every Skill Transfers Perfectly

There is an important caveat.

A football goalkeeper may dive differently from a hockey goalkeeper.

Body position changes.

Head position changes.

The equipment changes movement completely.

So the objective isn’t simply to copy a movement from one sport into another.

Instead, coaches can use familiar ideas to help players understand new ones.

Using Other Sports to Teach Goalkeeping

James gives examples from his own coaching.

If a young goalkeeper is struggling with head position during a save, he might ask how they would position themselves when playing a cricket shot.

If they’re trying to kick the ball, football can provide another familiar reference point.

Then the hockey-specific differences can be added.

That makes learning more relatable.

Entering the England Pathway

James first became involved in the player pathway at under-15 level.

From there came England U16s and U18s.

Junior international tournaments followed.

And eventually the under-21 environment.

For goalkeepers, those selection stages can be particularly difficult.

An outfield squad contains plenty of positions.

A team might only take two or three goalkeepers.

Why Goalkeeper Selection Can Feel Brutal

There simply aren’t many places.

And development isn’t linear.

The goalkeeper who looks strongest at 15 won’t necessarily be the strongest at 23.

James believes young keepers need to understand that missing one selection doesn’t automatically end their international ambitions.

Players develop at different speeds.

Different opportunities appear.

There isn’t one perfect route.

The Importance of Proper Goalkeeper Assessments

James also welcomes changes that give goalkeepers more dedicated assessment.

In the past, a goalkeeper could arrive at a tournament and be judged heavily on match performance.

But what happens if their team dominates every match and they barely touch the ball?

That makes evaluation incredibly difficult.

Dedicated goalkeeper sessions give selectors more evidence.

They also create better opportunities to provide useful feedback.

Feedback Makes Selection More Valuable

Selection is always stressful.

But useful feedback can turn rejection into development.

If a goalkeeper knows exactly what needs improving, they can work on it.

Then at the next selection point, they can arrive better prepared.

James sees that process as important throughout a player’s career.

You may not always get picked.

The key is being able to say you responded properly.

What Changes as Goalkeepers Move Up Age Groups?

For outfield players, increasing physicality can be one of the biggest differences between age groups.

Goalkeepers experience something slightly different.

The ball obviously moves quicker.

Decision-making becomes faster.

Positioning has to improve.

But James believes the biggest difference can often be consistency.

Elite Players Execute More Often

A younger forward may have the ability to produce a brilliant finish.

An older elite player produces that finish more regularly.

That changes the goalkeeper’s challenge.

The question becomes less:

Can they hit this shot?

And more:

How often are they going to execute it perfectly?

At senior international level, almost everybody has the ability to produce something exceptional.

What separates players is how consistently they can do it under pressure.

Why Men’s Hockey Was a Big Development Step

One of the biggest jumps James remembers wasn’t actually between England age groups.

It was moving from junior hockey into men’s club hockey.

The game felt different.

Some older players might not move as quickly.

But they could hit the ball extremely hard.

The technical execution was more reliable.

The physical environment changed too.

For a young goalkeeper, that provided an important education.

Combining Hockey With University

James later attended Loughborough University.

The decision had two priorities:

Academic development.

Hockey development.

Fortunately, Loughborough offered both.

He studied sport and exercise science while also entering an elite sporting environment with access to coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, psychology and performance support.

Why Loughborough Helped His Goalkeeping

The physical side became particularly important.

James wanted gym work to transfer directly into the goal.

Lateral explosiveness.

Speed.

Power.

Getting back to his feet quickly.

Core strength.

Holding unusual body positions during saves.

The aim wasn’t simply to become stronger in the gym.

The aim was to become a better goalkeeper.

Building the Athlete Behind the Goalkeeper

Nutrition supported that physical development.

James arrived at university considerably lighter than he is now.

Over time, he added strength and physical capacity while retaining the mobility required for goalkeeping.

That combination matters.

Goalkeepers need power.

But they also need agility.

Flexibility.

Control.

Putting on weight purely for the sake of being bigger isn’t the goal.

Balancing Full-Time Hockey and a Degree

James eventually joined the full-time senior hockey programme while still completing university.

That created a pretty intense period.

Training with GB.

Travelling internationally.

Sitting exams.

Completing university work.

Trying to perform in both environments.

Support from both Loughborough and GB made the balance possible.

Learning From Elite Goalkeeper Coaches

Throughout his development, James worked with several influential goalkeeper coaches.

At Loughborough, one of the most important was former World Goalkeeper of the Year Ali McGregor.

The technical lessons mattered.

But one of the biggest things James learned was something less obvious:

presence.

What Does “Presence” Mean for a Goalkeeper?

A goalkeeper’s impact isn’t purely physical.

Your teammates need to believe you’re going to keep them in the game.

Opposition forwards need to look at the goal and feel like scoring is going to be difficult.

That perception matters.

How you communicate.

How you stand.

How confident you appear.

How you react after a save.

All of those things shape the psychological battle.

Developing an On-Pitch Alter Ego

Off the pitch, James describes himself as naturally quite shy and reserved.

In the goal?

He needs something different.

Confidence.

Aggression.

Authority.

A willingness to dominate the space.

That almost becomes another version of himself.

Not fake.

Just a different part of his personality.

Confidence Isn’t the Same as Arrogance

That distinction took time to understand.

James wants to be humble away from hockey.

But inside the goal, displaying extreme confidence can be useful.

The opposition doesn’t need to know whether you’re nervous.

Your teammates need to feel secure.

That creates an interesting psychological balancing act.

You can be modest away from sport while still carrying yourself like you own the circle when the whistle goes.

The First Goalkeeping Kit

Like plenty of goalkeepers, James’s earliest equipment experience involved whatever happened to be available in the club kit shed.

Different coloured kickers.

Different leg guards.

Random gloves.

And the seemingly unavoidable Slazenger goalkeeper helmet that generations of school and club keepers appear to have worn at some stage.

Eventually the equipment became considerably more specialised.

Why James Uses OBO Goalkeeping Equipment

James now uses OBO goalkeeper equipment.

His setup is particularly interesting because he doesn’t simply use the newest version of every product.

He mixes different pieces based on his style.

That includes PLUS kickers alongside the older-style leg guards.

Why OBO PLUS Kickers Work

The newer square-shaped kickers provide additional coverage around the toe.

That matters when reaching at full extension.

Older designs could occasionally expose the toe as the foam lifted during extreme movements.

The flatter face of the PLUS kicker can also help keep clearances lower and more controlled.

For James, those benefits made the change worthwhile.

Why He Hasn’t Switched Fully to PLUS Leg Guards

The newer PLUS leg guards offer increased surface area.

For lunging saves, that can be extremely valuable.

But there’s a trade-off.

They are straighter and boxier.

James’s game relies heavily on scrambling and moving across the floor.

For him, the older curved leg guards offer more familiarity and flexibility in those situations.

Choose Equipment Around Your Style

This becomes one of the best equipment lessons from the interview.

The newest product isn’t automatically the best product for you.

James has used his current style of leg guard for years.

He understands exactly how they move during slides.

How they rotate.

Where the pad will be at the end of a movement.

That familiarity gives him confidence.

Switching would require changing technique.

Right now, he doesn’t believe the trade-off is worth it.

What James Thinks of the OBO PLUS Gloves

James uses the newer PLUS gloves too.

He particularly likes the additional thought that has gone into small details.

The left glove is thicker to help increase rebound.

The shape also makes it easier to push off the floor.

Straps can be adjusted depending on how the goalkeeper prefers to wear them.

That flexibility is important.

Not every goalkeeper uses their equipment in exactly the same way.

Why Customisation Matters

James makes small modifications to some equipment himself.

For example, he may adjust the internal shape of the left glove slightly so it sits more comfortably around his hand.

These are tiny changes.

But goalkeeping equipment is incredibly personal.

When you wear something for thousands of hours, small differences matter.

The New OBO Carbon Helmet

Another major equipment change came with OBO’s newer carbon helmet design.

James particularly values the improved vision.

The grill shape gives him better peripheral awareness while retaining the higher protection level required for international hockey.

He had previously liked the visibility of the ABS shape.

The newer carbon version effectively combined that visibility with the protection he wanted.

Why Changing Helmets Is a Big Deal

James admits he generally doesn’t change equipment quickly.

Goalkeepers develop strong familiarity with their kit.

So the fact he adopted the newer helmet during an international season says plenty about how comfortable he felt with it.

When equipment is protecting your head, trust matters.

What Goalkeeper Stick Does James Mazarelo Use?

James prefers a straight OBO goalkeeper stick rather than a traditional curved goalie shape.

The reason is partly visual.

When making aerial stick saves, James thinks of the stick as an extension of his arm.

A straighter stick means the end of the stick sits where he intuitively expects it to be.

Why Balance Point Matters

There’s another reason:

Balance.

A more curved goalkeeper stick can place more weight towards the head.

James wants something that feels almost weightless in his hand.

A more neutral balance lets him move the stick quickly without feeling like the head is dragging behind.

Lower Carbon Can Be Better

Interestingly, James also prefers the softer Cloud stick rather than the higher-carbon Robo.

Again, this challenges the assumption that more carbon automatically means better performance.

James prefers the softer feel.

Other international goalkeepers prefer the stiffer response.

Neither is universally correct.

It depends on what feels right.

The Three-Grip Setup

James also has a very distinctive grip setup.

The top remains relatively normal.

Further down, the grip gets thicker.

Then thicker again.

The section where his hand naturally sits has multiple layers.

The logic is simple.

He wants the stick to fill his hand properly and remain secure without feeling like it’s going to slip or be thrown during an extension save.

Equipment Is About Trade-Offs

The same theme appears repeatedly.

Protection vs mobility.

Coverage vs flexibility.

Stiffness vs feel.

Weight vs stability.

There is no single perfect goalkeeper setup.

Every choice creates advantages and disadvantages.

The key is understanding which trade-offs suit your game.

Why Young Goalkeepers Shouldn’t Copy Everyone Else

James strongly advises younger goalkeepers against buying equipment purely because everyone else is using it.

Goalkeeping kit is expensive.

So choosing something simply because it looks popular can become a costly mistake.

Think about your style.

Do you slide a lot?

Do you stay upright?

Are you aggressive?

Do you rely heavily on ground movement?

The answers should influence the equipment.

Comfort Can Improve Performance

If a young goalkeeper feels comfortable in their equipment, they’re more likely to play well.

And if they play well, they’re more likely to enjoy the position.

That matters.

Goalkeeping can already feel isolated.

The equipment should help create confidence, not become another source of uncertainty.

Hockey India League

James also took part in the relaunched Hockey India League with UP Rudras.

For him, the experience carried additional significance because his father is Indian.

Playing for an Indian franchise created a different relationship with the country and its hockey culture.

Internationally, the Indian crowd naturally sees GB as the opposition.

In franchise hockey, James was suddenly representing them.

Building Relationships With Indian Teammates

The league brought together players from different countries and languages.

Some younger Indian players were less confident speaking English.

That forced James to think carefully about communication.

And goalkeepers communicate constantly.

Especially during defensive situations.

Learning to Communicate More Clearly

Penalty-corner defence was a great example.

James couldn’t rely on long explanations.

Messages needed to be simple.

Specific.

Visual.

He used video more efficiently.

And he even learned basic directional commands in his teammates’ language.

Left.

Right.

Forward.

Back.

Just enough to make communication instinctive during high-pressure situations.

What Franchise Hockey Taught Him

That experience changed the way James thinks about communication more broadly.

Different teammates process information differently.

Some want detail.

Others need short instructions.

The best communicator adapts.

That lesson applies far beyond hockey.

Adapting Goalkeeping Style in India

The franchise had only a short period together before matches started.

Tactical mistakes were inevitable.

James therefore had to adapt.

The team used a zonal structure.

When that structure broke down, he could suddenly find himself facing several attackers with very little defensive support.

That demanded a more aggressive goalkeeping style.

Fortunately, that suits him.

Why James Likes Aggressive Goalkeeping

Broken play.

Counterattacks.

Scrambling situations.

One-on-ones.

These are the moments where James feels he can express himself most.

He likes being active.

Coming forward.

Using mobility.

Solving problems.

Shootouts as a Goalkeeper’s Showcase

Shootouts are another favourite.

They allow goalkeepers to show just how mobile and athletic they can be.

Speed.

Agility.

Flexibility.

Decision-making.

Physical presence.

For spectators who think goalkeepers simply stand in front of the net wearing foam, shootouts can completely change that perception.

Penalty-Corner Defence Is More Scientific

Penalty corners feel slightly different.

At elite level, defensive systems have become incredibly detailed.

Running lines are analysed.

Goalkeeper positioning is mapped.

Roles are clearly defined.

James describes it as almost scientific.

That’s not a criticism.

It’s simply a different type of goalkeeping challenge.

Open Play Is the Art

Open play leaves more room for instinct.

A broken attack can unfold in dozens of ways.

The goalkeeper has to read it.

React.

Improvise.

James sees that unpredictability as one of the most enjoyable parts of the position.

Penalty-corner defence may be science.

Open play is closer to art.

Goalkeeping Trends in Shootouts

One area James finds particularly interesting is how shootout strategy continues to evolve.

Changes in interpretation around goalkeeper contact have altered what keepers can do when attackers turn away.

Forwards find a successful approach.

Goalkeepers develop a response.

Rules change.

Then both sides adapt again.

That constant tactical evolution keeps shootouts fascinating.

A Tactical Trend He Doesn’t Love

James is less enthusiastic about the increasing use of deep zonal defence.

It’s clearly effective.

Germany have used it successfully.

Top clubs have too.

But he worries about what it could do to the wider spectacle.

Deep zones can slow the game.

Attackers face a crowded circle.

Possession becomes more patient.

The match can lose some of hockey’s natural speed.

Why Fast Hockey Matters

One of hockey’s biggest strengths is that it rarely stops.

Transition.

Counterattack.

End-to-end movement.

James doesn’t want the sport to become too static.

If every team drops deep and waits, the spectacle could change dramatically.

Effective tactics aren’t always the most entertaining tactics.

The Aerial Rule

Unsurprisingly, the aerial rule also comes up.

James likes the creativity aerials have added to the game.

But the interpretation remains complicated.

Who has the right to receive?

When can someone intercept?

What counts as playing distance?

These decisions can vary even at elite tournaments.

Safety at Lower Levels

James also raises an important point about how elite rules translate down the sport.

International players may have the skill to safely execute difficult aerial receptions and volleys.

Lower-level players may try to copy what they see.

That can increase risk.

James wonders whether the sport may eventually need to think differently about how certain rules apply at different levels.

Hockey Should Keep Experimenting

Despite those concerns, James doesn’t want the sport to stop changing.

He points to successful innovations such as self-pass rules, long-corner changes and improvements to video referrals.

Not every idea will work.

That’s fine.

The important thing is being willing to test ideas, learn and improve them.

One Rule James Would Change

His personal goalkeeper rule request is highly specific.

Attackers running along the baseline can sometimes flick the ball directly at the goalkeeper from close range.

The keeper makes the save.

The rebound becomes dangerous.

The attacker then wins a penalty corner because the ball has come off the keeper dangerously.

James isn’t a fan.

Unsurprisingly.

His solution?

If the attacker deliberately fires the ball into the goalkeeper from close range, don’t automatically reward what happens afterwards with a corner.

Goalkeepers everywhere may support the campaign.

What Can Hockey Players Learn From James Mazarelo?

James’s journey offers plenty of lessons.

First, separate performance from outcome.

Goalkeepers cannot control every result.

Focus on preparation, processes and the actions you can influence.

Second, play different sports when you’re young.

Football and cricket gave James movement and coordination skills that eventually became strengths in goal.

Third, don’t copy someone else’s equipment blindly.

The newest leg guards or highest-carbon stick may not suit the way you play.

Fourth, communication is a skill that needs adapting.

What works with one teammate may not work with another.

And finally, goalkeeping is psychological as well as technical.

Your presence matters.

Your teammates need to believe in you.

Opponents need to feel like scoring will be difficult.

Sometimes that means finding a more confident, aggressive version of yourself when you cross the white line.

Off the pitch, James might be the quietly spoken goalkeeper who also works in public leisure consultancy.

On it?

That’s where “The Wall” comes out.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with James Mazarelo to hear more about England and GB hockey, OBO equipment, Hockey India League, goalkeeper psychology, shootouts and life between the posts.