12 powerful goalkeeper quotes to get you focused for 2010

With 2009 coming to a close rapidly, and the season in full swing, or about to be in most parts of the world, I thought it would be good to recap some of the great interviews we conducted throughout the year to get you charged up for 2010.

The following excerpts are 12 quotes from some of the best former goalkeepers and current goalkeeper coaches from around the world:Maarten Arts discusses the concept of “attacking” goalkeeping: “If you attack someone, you do that with your hands and arms forward. In many games all over the world I see goalkeepers go with their feet to the ball. As we learn in school, the shortest way between two points is a straight line.

So that means in 1 against 1, the goalkeeper has to go in a straight line to the ball with his arms stretched, ready to block the ball. Because he has his hands stretched, he can defend himself against the foot of the striker. When they touch the ball in the same moment, the goalkeeper is much stronger because he blocks with his entire body (not only his arms or hands, like in bench press).

Another advantage is that the striker does not expect you to come out like this when he is 2.5 meters away from you.”

Tony Meola discusses his preparation for World Cup competition: “I like to think that I trained hard all the time. It was the only way I could prepare. I have a full menu of things I wanted to accomplish during the week and always made sure I got to it. As we got closer to competition, the level of intensity always got a bit higher as guys wanted to be as prepared as possible.”

Alan Simpson discusses how he prepares the U/23 Northern Ireland Men’s National Team goalkeepers for tough competition: “Mentally preparing them for a game…that’s easy as the goalkeepers and the team are always starting off as under dogs, so they are out to prove that they can compete with the better football nations around the world. When working with both goalkeepers we work on footwork, handling, diving, shot stopping, 1 v 1, reaction saves, crossing, and distribution.

All practices are carried out at match tempo. If we have any information on the other team we would set practices to deal with these specific threats. I like working on the feel good factor so I make sure before the goalkeepers leave the training ground there technique is spot on and they are confident to deal with anything thrown at them during the game. So if they feel good, look good, then they will play good.”

Youssef Dahha, goalkeeper coach of the Montreal Impact discusses what it takes for a goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach to enter the professional ranks: “For the goalkeepers, you need to be perserverant, courageous, driven and a hard worker. Always be ready to take challenges and show character.

For the goalie coaches, having shown leadership as players is key. Being a good manager: everybody can coach, but can you manage your staff, the media and your bosses? Knowing how to manage and deal with people is essential to the job.”

Former Nantes F.C. goalkeeper and current Philadelphia Union (MLS) CEO, Nick Sakiewicz discusses the intensity of training in Europe: “Night and day. It was an amazing transition. The speed of the play and the technical ability of the players were totally different to what I was used to. Imagine a 21 year old, 2 time all American playing with 16 year olds for the first two weeks I was in France.

The coaches put me with them to acclimate to the quality before I joined the training sessions with the first team. It was a very humbling experience but one I will cherish my entire life. I was one of the first Americans to venture to Europe and it was an incredible experience.”

Goalkeeper strength and conditioning expert Mark Williams discusses how he trained Everton and US National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard: “I think Tim’s main asset as a goalkeeper is his natural given athleticism. I have worked with hundreds of athletes in the goalkeeping position and I have not see an athlete that is as explosive as Tim.

His training session comprised of multiple power movements such as box squats and plyometric combination’s. I trained him almost the same way I would train an American Football Player and that is to be as explosive in all directions as possible while only covering a short distance.”

Goalkeeper coach James Hollman of Ipswich Town talks about how he prepares goalkeeper Richard Wright for a tough competitive game: “He has a very strict routine in terms of preparation leading up to a game in terms of when we train, what we do and how long for. Every goalkeeper is different and so it is vital that when I first started to work with Richard I tried to understand what he likes to do. I think that looking back at this season once we had that understanding of routine his performances picked up.

Richard is now 31 and playing almost twice a week, every week and that makes physical development work difficult so most of the time is spent on short, sharp, hand eye co-ordination routines that involve high intensity drills. This keeps him fit and sharp week in, week out.

In terms of psychological preparation Richard and myself share the same beliefs in how to approach each game and that belief is that every game is all about us and what we do, so that when we face the opposition we are 100% ready to react to what they do and that means very little focus is put on the opposition prior to games.”

England and Everton goalkeeping legend Neville Southall talks about longevity and what it takes to continually play at your best: “Be the best prepared you possibly can be and never be satisfied by where you are or how well you are performing. For a young goalkeeper, games are the most important thing even if you have to start lower down. Make sure you have your life in balance lots of work but also lots of fun.”

Former Arsenal and AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Vince Bartram talks about legendary goalkeeper coach Bob Wilson (Arsenal) and how he helped Vince take his game to the next level: “Where do I start! – Firstly Bob is the nicest person you could ever wish to meet. Not that that helps with coaching! He treated everyone differently – he didn’t try and make me into David Seaman. He coached around my abilities, which is what makes a fantastic Goalkeeping Coach. Everyone has different attributes and the goalkeeping coach needs to identify each individual’s skills and develop them. Bob was innovative, ahead of his time almost.

Having said this, his sessions were uncomplicated and invariably involved the goalkeeper making saves in and around his goal area. Bob also concentrated on the basics above all else. His philosophy was ‘a goalkeeper is the first point of attack’ and to do this he needs to catch the ball cleanly whenever possible and not make fancy looking saves!”

Legendary English goalkeeper coach Simon Smith (formerly Newcastle United, currently English FA) talks about the role of sports science in goalkeeping: “To use a phrase from my latest DVD, ‘Goalkeeping Fitness’, we need to develop ‘power athletes’. The game is now all about power and pace and the goalkeeper has to be able to deal with that power and pace!

The speed of the game means that goalkeepers have to be able to change their position in the eighteen yard box at high speed; they need to be able to run backwards as quickly as they run forwards as the play ebbs and flows, when the ball changes hands.

The power of the shooting of strikers means that goalkeepers need a physical strength to deal with shots coupled with a speed of movement to get them there in the first place.”

Andrew Sparkes, Academy goalkeeper coach for the New York Red Bull, talks about how he prepares young US goalkeeping stars Santiago Castano and Keith Cardona: “I try to make every session challenging, realistic and enjoyable for the Academy keepers. The sessions are focused a lot on technique and then applying these techniques into realistic game situations.

Ive also started working a lot on dealing with back passes and kicking with both feet. The modern game now needs our keepers to be comfortable with the ball at both feet and being able to start attacks from the back.

Pepe Reina is a great example for Liverpool. He can strike balls left foot, right foot, short and long distances. It just adds a different dimension to the team if your keeper can do this and at the same time doesn’t put your team under pressure.

Both Santiago and Keith are very different goalkeepers both technically and in games but their dedication and willingness to make themselves better in every game and training is what has made them into two good keepers. There is still a long way to go with both of them, but they have a great platform to continue to develop very good keepers.”

Shaka Hislop. the legendary Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper and former Premier League goalkeeper for West Ham, Newcastle United, Reading and Portsmouth talks about the mental and physical requirements necessary for young goalkeepers to succeed: “Physically it helps to be tall, but that certainly isn’t imperative- look at Shay Given, or Mark Bosnich, or Jimmy Walker- they weren’t the tallest players on the pitch, but still all had very successful careers. Mentally, you have to be tough. Keep in mind you are largely remembered for your mistakes. There aren’t many players on the pitch who can cope with that fact day in day out, game after game.

The rules stay the same regardless of the level you’re playing at. The higher the level, the bigger the stage the more determined, the more stubborn, the more mentally tough you have to become. There’s no more to it. Your self-confidence will take a beating every now and then, but stick to the basic principles of goalkeeping, stick with that mental toughness I keep talking about, what I feel is the basic foundation for being a goalkeeper, and you’ll come through it.”

There you have it! 12 power quotes from some of the very best goalkeepers and goalkeeper trainers in the world. I hope you can take away some of the above advice and utilize it for the season ahead.

Note: All of the above quotes come from our Keeper Skool Certified membership area. You can access these above articles (updated monthly), the G-Code book for an in depth overview of goalkeeper nutrition and fitness, plus exclusive videos and training articles from some of the worlds best trainers…best of all, these resources are updated monthly.

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