Insiders View On Goalkeeper Motivation

Across the globe the goalkeeping position is recognised as the toughest on the pitch. There are many reasons the position is known as this, one minute you can be the hero but maybe 10 minutes later you could be the villain.

I recently played a game were I gave away a debatable penalty which was converted and ended in the loss of the game for my team. The comments I received from the Manager and Assistant Manager made me feel better about the result.

They stated, “The position you play is the toughest place to play in the game of football, you save your team or you can lose the game. The penalty may have had some bearing on us losing the game but remember last week, you kept us in the game three times with some excellent saves. And you were rewarded with Man of the Match for your efforts.

Even throughout tonight’s match you made some great saves when we were going looking for a goal and kept us in with a chance of still getting something. We all saw that is wasn’t a penalty and because of that some will remember you for just giving that penalty away tonight. But in our minds we remember the saves you made, the great kicks you made to get us attacking and your great performances and effort you have put in this season”.

This gave me a good boost of confidence as you always see goalkeepers at the top level only remembered for the mistakes they made. But if a goalkeeper does make a mistake or give away a penalty, remind him of how he has done well in other areas of the game.

It certainly made me feel better about my performance and made me respect my management for the excellent support they gave me.

EDITORS NOTE: As you can see with Ryan’s post, goalkeepers have a memory of an elephant! Ryan remembered verbatim what his coach had stated to him about his performance!

Ryan Howells plays as a goalkeeper for Sandhurst Town FC, and owns and runs RH Goalkeeping.com, a live diary of Ryan’s experience as a goalkeeper.

French Goalkeeper Sebastien Frey Training

You could easily mistake French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey for a hair model in a chic magazine, but the guy has some goalkeeping goods to boot. Funnily enough, Frey comes from a family of elite footballers. Grandad Andre Frey was a French International, his father Raymond was a pro shot stopper and his younger brother is plying his football trade for Serie B team Modena FC. Good to see that football stays in the family, generation after generation.

Recently, Frey suffered a meniscus tear during training and has been out of action for some time. Following is a training session with Sebastien Frey, and it is funny to see the style and approach he utilizes, kind of like he seems ready to ski down an icy slope, but nonetheless unique. The focus again, seems to be to keep it sharp and intense with your goalkeeper training sessions.

Spine Technology in Goalkeeper Gloves…Good or Bad?

Many of the glove companies out there are starting to go with gloves that have the spine support for the fingers. Is this a good or bad move? Well that all depends on your view. Back in the late 90′s I used a pair of gloves that “created” the spine technology and I loved them. It was at the High School level, so it was not as intense as the higher levels.

When my college training started I found myself not being able to catch a ball correctly. Puzzled by this I asked my coach, a former All-American Keeper, what the problem was. His response to me was that I simply forgot how to properly catch a ball with gloves. I found myself constantly deflecting everything because there was no give to the gloves. His solution was for me to practice with a regular, traditional glove and save my others for games.

After practicing at several training sessions with the traditional gloves, my catching came back and I stopped deflecting everything. When the games rolled around I was doing it all correctly with the gloves that had the spine support. My advice to anyone that wants to try gloves with the supports is to practice with a glove that is less padded and has no protection for the fingers.

You will thank me in the long run as you will remember how to catch the ball correctly with the necessary give and not just deflect it all because of bad form. There is nothing wrong with the gloves that possess the spine technology, however if you are using them do yourself and your team a favor and train with a traditional pair. It will make all the difference in how you play in the long run.

Brad Barnett has played the role of soccer goalkeeper since 13 years of age, is an accomplished goalkeeping coach and writes at Football Kits Blog part of the Football Media Network.

Cech Blunder Costs Chelsea Vital Points

Young Liviu praised Cech and Chelsea the other day (and he has every right to), but unfortunately a costly error during a crossing situation against Arsenal the other night allowed The Gunners to inch closer to Manchester United on top of The Premiership leaderboard. What was admirable in this instance that although Cech had made the mistake, he did not aim the blame at any defensive error, management foresight, or a slap on the face from a disturbed fan (it didn’t happen but I’m adding it for emphasis)…he blamed himself. Following is a video highlight of the goal:

Cech had a clear view of the ball, and his defenders did well to cover him as he attempted to attack the ball. In this situation, Cech could have done well to punch the ball away if there was any uncertainty in his mind that he could not get to the ball. From all angles it seems that the attempt was poorly mistimed, though being able to be passive (that is, to assess the situation and align your resources to best effect) in uncertain situations can allow for a goalkeeper to view an offensive play from a different perspective.

This means, that a goalkeeper does not need to come out for every single ball, some situations will entail a goalkeper to utilize their defense strategically (and help them work for you) to block attack away from the goal effectively. If you can communicate to your defense effectively and get them to work for you, then this is just as good as trying to be a super hero and attack every situation head on. Playing smarter not harder is sometimes the maxim to goalkeeping success.

Oliver Khan Gives a Window View of His Training Session

While some spectators may be privy to Khan’s mouth being loaded and ready to pan out some pain on coaches and team mates (read Jens Lehmann) alike, many would not disregard his goalkeeping ability for one instant. I’m on the same boat as many goalkeepers of my own generation, and have huge amounts of respect for Khan as both a goalkeeper and football personality. Scoping You Tube today I found this recent video of Khan in training, and whilst the dialog is German, it does give a great view into what a good training session consists of and the legacy of Khan’s goalkeeping ability.

Some points of discussion come up from the above video:

• Simple Sessions = Success: That ryhmed pretty well…but what we can see from goalkeeper trainer Sepp Maier is a very straight forward training session that comprises of a general warm up that focuses on basic technique. Maier then pushes on with some more dynamic sessions, but the key focus is always on basic technique throughout.

• Repetition Without Monotony: Nothing is worse than prolonged training sessions without constant diversity in the training prescription. While the session does not need to do anything fancy or overly ridiculous, it should aim at providing repetition with a focus on constant progression of intensity throughout the training year. What we don’t want to do is make a goalkeeper feel like they are bored and de-motivated because every session is the same.

• Get It Off You Chest: There is no doubt that the camaraderie between Maier and Khan is strong. Having a great mentor as a goalkeeper coach is vital, and because of the heavy mental pressure a goalkeeper faces, there is always a constant need for open dialog between the goalkeeper and trainer. I’ve had some brilliant mentors in my time, whom always remained friends, and were there to be called on, even when we had parted ways from various clubs.

Petr Cech and Chelsea: World Class

After Petr Cech collided with Stephen Hunt at the Madejski Stadium last season and fractured his skull, goalkeepers around the world looked on in horror as a hero fell. The immediate question was “will he ever play again?”

Three months later, after brain surgery, after many painful weeks of being “constantly exhausted and then frustrated because I couldn’t do all the things that you normally take for granted – simple things like talking or getting to my feet”, Cech made his return.

His record speaks for itself – 25 clean sheets in a season and 1,025 straight minutes without conceding. Many people, myself included, call him the best in the world at the moment. Of all-time goalkeepers, Cech and Peter Schmeichel top my list of greats.

But he gives credit to his club, Chelsea FC, and both managers that he has played for at this club. He has called himself “surprised” and “sad” that José Mourinho left the club, but still has nothing but respect for Avram Grant, Mourinho’s successor.

Along with respect for the manager, Cech speaks of his club in a very supportive way. Everybody, from Roman Abramovich all the way down to the players, has the support of everybody else at the club.

“When Jose left it was really difficult for everyone because we had had three years together and enjoyed so much success. But I’ll tell you what I really like – all the players have pulled in the same direction, everyone has stuck together and, in a difficult time, we have turned everything around. I hear players at other clubs talking about ‘having great team spirit’ but never actually proving it when it matters.”

Having been in situations with supportive and non-supportive teammates and coaches, I can attest to the fact that the atmosphere in the team plays as big of a role as the talent of the team. I’ve been on very talented teams that suffered because of a lack of trust and chemistry. I’ve also been on teams that had less talent but pulled together and worked towards common goals, and because of that, were very successful.

Beyond this, the relationship between a goalkeeper and his coach is one whose importance cannot be underestimated. Because the goalkeeper is like a coach on the field – giving instruction and organizing the team – they have to be on the same page.

The other part of this relationship is the goalkeeper’s bond with the other ten men on the field. The field players have to trust the goalkeeper to be able to follow his direction, and they have to have confidence in the goalkeeper not only to give the right instructions to prevent conceding, but also to make that big save when they have to.

So while everybody else will be freezing in the winter cold, Petr Cech will be quite toasty underneath his specialized headgear. Mr. Zero and his team will also find warmth in their current hot run of form, charging towards the top of the Premiership once again.

One thing is for sure – it’s a team effort.

Liviu Bird is a young and avid sports writer and competitive goalkeeper playing for the Alaska Northstars State Select Team.

Goalkeeper Glove Promotion: Kaliaaer aerShokLock

This week we want to introduce you to another great goalkeeping glove in the Kaliaaer range, the aerShockLock. Remember, this is a special Christmas promotion that will be drawn in the middle of January and is available to our 10 Weeks To Goalkeeping Success subscribers. Here is a little info about this great new glove from Kaliaaer:

The aershok Lock is a fingersave glove with a difference!. The 5 removable (fingersave) aerFlexi spines “lock” into place on impact and provide outstanding protection to hyperextension as well as being flexible when catching. The inside of the glove also has a special shock cushion aiding against the impact of shots when catching and punching. The 4mm aerGrip Latex palm – for professional and elite keepers, provides amazing grip in all weather. Following is a picture of what this hot glove in the extensive Kaliaaer range looks like:

Greg made this picture a little bit too dark, I know, maybe to keep you all in suspense? Remember, if you have friends whom are goalkeepers, or a you are a goalkeeper trainer yourself, introduce them to our free 10 Weeks To Goalkeeping Success report here, so you can all go into the draw to win your very own pair of exclusive goalkeeper gloves from the Kaliaaer range.

What It Takes For a Goalkeeper To Break In At TheCollege Level

Throughout my training sessions and the meetings that lead up to the actual training, parents and players alike ask me what it takes to get to the collegiate level and play soccer. What do coaches look for? What should we be focusing on? Well I am going to tell you what a friend of mine, current high level college coach and former teammate looks for when he is out recruiting keepers.

Ability to Play at a High Level

This might look like a very generic answer, but there are some truths to what is said. Why waste your time recruiting someone who is not going to be able to play at such a demanding level. An average college season is 20+ regular season games. That is not counting any tournaments or preseason matches. Mix your academics along with the play, and you have a very demanding task ahead of you that is more like a full time job than a sport.

Technical Ability and Athleticism

I often tell people that technique can save you in many situations, but being athletic can save you from the rest. As goal keepers we learn from an early age, or we should learn from an early age, the proper technique of how to play goal. It still amazes me at how many senior keepers still have such bad technique and play at such a high level. Keep your technique sharp and work on the athleticism, and you will get noticed.

Decision Making and Becoming a Field Player

My friend said that he wants to have his keepers become the 12th field player if the situation arises. We can all atest that the situation definitely arises often, and many bad decisions lead to goals. Decision making is what makes this position one of the most challenging in any sport. One bad decision could lead to a loss for the team and a loss of the starting spot. Make good decisions and smart moves with your feet and life will be much easier between the posts.

Size Does Not Matter

The days of having a big goal keeper are gone. Teams look for more athletic keepers with smart decision making ability. However being a smaller keeper does provide some challenges that must be compesated for in terms of ability. Focus more on how you can make a save as opposed to how you will get beat. The mental game is just as important as the physical game.

Communication

It has been stressed for years that the keeper must be vocal and become the general of the field since they can see it all. This can be taught at the next level, and probably will take some time to get used to. This does not mean stop talking and expect everyone to just come knocking at your door, but the communication of a goal keeper will not make or break a deal. However you should still remain as vocal as possible, and hopefully a good coach will get you talking like you are supposed to at the next level.

The coach that I spoke to asked to remain anonymous, and I will honor that request. I can tell you that he is a successful coach of a great University here in the US and has the upmost respect of all his peers. His knowledge of the game is impecible and everything he told me about recruiting a goal keeper I take to heart. For a young goal keeper the dream of playing at the next level is not impossible to reach, you just have to know how to get there. Make yourself seen by following the above recommendations and do not be afraid to ask colleges about tryouts. This is the only way that YOU can make sure they see what YOU can do. Take the matter into your own hands and I hope to see you at the next level.

Brad Barnett has played the role of soccer goalkeeper since 13 years of age, is an accomplished goalkeeping coach and writes at Football Kits Blog part of the Football Media Network.

My Favorite Goalkeeper Positioning Trick

Our very own goalkeeping whiz-kid Liviu Bird, talks turkey about his most powerful goalkeeping secrets, and some of the best techniques he utilizes to enhance his ability (hopefully this can become a weekly thing for all of our readers):

One of the most vital skills for a goalkeeper to have is the ability to be in the right position at all times. This is my favorite positioning trick. I learned this from a coach here in Fairbanks who now coaches for FC Portland in Oregon.

• Properly measured, the 6 yard box, 18 yard box, and near post line up perfectly.
• Using this knowledge, the near post is covered when: The goalkeeper is inside of this imaginary red line and can reach the line before any shot. The goalkeeper can cover any shot taken to the inside of this red line, especially if they narrow the angle properly by coming off their line.
• Also, notice that if the ball’s endpoint is inside this line, it is on target. By the same token, if the endpoint is outside of this line, it is not on target.
• The “endpoint” is where the ball ends, after accounting for bend and other factors.

Using this trick, a goalkeeper eliminates the need to mark the pitch, which is technically against the Laws of the Game and should result in a yellow card for unsporting behavior. It is also a good way to tell whether a shot is on target or not.

Liviu Bird is a young and avid sports writer and competitive goalkeeper playing for the Alaska Northstars State Select Team.

Soccer Goalie – Essential Conditioning Tips

How many times is the soccer goalie forgotten about at soccer training? In a lot of cases the goalie is left to his own devices and the coach says ‘don’t worry, you don’t need to do this because your a keeper’. Wrong! Soccer is one of the most physical demanding sports you can play and the position of soccer goalkeeper requires peak physical fitness. The soccer goalie is a specialist position and therefore the keeper needs to be as fit if not fitter than every other player on the field. The following should be used as a guide to developing a conditioning program for soccer goalies.

• Warming up and stretching is vital for the soccer goalkeeper to avoid injury. Before a training session and before each game, ensure that you go through a set routine of stretching and warm up exercises. Agility and the ability to move quickly from side to side or jump to knock a ball over the crossbar, all these movements require your muscles to be relaxed. A good stretching regime prior to training and a game will facilitate this. It is a good idea to get someone to assist you in this and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to warm up properly. Ideally, after a warm up, you should have at least some sweat on the brow before you take the field or training paddock.

• Don’t be fooled by the fact that a soccer goalie spends most of their time in the penalty box and is not required to run as much as other players. Endurance training should still be an integral part of any soccer goalies training regime. During a game, a keeper is required to undertake short bursts of explosive effort and the ability to recover from this quickly is a crucial element in the success of a soccer goalie. There is no reason why soccer goalies should not be included in the rest of the team’s endurance sessions.

• Strength training is a core component of a goalkeepers conditioning regime. The goalie needs to be strong in the air, their clearing kicks both dead ball and out of the hands need to be strong and consistent and they need to be able to release the ball quickly with a strong and accurate throw. The type of strength training will of course be dependant upon the age and development of the goalie. For example it is not recommended that a young player undertake intensive weight training sessions. This is an area where the requirements of a goalie differ from those of a field player. The soccer goalie needs to have both upper and lower body strength while the field player will generally focus more on lower body strength with lesser emphasis on upper body. The soccer goalie can therefore join in lower body strength training with their teammates, however they will need to develop their own program for upper body strengthening.

• Sprint training and exercises to improve reflexes are also an important component of a soccer goalies conditioning program. Short sprint work will be more beneficial and this can also be performed with the rest of the team at training. Quick reflexes with the hands and the feet are equally important. With the keeper playing more and more as a defensive player behind the backline, the ability to react to situations is crucial. There are a number of simple exercises that can be performed individually to improve reflexes, however if a training partner is available, a more intensive workout can be achieved.

If you are coaching youth soccer, do not ignore the conditioning requirements of your goalkeeper. Involve them in all the normal training activities of the team where possible and take an interest in both their physical fitness as well as their keeper development. If you are a soccer goalie, I hope you found these tips useful and good luck with your goalkeeping career.

Murray Peck writes at soccercoachingguide.com a complete online guide to soccer coaching for coaches and parents alike.

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