Maximizing Performance Through Soccer Specific Nutrition

To Access This Premium Content...Sign Up For Keeper Skool Certified Today

Coaching The Physical Demands Of Soccer

Getting to the next level with your goalkeeper fitness entails that you understand the unique demands that your position entails. Jim Petruzzi of Petruzzi Performance (UK) provides some insight into how to coach the physical demands of soccer, and also gives insight into how some of the best footballers prepare to maximize their performance. Read more

Getting Fit For Soccer

Soccer is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet, and getting in top notch shape requires a lot of understanding about the soccer athlete’s physiological demands. Performance coach Jimmy Petruzzi provides some very useful tips to help every footballer maximize their performance, so that they can enhance their game and take the next step up in their development. Read more

Simple but powerful goalkeeper diving drills

One of the most fundamental tools in the goalkeepers arsenal is the dive. You’d be surprised at how many young goalkeepers fail at bedding down this important part of their game. Incorrect diving can lead to poor form and injury as the junior goalkeeper develops into a senior goalkeeper. South Australian Institute of Sport goalkeeper coach Robert Matosevic, provides some insight into some basic drills to help any goalkeeper produce a powerful and effective dive. Read more

Keeper Skool Interviews Youssef Dahha; Montreal Impact (USL)

Keeper Skool is excited to talk with the goalkeeping coach for United Soccer League’s Montreal Impact, Youssef Dahha. Youssef has been the goalkeeping coach for the Impact since the 2004 season. Dahha was born in Morroco and he started his professional career in 1984 with CODM Meknes, in the GNF1, as well as playing with Hassania Agadir. Youssef has also played for Morocco’s Junior and Olympic Teams. Read more

Federico Marchetti, the new Buffon?

Italian Federico Marchetti has been touted by goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon as the natural successor to his throne as the number one for Italy. Recent scouting reports have suggested that the 26 year old, currently earning his stripes at Cagliari Calcio is one to look out for, and has played exceptionally for the Rossoblu.

Marchetti is a “reliable goalkeeper between the posts, has great reflexes and has very good one on one ability. Needs to improve his aerial ability in order to really become a top goalkeeper. Season 2008/2009 is his first season as a first choice goalkeeper in Serie A with Cagliari and he made a great impression with some excellent performances.” (Source: IM Scouting).

The above is some information from Italian scouts having a look at Marchetti’s overall performance, and the following video shows some of the better performances of Marchetti’s season:

Sources suggest that Marchetti has been targeted by AC Milan as a replacement for Christian Abbiati. After various loan spells, Abbiati has nonetheless come back into the fold as the number one goalkeeper for the Rossoneri. Abiatti has furthered his contract for another year until 2011 with Milan, which may suggest that if Marchetti does come into the line up for Milan, he will have to work to gain his spot.

Sign up for Keeper Skool Certified today. Forums, exclusive interviews & The G-Code. Click Here.

FC Dallas rough up their goalkeepers with a new “sidekick”!

Goalkeepers these days are feeling the brunt of a new wave of football technology. Sports scientists are conjuring up cocky ways of making us bad fellas between the sticks look like…well, pansies. Lighter footballs, boots with the same look as a star ship from Star Trek, and jerseys that make the Roswell aliens bodysuits look like Marvin the Martian’s kilt (I’m in good form here aren’t I). Read more

Keeper Skool Interviews Alan Simpson of Linfield United FC (Ireland)

Keeper Skool took time out with Alan Simpson, the owner of NI Goalkeeping (Northern Ireland) and the goalkeeper coach for Linfield Football Club (IFA Premiership , Ireland). Alan, has had a stellar rise in being recognized as one of the leading goalkeeper trainers in Ireland. Alan talks about his development as a goalkeeper growing up in Northern Ireland and his time developing goalkeepers such as Alan Mannus into elite goalkeeping professionals. Alan, has also had the chance to develop Northern Ireland U/23 Men National Football team and the Northern Ireland Woman’s National Team. Read more

Goalkeeper Training Drills For Quickness, Agility & Focus

One of the most important aspects of goalkeeping is the ability for the goalkeeper to reach the ball as quickly and as economically as they can. It’s also one of the hardest skills to master effectively. Footwork and a keen understanding of how to “attack” the ball will allow for a goalkeeper to cut the angle of attack more effectively and reach the ball without expending too much (what I call), “wasted energy”.

Following are some handy drills that a goalkeeper can utilize to help increase their quickness, agility and focus. The drills you see below were developed by John Murphy of The New England Revolution (MLS) in 2002 and are available in the book titled The Full Season Goalkeeper Training Program published at World Class Coaching (a Keeper Skool partner):

Warm Up Session (25 Minutes):

• Two minutes on your own
• Work across the width of the penalty area with an emphasis on:

- movement with and without the ball.

- jog and skipping without the ball.

- dribbling with the ball, angled touches out of the keeper’s feet.

- bend and scoop the ball forward using right, left then both hands.

- vary tasks and movement.

- build up the intensity to short sprints and leaping.

• Agility: Core stability with the medicine ball.
• Handling/falling/ collapsing.

- various starting positions and serves: On the side, redirection, volleys, half volleys and sidewinders (3 sets each, 6-8 reps per set).

Main Theme: Fitness; Quickness/Agility/Focus (20 Mins)

The Box: A series of falling/collapsing exercises: At the front panel – Catch 10 volleys each set with all sets continuous:

• Stand
• Kneel
• Sit

Progression #1

Start In the middle of the square:

• On the keepers side.
• On the coaches command – keeper gets to his feet and steps through the front panel to save.
• Goalkeepers alternate to start on the opposite side.
• 6-8 reps with two sets.

Progression #2

Starting at the side panel, same as the above, but now two saves:

• The coach hits a dead ball from the floor, off center to force the goalkeeper to collapse for a save.
• The second shot is a volley from the hands (the coach must allow the goalkeeper to get to his feet for the 2nd save.
• Four sets, two saves each.

Cool Down(10 Mins)

• A series of handling exercises with the medicine ball.

Observations

• Take more time between sets early on for stretching and hydration.
• Watch heat levels and adapt accordingly.

I hope you like the drill, and remember that the above progression was developed for a morning session. The emphasis on short, sharp and intense goalkeeper training in the morning is a key methodology behind plyometric training. When you are focusing on plyometric training it is best to try and utilize your chsoen drills during the morning as the muscles have not been taxed by any other form of training and will be more responsive to the adaptations that come from this kind of training.

Great news! This is now one of many drills from the World Class Coaching book range that you can purchase right here from Keeper Skool.com. World Class coaching is a partner of Keeper Skool and have very happily allowed us to reproduce their material here at Keeper Skool.

So to purchase The Full Season Goalkeeper Training Program (Copyright: World Class Coaching) for just $55.90 please click on the button below and add it to the Keeper Skool secure shopping cart. Please Note: The below price covers shipping and handling for international orders inside & outside of the US. Also, shipping is provided by the US Postal Service and can take 2-5 weeks to ship to your destination, possibly longer for international orders.

Goalkeeper Breakaway Drill

To Access This Premium Content...Sign Up For Keeper Skool Certified Today