Have You Got Ginga?

Ginga (pronounced “Zhinga”) is all about the fluidity of movement of a footballer, translated through the rhythm of the body and inspired by sound. Have you got it? Brazilians do. When I was training as a young goalkeeper my coach who had played professionally in South America had taught me Ginga…but I never quite understood what that meant for a goalkeeper being the tally gangly kid I was back then. So what does Ginga entail, and how can it take your game to the next level? Let’s take a look.

Ginga is defined as “an almost indefinable, mystical quality of movement and attitude possessed only by Brazilians and evident in everything they do. The way they walk, talk, dance and approach everything in their lives.”  I think that the definition is a little limited, as Ginga is really universal, and not just limited to “Brazilians” alone. If you put your heart and soul into any art form, what you will find is a natural rhythm, you’ll walk to a different beat than most and it will show in every action you endeavour to take in your life.

How does Ginga translate into goalkeeping? Let’s take a look:

• Feel the Ball: Just like the best of Brazil have a natural feel for the ball, so to should a goalkeeper have a feeling for the ball with their hands. That feel for the ball produces a natural authority, it resonates confidence to opposing attackers and your defence.
• Dance Like There Is No Tomorrow: Great goalkeepers know how to dance. Now, I’m not talking about donning a slick pair of leotards and a tutu! No, dancing is all about footwork, the way you work your goal line, the way you attack the ball and many other scenarios specific to a goalkeeper. Great footwork is the hallmark of great goalkeeping, so put some ginga into it. The more you move during the game, the more you keep a natural rhythm throughout. Movement throughout a 90 minute match enhances a goalkeepers alertness which can only translate into better goalkeeping feats.
• Talk The Talk: Have you ever heard Samba? When Brazilians sing and dance it’s hypnotic…it’s tribal. When you communicate with the rest of your team mates, you must communicate with them so that it becomes second nature, that they move with the natural rhythm of your speech. Knowing how to infect your team mates with natural communication allows you to streamline the way they react to you.

Recently, I was contacted by Neal Baird, the Director of Brazilian Soccer Schools Australia & New Zealand who has read many of the articles here at Keeper Skool. If you’re a young footballer searching for that elusive Ginga, you should check out the school, which is international and has helped to produce English Premier League players by the tender age of 17. If you would like to see the international site, check out Brazilian Soccer Schools.

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