Tall Goalkeeper v Short Goalkeeper: Does it really make a difference?
May 29, 2008
We live in a world where that “big” word is considered a good thing, or at least we’d like to think so. We love the big cars, the big house. Being taller can get you the girl…no lady likes the small runt-like guy. Oh, we also love the big paychecks and the big dinners. Did you smell a waft of generalization in the air? Thought so.
When it comes to goalkeeping, the age old question resonates (well at least in goalkeeping circles it does) around whether being a tall goalkeeper, compared to being a short goalkeeper, has its advantages? It’s a great question.
If we look toward scientific fact as a guide, we usually get some good answers around what lab rats call “anthropometric” measurements and how they align with playing positions on the field. And with some detailed scientific analysis you’ll soon see that for certain positions on the team, be it a goalkeeper, defender, mid fielder or striker, some sizes are preferred over others.
Whether the above statement revolves around a pre-defined notion of what height is required or desirable for certain playing positions is debatable. But the question really smacked me around over the past few weeks as a result of a query from one of our readers Jimmy, as follows:
hi i play divison 2 in melbourne and im 19 year old and only 175cm tall…im just curious to know do you have to be a specfic height for goalkeeping and any chances of me growing any more thank you….
Now to the science behind this question around goalkeeping height.
So, what is the best height for the competitive goalkeeper? It’s never really a straight answer, and again can be biased by what we perceive to be the best height based on a pre-defined judgment call or view. What you’ll see in the following bits of research is that generally a trend toward tall keepers, rather than their shorter counterparts ensues.
Thomas Reilly’s Science & Soccer (1996) pg. 27, pointed to the following research:
Data on height and body mass of soccer teams suggest that players vary widely in body size. Lack of height is not in itself a bar to success in soccer, though it might determine the choice of playing position. Being tall is an advantage for the goalkeeper, for centre-backs and for a forward player used as a ‘target’ for winning possession of the ball with the head. In contrast the players deployed in midfield, in full-back and on the wings tend to be smaller in size than those in other positional roles.
A mean test of heights (cm) from players from various elite level soccer clubs and national teams around the world (based on the above research by Reilly, et al.) showed some of the following results:
- English League, First Division (180.4 +/- 1.7)
- Danish National Squad (183.0)
- Aberdeen FC (174.6 +/- 0.9)
The list goes on…but it shows that anthropometric measurements can vary widely from country to country at an elite level of soccer, possibly due to genetic traits inherent in certain nationalities. We can look at a range of between 174 cm’s to up to 180 cm’s on average. So what about us goalkeepers?
I thought it would be interesting to look toward the top 5 best goalkeepers in the world as rated by the IFFHS for 2007, and see what the height differences are between them as follows:
1. Gianluigi Buffon (1.91 m; 6 ft 3 inches)
2. Petr Cech (1.97 m; 6 ft 5 1/2 inches)
3. Iker Casillas (1.85 m; 6 ft 1 inch)
4. Edwin van der Sar (1.97 m; 6 ft 51/2 inches)
5. Rogerio Ceni (1.88 m; 6 ft 2 inches)
Above we see the pattern of some of the best rated goalkeepers in the world, and the correlation of height between different goalkeepers from different regions of the world. Choice dictates, that usually goalkeepers whom are of greater height usually get selected for the position above shorter goalkeepers. But this again could be a generalization, and not a deciding factor in overall goalkeeping ability.
Great goalkeepers such as Jorge Campos only stood in at 1.68 m (5 ft 6 inches), so we must look to other factors other than height when it comes to the impact of a goalkeeper on the professional playing field. Having, strength, agility and other fitness characteristics alongside solid technique (especially positioning and timing) are vital facets of any goalkeepers game.
So does the height you are blessed with really matter for the competitive goalkeeper and their overall ability on the football pitch? In my opinion, not really. When it comes to the crunch, it comes down to your determination to source out strengths in your game, and iron out weaknesses that will enable you to be a better goalkeeper.
Height does have it’s advantages, especially around certain facets of goalkeeping, like presence, the ability to attack crosses and the ball in shooting situations in a more economical fashion, but it is not the be all end all of a goalkeepers ability. Working on strength, muscular power and agility can pay in spades when it comes to smashing the debate to bits over whether the tall goalkeeper is better than the short goalkeeper.
Let us know what you think in the comments box below.
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Dear John,
It’s very intersting to see articles like yours regarding keepers’s height. When I was 16 years old I was playing in a Youth Team of a First Division Club in Brazil. One day, the coach was replaced and the new one just told me that I was too short to play as a keeper (1,78 m).
After that day I gave up to play in an elite level and just keep my studies to go to the University. Altought, I keep playing at amateur level.
Today, I am 24 years old and have a degree in Business Managment which I am very proud of it. I’m still playing soccer at amateur level cause I love the sport and I will never stop playing.
You can check my love for goalkeeping on my blog at http://www.guarda-metas.blogspot.com
Regards
Hey Fabio, good work with getting your education, and for still playing for the love of the game.
It is interesting to see that you were not selected because of your height. I doubt it was on the premise of ability.
As stated in the article there are many goalkeepers whom are short that play at a fantastic standard.
Thanks for the support. At the moment I’m only 15 and I stand at a whopping 5’8". Though many tell me i’ll still grow yet, i haven’t increased even an inch in the past year and a half—i’d almost given up hope on being a competitive goalkeeper. But this article reafirmed my decision to train train and train to make up for it.
Informative and useful. Thanks.
Hi, i am 13 years old and i’m around 5.0 foot i have been at a charlton athletic feeding centre for 4 years and have not given hope on growing, i eat vegetables every day and eat as much fruit and drink as much milk as i can. My dad is about 5.10 and i am hoping to grow to about 6.1 remember my name: Nicholas Wren. I could be playinn for england one day
Hi Nick, certainly will remember your name, and want to hear many great stories of your goalkeeping feats so we can share with our readers.Keep us posted.
hi im nkosana and im from south africa im 17 and 168m im worried about my height but dont wana quit because something tells me that i can make it i work on my explosive power 5 times a week and i can compete with the tallest in the air oh and my teamates and coaches call me campos.do you think its possible 4 me 2 make it?
Nkosana, you are on the right track. The key to enhanced performance is not just a genetic height advantage, which can be key in today’s game, though you can play at a sufficient level if you start looking at manipulating your physiology, like your explosive power. Other facets include strength training as well. So good luck with it, and let us know how you go.
hi im nick im 15 ive been told by people with alot of experience in the game that i have a lot of potential but after a trial/training session with a coventry city fc coach who said he hasnt seen many with better agility and athleisism he has said i wont make it as a pro because of my height ( 5.8) and that a few years ago i probably could make it but these days being tall is considered as a must. should i bother stickin at it, hoping best for non league football.
thanks.
Hi Nick,
One person’s comments should not deter you from playing at any level.
But the Coventry coach did give some good advice that resonates with many goalkeeping coaches and that is one of height for professional goalkeepers.
In a recent interview (in our membership section of the site: Keeper Skool Certified), coach Mike Toshack of the Houston Dynamo alluded to the fact that height is an advantage in the professional game.
Though, it should not deter you, as shorter goalkeepers have some great advantages and if you look at Jorge Campos and others with a height “disadvantage” who plyed their trade in the professional game, they did very well for themselves.
So don’t let it deter you, and keep at it.
thanks for the advice much appreciated and another thing, the club i play for is sunday league the pitches are terrible the training is not conditioned to me at all i have to the same drills as the other players but how to i get involved with more competitive leagues, who should i ask,what should i say, i cant just say to them hey im better than your keeper can i ?
thanks
Nick, try to look for recent postings for trials from clubs in your local area, all you can do is go down and have a go. It’s basically “trial” and error, until you find a team that you mesh with and that will give you a chance to develop.
hiii john,
not all coaches know that there could be great goalkeeper who’s short ,i am 18,1.73m i have just entered collage and applied for a goalkeeper in the team of the collage well the coach so me playing and told e his going to take me in the 5 players field because i am short for the 11 players field
Hi Ziad,
Maybe look at it as an advantage? Playing in the outfield could be something that helps to develop your footwork which can transfer back to your goalkeeping skills.
hi john,
thanx i ‘ll try to take the most advantage i can get,the thing is that i always dreamed to play in the 11 field team,and i am not less in skils than the tall goalkeepers.
How are you doing John,
I really think that height has nothing to do with the game itself. Defense is the major factor in front of the keeper. I stand almost 6’1″, had 17 saves in the most recent Kentucky Indoor Soccer League game. My team is Webasto and we lost 3 to 11. There was 28 shots on goal, if the defense complimented the goal keepers height the outcome would have been better. The best keeper in the world will eventually get exhausted without defensive help.
Nevertheless, the goalkeeper relies on his or her defense to extinguish offensive pressure. The keeper is only as good as his/her defense.
Does anybody have tips for my defense? There is only 6 players including the goalkeeper on the field.
r/
sirvesta
sirvesta@gmail.com
i am 13 almost 14 and stand at 5’4,i am the average height in my year at school but i dnt think i’ll reach 5’9.i play football at amateur level but an elite team have shown interest before.
Hey John, thanks for the great article.
I just wanted to speak my mind a little bit and hopefully get your feedback. As a sophomore in high school (fifteen years old) I got selected to be on my school’s varsity team. Although I was the backup, it was expressed to me by the coaches that I was the ‘keeper of the future. By they way, I stand at 5 feet, 5 inches tall. I do not expect to grow any more as my father is 5’2″.
However, the one thing I am afraid of, is that there is a keeper on the JV squad that is on the brink of six feet. My coach hinted heavily that he would be on the team next year. I know my ability and work ethic are much higher than his, but I am still somewhat afraid of being benched for my height.
I don’t want to worry about this, because if I know that I will work hard this shouldn’t happen, but what are your thoughts if it does?
Hi Mark, I know many senior goalkeeper coaches look to height as an advantage. It certainly is not out of the ordinary for goalkeepers of average stature to play at the highest levels, as the article implies. So, certainly do not be afraid, it is all about patience and taking the time to work on those things that you “can” change, rather than those things you “can’t” change like your height. Keep up the hard work, commit your time to it (you have to be into goalkeeping for the long haul) and things will work out.
Thanks for the response, do you have any certain exercises or workouts to recommend that could improve my jumping strength and ability?
Hey john, lately i been really concerned about my height issue being a goalkeeper. Im 17 with a height of 5’8-5’9. i play varsity soccer at my school and im considered one of the best keepers in the my local area. the thing is, since im in my junior year, my coach has been getting me recruits to go play at college level and one of the coaches asked how tall i was. my coach responded 6′ ft (haha). that really got to me, because i really love this sport a huge amount, and even though i will never let anyone bring me down it still got to me. i was reading some of the posts other people left saying how they gave up because a coach told them their height wasn’t enough, and i think that giving up on someones comments is pointless. yet i dont want to be in that position either. is there any hope for me gaining 2 more inches at least, or am i just going to have to adjust to this height forever? i would really love for one day to play competitive soccer, travel the world with it, thats my dream. but is my height issue going to come in between?
thanks for taking the time out and hearing me out.
Hey Francisco, I think you still have a little room to grow, although everyone’s physiology is quite different. I think it is relative, certainly, you will have to work harder to reach the ball in certain situations, but this is where speed and agility, plus muscular power take things to the next level.
Iker Casillas is of average height for a professional goalkeeper compared to many of his peers around the globe in the elite levels of play, and he is considered the very best in the world. Again, at a professional level yes height is important, but trainers look at work ethic, attitude, how you communicate with your team mates and how you hold your composure during the game.
So don’t ever think that you could not play at a high level, height is important, yes, but if you look at solidifying your game in other ways, then I see no reason why you could not play at a high level.
John great article, It gave me hopes up again. I’m 21 and used to play in high school, hoping to play in college. I had to stop due to an injury in my right shoulder and started to play again just last year. Coahes always told me i was to short for my position but that did not stop me form playing. I work full time and go to school and hoping to be able to play once i tranfer to a state unversity sometime this or next year. Funny thing is that people at work know i play the sport but are aways surprised of my position. Im 5’5 and being honest i’m gets me down at times but i just play harderd as i slowlly try to get back in shape (due to my heavy schedule is hard to work out except on sundays and every chance i get).
Again thanks for the article it kind gives me a little more hope .
Hi Diego, good to hear you got positive feedback from the article. I think that being a smaller goalkeeper, you just have to work it harder. Every goalkeeper is different, and yes, again, top flight teams do look at height, but then again it depends on the trainer and their preference as well. Always think back to Jorge Campos who was a great champion and phenomenal goalkeeper for his height. Keep up the great work and good to see your dedication to your craft even with a hectic study schedule.
hi john, how are you ?
im 5.5 and im 15 in may. is there any chances of me growing any taller?
also i was wondering how tall is the average goalkeeper in the womens league ?as it is my dream to play for a womens professional league or hopefully folow in my auntys foot steps n play for a state team (new south wales).
This article is quite good thank you .
That’s a great question Sarah. I’m not too sure what the average height of a goalkeeper is across woman’s leagues. There should be some data available to analyze but I have never really come across this.
If you check out the heights of the goalies at UNC (one of the best soccer programs in the USA), you will see that one of the men’s goalies is 5’8 and two of the women’s goalies are 5’8 (which is not REALLY tall for a woman- 5’6 is average). Just check out the rosters on various college websites- many goalies are taller, but you will see that their heights do vary and there are definitely some shorter college goalies
John,
Could you please re-send me Week 5 of Goalkeeper training emails. I really enjoy these, and somehow missed week 5.
Thanks,
Jillian
Hi Jillian, just tried the email address you provided and it bounced back.
hello my name is Jorge I inly stand 5’4 ft tall and a few years ago I used to play as a goalkeeper,no one in the team waned that position so I took it. I became very good at it ,I did went trough a lot because every time we played because of my height the other team would make comment like.. oh this is going to be an easy game look at the goalkeeper he is going to be a easy target.. but i was very confident of my position an it was not easy to score on me.. so I guess it does not really matter how tall you are, only how you play and how bad you really want it
I live in norway. I have 2 boys 14 and 17. My youngest is a keeper /forward and central defender. He is good in all positions. But great as a keeper. But hear in Stupid Norway if you are not tall, it does not matter how good you are you want make it as a keeper. He is 166cm around 5ft 4in. We took a test to see how tall he could be. The test said that he has the bone structure of a 12 yo. and has only grown 85% of what his max height could be. So if he grows to the full height he could be 6ft 2in. 187cm. I think that he would be a little talker then me at 5’9″ 176cm. Is there any teams in england that would have a keeper that is 5’11″.
Hello i am a young goalkeeper from dorset, england. I am 14 and about 5 ft 11. Is this a goood height for my age and how much taller do you think i could become in the future? I play for Yeovil Town Fc .
Also, do you think that how big in terms of skinny, stocky and fat are better or good qualities. Because if your skinny then you may not be able to come at 1-1 with a big striker as you may be affraid but if your stocky you may have the confidence? Im just wondering
It just brings me to the boiling point reading all these comments about young goalkeepers being told they are too short. my daughter is only 5ft 2in and she has been a keeper for 4 years elite level, age 14. she just started high school ball and was told bluntly by the coach (JV) that she was too short. so they took a girl who had never played soccer, in any position, only a tiny bit taller than my daughter, and tried to train her as a keeper. my husband went balistic, and the coach eventually let our daughter play the keeper spot. she is very good at it, and an extremely hard worker with a great attitude. all her teammates love her, as does her elite soccer club coach. It is just plain wrong for any coach to tell a player they are too short to play the position. yes, tell them coaches are biased and they may be discriminated against (call it what it is), but never tell a child they cannot do it. she will go back to club ball in the fall, but i dont know what she will do after that. The coach is determined to find a taller keeper. what a joke – it is only JV, and most of these girls will not go on to professional/olympics – they just want to play soccer for their school. we talked to the varsity coach and he told us she was good, blah blah blah, but that she was too short. the school has not won a state championship in 6 years – so i dont see how he can say that when the keeper they had for the last 4 yrs was nearly 6 feet tall. i am sick of this!!
Hi,
Im michelle im 12 years old amd i play and LOVE being a keeper, the only problem is im 4’6, i had a medical diesease (i had when 4 im fine now) that efected my growth my docters say ill only get to 5’2!!!!!! I love goalie and have no fear of the ball i also have GREAT hands! I have gone through many goalie camps and the trainers have said i have a natural talent playing goalie, i want to play soccer in highschool and maybe even college should i switch positions?!? Cause i know highschool coaches will give me a hard time on my height!
What do u think?
Любопытно, хотя не мешало бы чуть поподробнее написать, а то есть несколько непонятных моментов
i am almost 17 years old and about 5′ 71/2″ tall and a goalkeeper for my high school varsity team and my travel soccer team. i always worry a lot about my height even though i know that i shouldn’t but it always gets into my head. I have been picked for all district and all region teams and still have 2 years left in high school and i really want to play college ball but i think if i continue to have the same mental approach towards my height i wont be as successful as i want to be. Do you have any advise on how to overcome the mental part of being shorter to tell myself i am the best no matter how tall i am? Thanks for the help!
p.s. ive heard by doing some stretches you can actually grow an inch or 2 taller, which would help me tremendously! do you know of any of these stretches and if they really do help? Thanks for the help!
hi john, i’ve just turned 13 and im 1.44m and i play as a central midfielder or goalkeeper (i believe that i’m a better goalie than midfield) and im a stand in goalkeeper for my team and every person i know says that i am an excellent goalkeeper but they always say im too small but everytime i have gone in goal i have either got man of the match, had a clean sheet or been praised for good work, but then why do i need to be taller as i have’nt been lobbed once after playing in goal for 8 games and now i might go for a trial for kettering town fc but im afraid they will judge me before they see me play because of my height, what can i do if i dont make the trials, do i go on staying as a stand in or wait? but i cant wait too long as they only scout ages up to 16, please give advice for me thanks.
Hi Ryan. I say if your ability is there, based on what you have said, that you should guve it a go at teams above and beyond where you play today. Height is certainly a large factor in what goalkeeper trainers will look for in top level competition, but a winning attitude and great presence can more than make up for a lack of height.
Remember, you are only 13, and have a long way to go in terms of growth. With that said, some of the best goalkeepers in the world, namely Casillas, is below the average height of some of his peers at 6″1′. What Casillas lacks in height he makes up with an uncanny ability, and superior confidence with enormous presence in goals. So don;t be too worried about your height…you have a long way to go in your development.
Hi,
Im michelle im 12 years old amd i play and LOVE being a keeper, the only problem is im 4′6, i had a medical diesease (i had when 4 im fine now) that efected my growth my docters say ill only get to 5′2!!!!!! I love goalie and have no fear of the ball i also have GREAT hands! I have gone through many goalie camps and the trainers have said i have a natural talent playing goalie, i want to play soccer in highschool and maybe even college should i switch positions?!? Cause i know highschool coaches will give me a hard time on my height!
What do u think?
Hi,
I’m Babicu, i have 17 years and i have only 1.70m . I’m playing for Otelul Galati (Romania) second team, in 3rd Romanian Division. All my friends are telling me that i’m a very good goalkeeper, i’m considered the best young goalkeeper in my town, but my coaches told me this summer to find another club to play. Instead, at the first team was promoted Gabriel Abraham, just becouse he is a lot taller than me. At u17 national team, they didn’t selected me for the same reason. I also have a poor financial situation. Do you think i should try to find a team in Italy, France or another country where the players are paid decently? In Romania 3rd league, a player is paid with 50-150 euro per month. Do you think i could earn more in another country?
Hi i am a goal keeper in the USA standing at 177 cm i am 18 years of age and i play at the competitive level… i have always had this inferiority complex with other tall goal keepers… however now that i have seen other goal keepers i learned that size doesn’t matter… i am pretty fast at sprinting and very agile, and when i look at other taller goal keepers who are 183- 190 cm in my league they have a very good reach for the ball, however i realized if practiced hard and ignored the fact that i am a short hispanic keeper, i realized what i had that they didnt have, which was jumpin capability, speed, etc. and in the end i realized. hell if campos could do it, so can i!!! And if you look at victor valdes he is 183 cm, thats around 5 11, i am 5 9 1/2 which if you look at it isnt that much of a difference.
and also i just gre 1/2 an inch in the past week, i am still growing i hope! the doctor says all males stop growing around the age of 21, i was 5 8 before or maybe a little less and i grew a littleso if your arounf the ages of 16-18 and you havent grown, dont fear id say youd still have another 1.5 inches or more left.
ALL HAIL SHORT KEEPERS!!!!!
BABICU! id say try some leagues in france and italy and holland and austria, and switzerland
hi John me again, thanks for ur advice and i decided to leave the trials and now im first team keeper for my squad and its goin good ive grown 1/2 an inch since i last spoke so its goin good cya l8r
hello my name Is Ahmed i`m from sweden i`m about 1.50.m and i am 12 years old my teammates says that i have a big future but they says that i`m to short for 11 man field so what o you think and i really love to be a goalkeeper i relly like it
hey john my height is 5.5 and i am crazy 4 goalkeepring and i think my timing is good but my coaches dont pay atention on me because of my height.and i am realey happy with ur views because it motivates me.thank u very much
I just turn 18 last month im 5’8 im actually real good at goalkeeping im been quiet successfull for my height .i really wann play in college and go pro.But i would really want some advive in how to grow taller. even thoug im good i have been scored but my hand is a inch away from the ball so i would love to know how to get taller
i’m 15 turning 16 this coming february and from canada. i am around 5’10 and a half and my dad is around 6.0 I have been training hard over the years and keep moving up and now i am training with high level goalkeepers and love it. though some of the goalkeepers are alot taller than me around 6’2 or 3ish and i have found that i am just as good. i am worried about that the other goalkeepers may get recognized instead of me just because of their height. I have found your article very helpful and inspiring but do you have any imput or help?
Hi Jacob,
Thanks for coming through and giving some insight as to your development. I think you have to focus on what is core to your development right now, rather than height. I’ve known some fantastic goalkeepers whom have played ahead of me, whom were shorter, without the height advantage at a senior level. What counts is to focus on your strengths. What are you good at today, and what can you polish up to take to the next level? Distribution, positioning, communication, handling, footwork…the list goes on. When you look at the positives of your game, it is easier to define the negatives and iron them out. Hope you continue the great work ethic and dedication you are displaying…luck is labors reward.
Hi John,
I am a goalkeeper from Minnesota who was invited to play on a Premier level team 3 years ago because of my goalkeeping skills. Playing on the Premier team gave me lots of experience and taught me valuable skills regarding communication, organizing a defense, and decision making. I made the Varsity squad both my sophomore and junior years of highschool but sat out sophomore year because of a broken metatarsal in my foot. Junior year I had a stunning tryout and everyone (the captains, the varsity players, and the assistant coach) was sure that I would be the starter, but the head coach had other ideas. He started a far less experienced and less skilled keeper over me and questioned “my height and ability to save shots to the upper 90″ as his excuse. Hearing this was a big blow to my confidence and forced me to train harder than ever but I never got the definite starter spot even though I posted a better record than the starter.
After doing some research and logical thinking I have because of this experience I have come up with this conclusion regarding short goalkeepers: All keepers have to cover the 8 foot bar above them, but shorter keepers have to cover less space below them. It is easy for any competetive keeper with athleticism to jump and cover the 8 foot high crossbar, no matter the height. However it takes longer for a tall keeper to get to the ground and cover low shots than it does for a shorter keeper. Seeing as most goals are scored low and to the corners (as they are high percentage shots) it is advantageous for a keeper to be closer to the ground.
Sure tall keepers may have some advantages when guarding crosses and cutting off angles easier, but with the proper training, decision making, and positioning any keeper of any height can cut off the angle, cover the entire goalmouth, and be able to attack crosses.
I just wanted to post my thoughts about goalkeeper size in hopes that some coach might read this and have an open mind regarding goalkeeper size instead of choosing the stereotypical “big” keeper. The only thing “big” that matters for a goalkeeper is the way they play.
Hey Dan,
Just read through the post and definitely resonates your ability in volumes. Great attitude to have, and a great perspective to learn from for all of our readers. Unfortunate that coaches look to height as “the” advantage rather than look at the complete picture as to a goalkeepers consumate ability.
awesome thanks so much, that really helps me a lot i will do that
hello, my name in Maximilian, and i am a goalkeeper living in Greenville, NC. i am a freshman in high school, and i am 5’0-5’1. i want to play college ball, or even pro someday, and i have eccellent diving and catching abilities, i train 5-7 days a week to make myself better on distribution , high balls, and sometimes breakaways, my main weaknesses. do you think if i get good jumping ability, somebody will pick me someday, even though i am short? thanks!
bartez is 1.80,coupet 1.81, janot of saint-etien 1.76, canizares 1.81, valdes 1,83, armando 1.80 villair 1.79…….i’m goalkeeper and i’m 1.81!!!!!!!!i’m 19 years old and im playing in team in third division of greece!!!!i’m in the best eleven and the other goallies in team are 1.87 and 1.93 but i’m better than them and i’m playing!!my dream is to play in the higher level and i bielieve my height is not a big problem!!!!!!!!!when i was younger i played and for albanian national team under 17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you believe the height is problem is a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi gyus!!!!!!!!!!!i’m 33 years and i’m goalkeeper!!!!!!!!!!!!i’m not playing in a big level but 11 years ago i was in first division in a team of greece!!!!!!!!!!!i’m happy to read arlind’s article who is playing also in greece as me!!!!!!he is wright!!!!!!!!!!i’m 1.97 and i was third goalkeeper back of a goalies who were shorter than me!!!!!!!!the first was 1.85 and second 1.79 but the goach prefers them!!!!i made a wrong to go with loan in a team of second division where i went to take more time to play,but i played only 3 matches in a season…….after that i played in a amateur categories o f greece and never take a change for something good!!!!!!!!now i’m taking 750 euros in month for my team and that is a only reason i continue the football!!!!in my opinion i’m not better than a guy who plays second keeper!!!!!!!!he is 17 and 1.80..sure he can grow yet and to reach 1.85!!!!!!!!!i bieleve he will do a great career if he try!!!!!!!!!!!thankj guys you heard me and sorry for my english!!!!!!!!!!
Hi guys,
My name is Zenon and i come from Cyprus. I had and i still have a passion with football and since 8 years old i play both positions goalkeeper and winger. The reason is because i have a very good acceleration and i play well the right line. Alhtough always since primary school when a school tournament was organised everybody wanted me as a goalkeeper, Also at the age of 13 i attended in the academies of APOEL Nicosia (you may know from this years champions league) and the coach selected me as a goalie. Meanwhile when we played with friends every saturday mini football 5×5 i was playing as a winger because of the passion i put in the game and my speed. Now i am at a stage where i do not know what to decide to play. Somtehing that concerns me a lot is the fact that i am almost 20 and i still am just 1.74cm tall. Please help me
Hello John.
Im a Goalkeepr and im 17 years old. I posses a great advantage as Im 6 foot 4 at 17 ( could still grow ) . However , I’d like to add that being tall isnt really a grreat advantage , i dont think myself that it is an advantage ( maybe only for plucking high lofted balls )….
l still stuggle with balls going over my head , I dont think it has anything to do with hieght. I think its all about feetwork. So for all you small keepers i say keep at it and train hard. If u have great footwork then u dont need to be huge.
Thanks for listening
Let me try to explain what is going on with young keeper coaches: they don’t really care too much about how good a player is now, instead they try to judge how good they can become. If one day they are found to be the high school coach of the national team’s keeper, it’s big money for them
They focus on height because it provides them with the raw clay they can use to mold keeper skills into. For that reason shorter keepers must not only battle their opponents but also their own coaches and themselves (in their minds). To make the best keepers you must have all strengths and minimize weaknesses. It is true that height can be a strength, but it’s nothing on its own.
Train harder than everyone else, take no prisoners in the field, be smart and know yourself too. Play as forward in practice so you can understand your opponents better and stay ahead of them. Listen to your coaches but never take no for an answer. If they are picking someone else just for their height, ask the coach for a keeper challenge. Above all else, deliver! All that matters is to make that save, get to that ball, be the wall! If your coach does not value that, everyone else will see it and you will find a new team very fast.
Thanks for the article – very interesting.
I’m 18 years old and only start around 5’7-5’8 and i’m a goalkeeper. I play 5 aside footie every week in a competive but amateur league. I’ve always dreamt of playing at the top but i havent come from a sporting family so developed the passion into my teenage years – by which time most future footballers are experienced in proffesional club youth systems. But hey, stories such as those held by Ian Wright and Matt Duke who got their first professional contracts at 21 years old give me hope!
Hi
My name Is Ahmed I´m will be 13 In 27th May. I`m goalie and I`m about 153-156m. Can i reach 175-180.
please answer.
Ahmed
Is it possible that goalies tend to be taller because at younger ages the tall kids tend to be the ones put in goal? Therefore these tall kids learn the keeper position vs the short kids who never get the experience….. resulting in a higher percentage of tall players who know how to play the goalie position from experience and training throughtout their youth years. My daughter is 11 and her agressiveness, agility and focus has made her excel at the keeper position vs her lack of footwork and speed which is needed on the field. She is on the short/med size for height but maybe with some jumping training she can compete with the taller keepers out there. Though she still has much growing to do hopefully height isn’t the only factor in becoming a great goalie.
Hi im John and i play goalkeeper in Australia
I’m 172 cm at the moment and will turn 17 in May
Do you think it is possible for me to grow to 180 cm
hi…i’m krish from Mauritius..i’m 1M69 and i’m a Gk…Height is not important..its the mental that has to be strong…you need to be confident about your ability to be a good Gk!!
overseas they will not accept you if you are under 6,1
in spain it is different because the ball is played on the deck
but in england there are a lot more crosses and it requires a taller keeper
Hi’
I`m Ahmed and i will turn 13 in may 27th what should i eat,drink and train so i can get taller please i`m 154 cm.’
answer please
hey im just wondering on different opinions , im 6 ft tall 180cm exact im a striker but i love playing goalkeeper ive had some experience in goalie but i wanna get serious with goalkeeper think its too late to try go professional by the way im 14 almost 15
Hi everyone, My name is Victor and I just wanted to give all the younger, shorter keepers out there a bit of support in their dreams. I am about 5’7″ and have been playing keeper since I was 14. When I was about to go into my freshman year of high school my good friend (who was the #2 varsity keeper) asked me to work out with him during the summer to get into shape for the fall season. I had so much fun that I started training keeper myself and became the jr. varsity starter that season. I worked hard and eventually became the varsity #1 shirt my junior year standing at about 5’6″. The varsity keeper who started the season before me was 6’3″ and the keeper that followed me was 6’5″ (my backup). My coach always said he would start the keeper that gave us the best chance to win…period. After gaining two-time all- conference and all-area honors and going on to play a spell in college I continue to play now into my late 20′s. I never believed I would become professional, but also never let my height or anyone’s opinions keep me down. Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent! Work hard and play to your strengths of speed and reaction. Good luck!
Truly inspirational Victor, and a great testament that you can play at a good level of football, without your height being seen as a disadvantage. Keep up the great work!
Hi there
i’m a goalkeeper standing at 6ft have been previously scouted by manchester City and Crewe Alexander and got a scholarship at macclesfield town for 2 years, was denied a pro contract on the ‘fact’ that you must be at least 6ft 2 to play in the league. I havent really taken notice of this as too many people associated with professional clubs have told me i have a chance. But finding a club i find is difficult without havin contacts to help you scout around. What would you advise?
Thanks
Hi Ryan,
Could you please contact me directly via email. As for your comment about height, to be realistic, you are right. This is exactly what i hear back from our contacts in the UK. That is, they loom for goalkeepers to be of a “pre-defined” height. Height advantage is key for them, and they do take this into consideration in regards to the “total package”. There are obviously many leagues right around the world where you can forge a professional career, I think everyones dream is the UK, though there are pathways for people right around the world.
hi again john thanks for the advice there and understand where you’re coming from there. Where can i get your email details as i cant find them.
Thanks
Hey john, I’m 5-9 and I’m almost 14, its kinda silly really, but i have a fear that i may stop growing due to the fact that i am already lift weights due to my ties with the american football program at my school, but everyday after school i come home and practice my goal keeping skills, i haven’t played club football in three years since i would always get ridiculed for my weight even though i had great timing and agility for my size, now i have dropped the weight and am a healthy 168lbs at 5-9, instead of 210 at 5-2, do you think that with the track i am on that i could be playing professional ball one day?
Hey Ahmed and John,
About you Ahmed i believe you will reach 175-180 easily. You are just 13 and you are 155. Eat healthy food. But eat!!! And with exercise and continuously practice you will reach the height. Volleyball is a good hobby for goalkeepers. About you John you might get even more tall or certainly you will just get a minimum of 3-4 points more. The height depends in a big base on your parents height. Its genetically proved. Myself i when i was 13 i was 148 and now i am 173 at the age of 20.
Hello, I’m 16, and I’m 5’9″. Until recently I was a goalkeeper at a club where almost everybody was taller than me. We had another keeper who was about 6’3″ but believe it or not I was the first-choice.
Then at another local club there was a lad who I believe was no more than 5’2″. My friend (6’4″) told me that he was easily the best keeper in our league and that he could have been able to play in our country’s Premier Division if he had only been taller.
So I don’t think height decides if you are good or not, the only thing that can stop you from becoming a legend is dumb coaches and yourself.
hello morgan,
Which is your country? When you are talking for league u mean the fist division? for what ages are we talking about? mens categories?
Hi John great article, I’m 12 years old and 1,55m, I did one training in the elite club Sporting clube de Portugal, but i was to short, and some players had joke with my height my train was fantastic but in the final i dind’tstay at the club. But I think that if I was taller i coud stay.Thanks for your attention. I´m portuguese.
Hi David, 1.55 and just 12 years old is fine! U will certainly be at least 1.80. Now about the jokes do not give attention with ur game u will show your abilities. Portugal has got a lot of good teams and show them that thay made a mistake. Menawhile untill now the team that plays the most attractive football in the world cup is Mexico. Their goalkeeper Oscar Perez is 1.69. He is 37 years old and he is still number 1 of Mexico in World Cup. Remind you Rene Higiuta of Colombia 1.74. Jorge Campos( mundial 1994-1998) of Mexico 1.72.
Couple of things. It was claimed for good few years that Iker Casillas, for many the the World’s No.1, was 6ft 1. I was always doubtful and he is now a more realstic 5ft 11.5 on the RM website. I’ve also met the Sheff Utd keeper Paddy Kenny who’s stats say he is 6ft 1. I’m 6ft 1 and he wasn’t as tall as me for sure. I’m guessing that the shorter keepers might like to claim to be a bit taller than they are which distorts the stats a little bit. Also, I recently heard an interview with Petr Cech who said that his height proved a disadvantage in getting down to the low stuff and that he spent most of his formative years working on this. Neither Iker or Petr are doing too bad so my guess is that whatever height you are it has its pros and cons. I would suggest that the tallest issue a shorter keeper faces is getting the coaches to move out of the dark ages and realise this!
thank you very much Zenonas
A goalkeeper’s height shouldn’t be a big issue unless it’s shorter than 5’10″. Even at 5’7″ to 5’9″ it’s only an issue if the goalkeeper isn’t really quick and agile. If you look at all the elite goalkeepers in the world there are many who are under 6′. This misconception by many coaches that goalkeepers have to be tall only hurts them in the end. The most important assets a goalkeeper needs to have are quickness and agility. If a taller goalkeeper is as quick and agile as a shorter goalkeeper then there would definitely be an advantage to having the taller goalkeeper but the shorter goalkeeper is quicker and more agile it would definitely be more advantageous to having the shorter goalkeeper. As shown at the World Cup Iker Casillas was the best goalkeeper at 5’11.5″ and in the final game he was much better than the 6’5.5″ Maarten Stekelenburg.
Hi John i’m fourteen and ive been a keeper for eight years i’ve always been a small keeper but that didn’t stop me getting seen by Manchester city and Man United the last two seasons both have said they will look elsewhere because i am too small after this i got orferslatus in my knees and was out for a season now my manager has replaced me because his assistant says im too small to be a keeper. People turned, started saying things about me behing my back this got my confidence really down so i’ve chose to join a new club but what should i do to help get my confidence up for the next season.
i just had my 1st goalkeeper coaching session at handcross and the coach their said people dont tend 2 even look at keeper below 6 ft im 5 7 and still can get 2 that height
i am just after turning 14 and i am 5 ft 10,i play in the top league for my age in ireland, i was let go by my team because i was told i was to short.The other keeper they brought in was 6 ft 2! but the shocking thing is he was not the standerd he was made out to be. I have been contacted by clubs in england as they want to see me for a trial and they told me that for a goalkeeper they will look later than an outfield player.
so if anyone is in the same situation as me dont worry. You will still have time to grow
I’m 19 years old and 5’11″. I have been a keeper since I was 8 or so and i must say that height has very little to do with ability in goal. An athlete who is my height can extend to greater reaches than a keeper who is well over than 6′. Ability depends on determination and natural ability. and this artical has Iker’s height wrong. He’s also 5’11″. Check any source.
Hello! My name’s liam I’m 13 years old and stand at 5’1(155cm). I was wondering how tall I could grow to be? Thanks please reply
Hi my names Scott and im a goalkeeper and im only 5’10″, im 20 years old and have been a goalkeeper since i was about 12 after starting out as a centre mid. I have gained reasonable success as a “smaller goalkeeper” and dont believe you have to be big to be a goalkeeper. Although there is a massive thing in football today that says you need to be 6 ft plus to a goalkeeper i do not agree with it, its unfrotunate because i feel alot of talent is lost through this idiotic mind set people have now! Im from Scotland and seem to be like the only goalkeeper n my league unger 6ft which can be quite demoralising, is there any chance at all that i may grow slightly because it does play on your mind at times. And Jason is right Iker Casillas is 5ft 11 and is someone all goalkeepers should look upto. Some of the best goalkeepers in Scotland are not particulary big, Andy Goram was 5ft 11 and Stefan Klos was 5 ft 10 and even Allan Mcgregor is just 6ft bang on theres a trend here, you dont have to be tall to be succesfull.
Hello.
I have a one problem and one to ask if don`t have a prob.
First I don`t speek good English but i will try.
I`m high 176 and when I see world goalkeepers I see a difference in height аnd psychological effect on me.
I`m 19 years and have a good young careere
Play for u19 team. second league etc….
Check my training video:
save in 2009 Upload 2010 But now I’m much better and safer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2ceYo2y4I
edit:
I want to ask if there is a difference in goalkeeper height and will influenced in my careere.
being short is definitely a disadvantage when it comes to getting noticed if you’re looking to make a competitive team. short keepers must prove that they are skilled enough to play over his or her taller counterparts. that being said, I’m 5’2″ and was almost not recruited to play for my D3 college team. I was lucky in that one of the other freshman recruits got hurt, and the coaches decided to finally look at my videos after writing me off for being too short. I was recruited as a 3rd string backup, worked my butt off during my freshman season to prove myself, and am now likely to start as a sophomore. being short is not necessarily a hindrance when it comes to skill, only for getting noticed, so you have to prove yourself
well i am a goal keeper for a team and i was for my school and i only stand at 4ft . people always say that i cant play but i prove them wrong on my rc team y having 7 shutouts and only 3 gaols scored in the 1 scored in the other 2. i can reach the crossbar thats wen people stop telling me i cant play cuz im short.
Hi, I’m Pieter-Jan and 16.5 years old. I play as a left winger, left midfielder with a length of 174cm(5ft.7) and I probably won’t grow anymore. On my position my length is far of a problem, I’m often faster than my opponents and more dangerous when I’m dribbling. Still I would have liked it if I was 183cm(6ft) heigh.
But I think my length is more an advantage than a disadvantage in football.
Greetings!
Hi , Im 14 years old , turning 15 in august . im currently 5’6 , (1.75 meters) . Do you think i have a chance of being a professional goalkeeper?
Hi my names eddy,
I live in New Zealand,
and play Under17′s grade,im only 14..
Im about 1.74cm tall and face up to players much taller then me,
However my height has never been questioned due to my courage when coming of my line and timing in the air
Just saying,Its possible to achieve highly even without being overly tall
I am 6ft or 180.2 cm is that the right size for a keeper or should I stick to being a defender?
The current Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is only 173cm.
He was the best goalie during the recent ASEAN Cup Football Tournament. Well maybe the ASEAN players weren’t big enough to cause him much trouble.
But anyway, 2-3 years back during an invitational tournament, he was invited by PSV Eindhoven for trials/stints.
Perhaps nothing materialised from there but to get noticed by a Dutch club (where the general population is tall) is something to be proud of.
im 15 and i used to play as 5th goalkeeper in a youth team for 1st division club in Syria but because im only 165 cm and 78 kg the coach ignored me most of the time so i quit…but i still want to be proffessional..and play ..wht should i do..?
hi, my name is Mingyur i am from Bhutan i use to play as a goalie for my school, college and later i played for my state team Iam just 5ft 6 and the goal keeper who followed me was 6ft 1 in school ,5ft 10 in college and the state team guy was above 6ft but thanks to my coaches who never looked at my height they just looked at my skill as a goalkeeper now i am 31 and don’t play anymore due to sciatic problems anyways no matter what your height is just keep practicing cause there is no substitute for hard work
thanks and God bless
You’re right, height helps but it’s not necessary. I’m 6″4″ and I can’t slam dunk whenver I play basketball, one of my 5″9″ friends can do it and its rather sad.
Hi im 14years old 1m90 and and with my arms stretched i have a span of 1m99 finger tip to finger tip and big hands . i heard that if you have long arms you make a good goalkeeper ?
height helps a lot as i’ve learned from experience, but i’m 14 years old and i know i’ll never reach taller than 5’1″. i am going to be a goalkeeper in high school, but the difference with height is an advantage or a disadvantage. if one is speaking about getting to the ground for low shots, then being shorter would come in handy, but anything higher than my head i need to jump. if you are short, especially guys, work on your vertical because that’s something that will always help no matter whatever height you are. i have a 24 inch vertical and it’s something my coach still can believe.
Hello my name is Jose and i am 17yrs.old… i stand at 5ft.8in. with soccer cleats included but without it im 5ft6.68978….rounding to 5ft7in. at that height between 5ft6in. and 5ft8in. what is the average weight class?
My son is an Academy standard goalkeeper in the UK. He is 15 and a half and is 5ft 10″ so short by these standards but he has strength, technique, bravery and is a brilliant organiser of his defence. There will be a trend towards shorter keepers in the EPL over the next few years, that’s what a lot of the informed pundits are saying. Pat Jennings was 6ft dead, Peter Shilton 6ft 1″ for those of you that don’t know these were two great British keepers of the 70′s and 80′s. In the 90′s keepers started to get taller. Trouble is the keeper over 6 2″ has great difficulty getting down to low shots. The new Man Utd goalie David De Gea has just let in two very saveable low shots which he was far too slow to get down to. De Gea stand at 6ft 5. So in my view anyone 5 10″ and over with the main attributes stands as much chance at pro level as the tall keeper, that is if the trend changes as we think it will in the UK as it has in Spain where technique is king and which country is the better football team..Spain. I hope this is helpful for shorter goalies.
I’m 23 and 6″ tall, I’ve been playing in goal since school and well, height isn’t everything. Back in school the 2nd keeper was 6.3″ and although he was amazing, but he wasn’t ‘aware’ of attacking plays, nor could he command the box.
The basics of goalkeeping are:
* be intimidating
*don’t get pushed about
*make yourself look huge, spread your arms
As long as your agiile, quick thinking, and willing to get hurt you’ll be a don in the box.
I’ve broken my nose 6 times, broken my sholder and knocked 3 teeth out. Just from being a psychopath, all to stop a ball for goin past me.
A big pair of hands are also good, I’m a size 11 glove which to be fair, is massive.
As long as you are confident between to woodwork you’ll be fine i recon.
@james: yes, a biig reach is a good thing, you have a slightly longer reach than me, 195cm. If you can drop your shoulders and get to ground quickly you’ll do fine. Also, those of us who have spaghetti arms can throw a ball very very far, tottenham hotspur keeper; Gomes can throw 50yds +! And his nickname is ‘the octopus’ lol
Hi I’m 14 coming on 15 years old and am just about coming up to my growth spurt. at the moment I am 169cm tall (5’6) and am starting to work more seriously on my goalkeeping. I’ve been told that i have got the technique but my height could affect my chances. my dad is 5’11 and i was wondering whether i should specifically be eating or having anything to help me grow faster?? i love goalkeeping and it would be great if you could help me out.. Thanks.
hi.i am 17 years old.i am a goalkeeper.as you can imagine i am not tall, and everyone is telling me that i need height (i am 1,74) but they say that i have great skill and i can also play in all position on the field,and also that i have great thinking in game,i have a lot of passion,i practise a lot(5-7 trainnings a week).i have a very good jump ,good perception, and i also have a good experience for my age because i play in mens league for 3 years (from 14)!!!! but i get very angry when i have all the abilities to play in elite league and there are many that tell me that because of my height i wont play….its so ANNOYING…i love this game so much that i would do everything to play in elite league…but as i said before if i dont get anymore height i wont play ..i dont know what to do …every night that i go to bed i am crying becasue of this please tell me something i could do( any test,eating habbits) something please!!! i am so desperate….thank you for this article!!!
Great article, there should be more info like this available to younger keepers. I’m 22 myself, and as a 5 foot 10 keeper have been faced with these “facts” that in order to be succesful at a high level of football as a goalkeeper, you have to be tall. From the age of 15 I was told that I’d never make it at a high level due to my height. But as I got older I filled out and bulked up a bit. I have since played at the highest level in Ireland at schoolboy, under 20, senior level and University Level, and been succesful and won honours at every one of them. I’m aware that this can not be compared to playing at the top level in country’s like England, Scotland and Spain, but it just shows that with a bit of drive and determination, and ignoring the nay-sayers who will try to put you down, the desire to be the best you can be with what God has given you will always help you come out on top
I’m 15 right now and I’m 5ft 5 in. I haven’t grown much since June, and I play goalkeeper for my team. I really want to get taller, and drinking milk hasn’t helped a bit, some people tells me to play basketball, to jump higher, but to no avail. I could jump pretty high and could reach and punch away (or grab) the crosses. I’m VERY desperate to grow taller, oh and I’m Chinese and both of my parents are shorter than me, by a little bit. Also, I could sprint, I am the fastest player on my team, considering I play keeper. So please, could you help me, any tips on getting tall?
Hi im 17, ive now been playing open age at amateur level for just under a year. Making the jump from playing at my own age group to men’s had many new challenges. At 6 foot, i stannd shorter than most of my friends, but in both my saturday and sunday teams i am roughly 2 inches the tallest on the team. Even so i have never found height to be too much of an issue, making up for it with my reactions and foot work. The hardest bit of moving up wasnt being less phyisically developed, but the accuracy and power combination of the shots. whereas with friends i can safely assume that if they blast the ball, its going to miss, with men this is usually wrong. Tall keepers usually command their area better while small keepers quite often stop shots and react better. Look at shay given, hes small and hes good. Height isnt the main problem. Ability is.
Hi I’m 19 years old, but still interested in continuing to play on the next level as a goalkeeper. I played keeper for my club team awhile back but didn’t play in highschool because I was behind a good goalkeeper, and I was playing well on the field. Now that highschool is over I’m playing goalkeeper again and interested in playing it even though I missed the highschool experience of it. I am 6’5″ and probably 6’6″ with cleats on. I am athletic and played on the field and have previous goalie experience. I am just hoping it’s not too late for me to have a shot at a competitive college team and even the next level? I have the instincts and knowledge to do well but what can I do to make up for the loss of experience?
Hi I’m 16 and im the starting varsity keeper at only 5 ft 6. The backup keeper is also my age but is about 6 ft. Height can help but being short doesnt hurt as long as you have a good work ethic.
hi
i am frome india i am 13 years old and i am 6″1 !
I like goalkeeping,but there is not much soccer going in the country,i am i 9th standard and have played for under14 and columbiasia football tournament but coach says it is a bit hard for you to bend and stop a grounded shot but i dont think so,anyway is there a relationship between height and stopping grounded shots.?
i broke my hand while goalkeeing some time ago i am13 years old and 6’2 i am too skinny my pals say that any way that i can become heavy
I am 5″9 and im 16 years old, I play club soccer in the US, my dream is to play college soccer and I always tell myself that even though im not very tall,i can make it if i work hard. Im happy to find encouragement and i also encourage you guys to not give up. Two perfect examples are Jorge Campos and Casillas. Casillas because he is that tall and is the best goalkeeper in the world.
Hey,
Im a 5ft 4 Jv girls goalie, and i have come to the realization that it doen’t matter how tall you are as long as you are quick, agile, fearless, and can stop those upper 90 shots. If i jump and my hand is as high as a 5ft 9 girl’s hand while she is jumping, im still gonna cover the same amount of area as her no matter how tall she is. So, us shorties just need to spend those extra hours in the weightroom, so that we can jump higher than those other girls and stop them balls!!!!
i am 12 years old and I’m 5″10 or 175 cm . i play soccer in indonesia my backup is shorter than me but he is very good.. Height can help but being short doesnt hurt as long as you have a good work ethic.
iam 14 years old and I’m 6″4 . but I’m not to good
I am 22 years old and I am REALLY tall. Some people say I am TOO tall to be a goalkeeper. At the age of fifteen I was 6’4 and I just kept growing. I am now 6’9 and I am never picked for my team as I can’t get to the bottom corners fast enough. I think this is unfair seeing as most people say that the taller you are the better. I have been replaced by a 6’0 goalkeeper who is small and athletic. I am very disappointed but I am going to show my gaffer this article and make him see sense. Although this article states that smaller people can be goalies it also says that anyone (including ridiculously tall people like me) can also be guarding the net. Thank you for helping me out. I hope I will be making saves for my team once more.
I recently wrote a comment before I went to football training. I just got here a few mins ago and showed the article to my gaffer. He still says that 6’9 is far to big to be a goalkeeper and that I should be playing basketball instead. I told him that Thomas Sorensen is 6’8 and he plays I’m goals as that that’s only an inch smalle than me. He retaliated by saying that he knows how to save all varieties of shots and that I don’t. I am just about to start training and I will prove him wrong.
hi john my name is eric and i play in one of the best amateur teams in holland but becasue of my height the coach doesn’t even give me a chance to play I train hard work hard and people say i am even better than the first keeper but our coach still wont let me play because i am short , i am 1,70 cm . so please give me some tips.
and in april i will turn 17
hy,i’m from croatia,and im a professional keeper,im only 17 but i had grown in 183 or 184 i can’t tell correctly,but there are some trainers who tell me that im a little bit short and that i need to grow 2-3 cm,but i feel comfortable with my height on goal im fast and flexsibile,and taller than average,but not tall,some tall keepers are slow and not to god with ground shoots…what do you think?
Hi, I play for a team who has no real goalkeeper and i was wondering how i would do in nets,im only 14,im quite the average height, i im about 5tf 1(near 5tf 2)
if i was to do nets how could i improve in net and this will probably sound stupid is there anything i can to get taller.
Thanks, Robert
BTW im only just 14
Hey, I’m a goalie and I’ve been playing in this position since i was 7 and now im 16 and i think you are so right. I’m only 5’5″ but i have a good vertical and I can make the difficult saves. I think that determination is a strong thing to do with my success so far and maybe its the practice lol.
Thanks from a shorty in a world a towers
I wrote to this forum in August regarding my son who was 15 and the possible trend towards shorter goalies in Spain. In that time my son was 5ft 10. 7 months later he has grown 1 inch so 5, 11. In September 2012 he will start in the Barnet FC Youth Academy which is a pro League 2 club in England. He is now 16 years and 2 months. I have done a lot of research and I believe that for 90% of people by 17 years of age you’re finished growing. So my son’s main growth spurt is over, I believe he has one more inch to grow at 16 so when he is 17 his final height will be 6ft dead. This is short for a Premier League goalie, many coaches would say too short. However, there is one goalkeeper who is bucking the trend in the EPL, this is a Dutch goalie called Michel Vorm who plays for Holland and Swansea City. He is only 6ft in height and is possibly in the top five EPL goalies this season alongside Hart, De Gea etc. Regarding short goalies at whatever level my belief is they have a disability whichever way you look at it in terms of the psychological mindset of coaches and practically speaking in extra inches needed to grab crosses and claw away shots. So my clear message to short goalies is as follows: forget about exploring artificial growth techniques and quit worrying if you’re going to grow anymore or not, take it that you won’t, if it happens treat it as a bonus. Concentrate solely on technique. The height disability is not insurmountable whether you’re 5,6 or 6ft at whatever level – supreme reflexes, perfect footwork and overall technique will get you out of trouble and compensate satisfactorily as Vorm has so ably demonstrated in the EPL.