Is there a way you can sit on your sofa, watch TV and count that as a GK training session? YES there is. It can help your GK communication skills
No, I haven’t gone mad. Let me explain.
For a football fan, watching a live or televised match against two world class clubs is always a joy. What you have to do is switch your attention to both goalkeepers.
As play breaks to either end, watch it develop. All you have to do is ask yourself this question…
“What should the goalkeeper be shouting now?”
That’s it!
It sounds so simple, but it requires you to watch the game in an entirely different way. You are analysing the game in the same way both keepers will be.
Think about what commands he needs to be saying. You will have a great view of the play from above, so you will see who is unmarked, as will the goalkeeper. Get inside that keeper’s head, what shouts will he be saying at each point of the play? For example common shouts are -
- Keeper’s
- Clear/away
- push up/squeeze
- Gallas, left shoulder
Short, sharp and concise.
Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. It doesn’t require much effort at all.
How young is too young when it comes to becoming a goalkeeper? I believe this requires more thought than just jumping in at first interest. Here are a few pointers that I think are important to take into consideration.
Interest
Avoid selecting a goalkeeper against his own will. For example, if you are a parent who was a goalkeeper, there may be an incline to wish your son/daughter to follow in your footsteps. Or a coach may see a tall player and want him to play goalie. Remember, only a small minority of footballers want to be goalkeepers, I see it more as a calling than a choice. Allow them to express interest.
Age Matters
At 9 years old, a footballer should be playing outfield as much as possible, even if he wants to play in goals. The reason for this is simple. If you start a child too young in goals, they avoid using their feet. I’ve seen many many 13/14 year old goalkeepers who cannot control a ball at feet. In today’s game, this is vital. Allow your goalkeeper to develop the same ball control skills as your outfield players.
Age 11 onwards
is a good time to transition to more specific goalkeeping training. Until that point, BALL CONTROL AT FEET is FAR more important.
It’s never too late
One of the best goalkeepers I have ever coached started playing in goals at 15. Up until that point he was playing sweeper. This worked in his favour as he was very comfortable with the ball at his feet. This gave confidence to his defenders when it came to back-passes.
As a goalkeeper, you cannot afford to stop training during icy or particularly miserable weather conditions. You need to have a mental alertness that stays with you throughout the season.
Having said that, SAFETY trumps everything in goalkeeping. If firefighters removed their helmets and heavy equipment, they could probably enter the burning building quicker, but doing so would breach their safety, and ultimately end in disaster. Similarly as a goalkeeper, it is great to be committed to training through harsh conditions, but you’ve got to remain sensible. Here are few precautions you should take before starting training in the cold.
Adjust your planned session accordingly - If you are working on icy ground, it is best to avoid complex agility, extensive diving (for obvious reasons), and any explosive leg movements. Trapping a stud in the hard ground whilst actively twisting the joints can be very hazardous
When goalkeeper training in icy conditions; stick to handing, simple footwork drills and working with balls at feet. Simple dives can be incorporated but not excessively.
Assess the ground - Any experienced coach knows to assess the ground before training. This is vital when starting a session in icy conditions. What you are looking for is FLAT ground. Having ground that has been churned up then frozen leads to possible jarring of joints as you make contact with the uneven surface.
Correct clothing - Make sure you are adequately protected from both the temperature and the ground conditions. So be wrapped up, and have padding on the knees and elbow joints. Wearing shorts to look like the ‘big man’ might help your image…but it leads to unnecessary scrapes and cuts which are accentuated on hard ground.
I’d like to sum up by saying this – “When in doubt, don’t go out!”. So if you have assessed the ground, and are left worried that something could go awry, there is always a warmer tomorrow.
Enjoy the festive period. Train hard and train safe!
Goalkeeper Coaching Tips | GoalTender December 31, 2009 | 
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