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Harbor Premier Goal Keepers
update 10-11-10
Hi Everyone,
First and foremost, I would like to thank the dedicated 9 coaches and 9 goalkeepers who attended our goalkeeping session last Friday evening. To give up a couple of precious hours at the end of a long week of work or school is a clear display of commitment towards the health of goalkeeping in Harbor Premier, and I deeply appreciate it.
Secondly, I would like to provide a brief review of the session. We discussed 4 shot stopping techniques and dealing with breakaways, both in terms of training these techniques vs. a match warm-up. I would like to reiterate some themes that connect these items together.
1) Catch and secure the ball: This is the first stage of development in goalkeeping. Young and / or less experienced goalkeepers should be encouraged to catch and secure the ball whenever possible. Alternatives to catching the ball (i.e.: punching the ball with one or both hands, parrying or pushing the ball over the cross bar or around the post, etc...) should be developed after building the stable platform of confidence in "sure hands" based on quality hand position. Goalkeepers may sometimes drop a ball that is shot too hard to catch, but under no circumstances is it acceptable to slap the ball to the ground as an alternative to catching the ball.
2) Always maintain balance: Goalkeepers must keep their balance at all times. All goalkeeping footwork ( the "J" pattern, moving forward to win the ball or reduce the shooting angle, etc...) is aimed toward this objective. Goalkeepers should be encouraged to adopt quality positioning to avoid the temptation of trying to run backwards or crossing their feet. Even in desperate times, such as when the goalkeeper is chipped because they were caught in the "chip zone", the advanced technique we did not cover requires the goalkeeper to turn and go rather than try to run backwards. If the goalkeeper looses balance at any point during the game, there was a goalkeeping mistake somewhere along the line. From the "ready position", to the save, and ultimately distribution, balance should be continually maintained.
3) Get the body behind the hands whenever possible: Goalkeepers should react to the shot (rather than anticipating where the shot is going to go) by stepping toward the ball. By stepping towards the ball, the goalkeepers can make their hands the leading edge of the technique, which allows the goalkeeper to get their body behind their hands. The ability to step towards the ball is directly related to the "getting set" at exactly the right moment.
4) Training the goalkeeper: Never ask the goalkeeper to do the impossible, yet always push the goalkeeper towards improvement via increasing the pace on the ball and extending the range of their technique. Precision of service in relation to speed and accuracy is critical to goalkeeping technical development. Never beat the goalkeeper into exhaustion or injury, yet always stop just before the technique breaks down. Short, single themed sessions each week or at each team practice session is generally much more effective than the occasional long, multi-themed ("shotgun") approach to goalkeeping development. Even simply doing the match warm-up (see below) each practice will accomplish a great deal for your goalkeeper. A combination of interval, plyometric, core strength training, and fun, is generally most effective - train like a gymnast who wants to take up boxing. Always make training a realistic recreation of goalkeeping. Keep it fun, and always end with a good save and on a good note.
5) Match preparation: Work with your goalkeeper to create a suitable match warm-up routine. Most of the older and more accomplished goalkeepers report they profit most from a match warm-up routine that is predictable, and covers the above mentioned techniques along with some distribution. This makes sense given the unpredictable nature of what is about to happen to them in in a few minutes, that is, they are about to put themselves into the vulnerable position of becoming either the "hero or the goat". There is often a tremendous amount of anxiety before going in the goal, and while playing in the goal, during a close match. Anxiety, when managed in a healthy way, can enhance a performance. Too high of a level of anxiety can overwhelm a performance, and too little anxiety (not common in goalkeeping) can make a performance "flat". We've all been there: our goalkeeper stands in the goal without any action, then the one shot the other team takes in the last two minutes goes between the goalkeepers legs and we tie the game 1 - 1 (too little anxiety), or our goalkeeper allows a goal, and our goalkeeper becomes vulnerable to allowing the next 3 - 4 shots to score (too much anxiety). The aim is to help the goalkeeper manage their anxiety so that they establish and maintain their peak performance range.
Having said all of that, most young goalkeepers don't know what they need prior to a match. Most are unable to clearly articulate their needs until later in their youth goalkeeping career. I wouldn't expect a 9 year old to have the self-awareness of a 17 year old, and self-awareness seems to develop on a continuum. I recommend gradually (over the years) turning over more and more control of the match warm-up to the goalkeeper, based on age and / or developmental level.
Here's a few do's and don'ts in regards to match preparation: Regardless of age, don't allow the warm-up to become a "screw-around" session. If at all possible, don't allow the goalkeeper to go directly from the field (playing with feet) into the goal (playing with hands) - that would almost be like warming up for a swim meet by playing ping-pong. Do, if only briefly, each of the shot stopping techniques, a couple of breakaways, and a few goal kicks and volleys, with time between each technique to stretch (if necessary). Do modify the warm-up routine so it can be effectively accomplished during a half-time if necessary. To the extent possible, do try to read the goalkeeper, or let them tell you, how much or how little warm-up they require, and how intense it needs to be. Don't ask the goalkeeper to make multiple or unrealistic decisions before the game, such as a warm-up where the team attempts to score 30 goals against the goalkeeper in one minute. Do allow the goalkeeper to participate briefly in a team warm-up that involves decision making only if it is at the match-related level, and you and / or the goalkeeper decides their performance would profit from this activity. Do end each section of the warm-up with a good save and on a good note.
Once again, thank you so much for attending our goalkeeping session. I am flattered by your attendance, and grateful to be part of such a fine Harbor Premier coaching staff. You all did a great job of getting through the first couple of chapters of goalkeeping, and I'll be sure to let those of you coaches who attended this session know when we plan to address issues surrounding more advanced levels of goalkeeping.
2) Always maintain balance: Goalkeepers must keep their balance at all times. All goalkeeping footwork ( the "J" pattern, moving forward to win the ball or reduce the shooting angle, etc...) is aimed toward this objective. Goalkeepers should be encouraged to adopt quality positioning to avoid the temptation of trying to run backwards or crossing their feet. Even in desperate times, such as when the goalkeeper is chipped because they were caught in the "chip zone", the advanced technique we did not cover requires the goalkeeper to turn and go rather than try to run backwards. If the goalkeeper looses balance at any point during the game, there was a goalkeeping mistake somewhere along the line. From the "ready position", to the save, and ultimately distribution, balance should be continually maintained.
3) Get the body behind the hands whenever possible: Goalkeepers should react to the shot (rather than anticipating where the shot is going to go) by stepping toward the ball. By stepping towards the ball, the goalkeepers can make their hands the leading edge of the technique, which allows the goalkeeper to get their body behind their hands. The ability to step towards the ball is directly related to the "getting set" at exactly the right moment.
4) Training the goalkeeper: Never ask the goalkeeper to do the impossible, yet always push the goalkeeper towards improvement via increasing the pace on the ball and extending the range of their technique. Precision of service in relation to speed and accuracy is critical to goalkeeping technical development. Never beat the goalkeeper into exhaustion or injury, yet always stop just before the technique breaks down. Short, single themed sessions each week or at each team practice session is generally much more effective than the occasional long, multi-themed ("shotgun") approach to goalkeeping development. Even simply doing the match warm-up (see below) each practice will accomplish a great deal for your goalkeeper. A combination of interval, plyometric, core strength training, and fun, is generally most effective - train like a gymnast who wants to take up boxing. Always make training a realistic recreation of goalkeeping. Keep it fun, and always end with a good save and on a good note.
5) Match preparation: Work with your goalkeeper to create a suitable match warm-up routine. Most of the older and more accomplished goalkeepers report they profit most from a match warm-up routine that is predictable, and covers the above mentioned techniques along with some distribution. This makes sense given the unpredictable nature of what is about to happen to them in in a few minutes, that is, they are about to put themselves into the vulnerable position of becoming either the "hero or the goat". There is often a tremendous amount of anxiety before going in the goal, and while playing in the goal, during a close match. Anxiety, when managed in a healthy way, can enhance a performance. Too high of a level of anxiety can overwhelm a performance, and too little anxiety (not common in goalkeeping) can make a performance "flat". We've all been there: our goalkeeper stands in the goal without any action, then the one shot the other team takes in the last two minutes goes between the goalkeepers legs and we tie the game 1 - 1 (too little anxiety), or our goalkeeper allows a goal, and our goalkeeper becomes vulnerable to allowing the next 3 - 4 shots to score (too much anxiety). The aim is to help the goalkeeper manage their anxiety so that they establish and maintain their peak performance range.
Having said all of that, most young goalkeepers don't know what they need prior to a match. Most are unable to clearly articulate their needs until later in their youth goalkeeping career. I wouldn't expect a 9 year old to have the self-awareness of a 17 year old, and self-awareness seems to develop on a continuum. I recommend gradually (over the years) turning over more and more control of the match warm-up to the goalkeeper, based on age and / or developmental level.
Here's a few do's and don'ts in regards to match preparation: Regardless of age, don't allow the warm-up to become a "screw-around" session. If at all possible, don't allow the goalkeeper to go directly from the field (playing with feet) into the goal (playing with hands) - that would almost be like warming up for a swim meet by playing ping-pong. Do, if only briefly, each of the shot stopping techniques, a couple of breakaways, and a few goal kicks and volleys, with time between each technique to stretch (if necessary). Do modify the warm-up routine so it can be effectively accomplished during a half-time if necessary. To the extent possible, do try to read the goalkeeper, or let them tell you, how much or how little warm-up they require, and how intense it needs to be. Don't ask the goalkeeper to make multiple or unrealistic decisions before the game, such as a warm-up where the team attempts to score 30 goals against the goalkeeper in one minute. Do allow the goalkeeper to participate briefly in a team warm-up that involves decision making only if it is at the match-related level, and you and / or the goalkeeper decides their performance would profit from this activity. Do end each section of the warm-up with a good save and on a good note.
Once again, thank you so much for attending our goalkeeping session. I am flattered by your attendance, and grateful to be part of such a fine Harbor Premier coaching staff. You all did a great job of getting through the first couple of chapters of goalkeeping, and I'll be sure to let those of you coaches who attended this session know when we plan to address issues surrounding more advanced levels of goalkeeping.
Dave Brown
Harbor Premier Goalkeeping
PROUD SPONSOR OF THE HARBOR PREMIER PROGRAM
