July 1, 2018 / Leon / Comments Off on Forget VAR – I’m watching the World Cup using VR!
Wow… I just watched a very resilient home nation win on penalties against Spain in what has been another amazing chapter in this great World Cup. I have been lucky enough to capture so many of the games in different viewing scenarios, but I have found a game changer in regards to viewing the game.
Fox Sports has had its critics in regards to the commentary of the games, but from a coach’s point of view, and for you as a goalkeeper, their coverage using their app is truly great and a great way to view the game.
Here is a selection of the ways I have watched the games using their coverage:
Match 360 Tactical view
Cable cam view
Team 1 channel
Team 2 channel
The tactical view, in particular, shows a great view of the team’s shape and goalkeepers vertical positioning.
I do, however, have a game changer in the new “Fox Sports VR” app on my Iphone!!
Not only does this app allow me to watch the game and enjoy the good weather, it provides an executive box view from the halfway line of the game, in which you can use VR to view any part of the game that you want. Even better from a goalkeeping point of view is the option to watch the game from behind either goal.
This behind the goal option is a throwback for me, as my passion and early education for goalkeeping came from this very view when I was a ball boy for my local team when I was around ten years of age. This view provides great goalkeeping insight into angles, positioning for set pieces, movement to support after goal kicks are taken and communication with teammates.
You can watch by holding your smartphone up or by purchasing one of those cardboard or plastic VR headsets. I got a plastic one from a “Five Below” store.
If you are not in the U.S. please let me know if there is a similar option in your country.
In the recent U17 UEFA European Championship International game between Ireland and the Netherlands, we saw an unfortunate event in which the Ireland goalkeeper got sent off after saving a penalty.
I previously wrote a popular post on penalty saving methods in the past and been thanked multiple times for its help. I will link to it immediately below. Watch the video though and I will explain how these tactics may now need to change!
All the footage of the actual penalty shootout seems to have been taken off the web lately, but you can see the game highlights with the penalties at the end of this official UEFA video.
https://youtu.be/E5JgTRLFsgI
You have seen in the video above that the Ireland goalkeeper receives his second yellow card for supposedly stepping off his line prior to the penalty kick to save a penalty. I say supposedly because some still frame pictures show that the goalkeeper’s feet are still on the line when the ball is struck.
In the video below, Kevin Kilbane and Joe Molloy of “Off the ball” discuss the situation.
Upon some research, I do see that the new rules of the game made for the 2016/2017 season does show that a yellow card should be shown for the infringement. ( see below – underlined in red )
What are the takeaway lessons from this event?
1) Know the rules and calculate the risk v reward of stepping forward prior to the kick being made. Prior to the rule change, there was little risk compared to the reward of saving the shot as if the referee deemed that you had moved early all that happened was that the forward had to take the kick again, leaving them nervous and double guessing what way to go for the second kick. Now the risk, if caught, should be a yellow card.
2) Get to know the referee with good communication. Read a previous article about the power of good communication with not only your players, but with officials to get a feel for what kind of person they are. Do they engage in conversation? Are they fair? Are they consistent? Have they told you prior to the shootout that they are aware of the rule? If you are dealing with an inconsistent referee or one that does not communicate their decisions, it may not be worth the risk of stepping forward.
3) Much like when the six-second rule for goalkeepers came into play (Read my article of not taking advantage of the leniency that refs give on this rule), referees will be keen to show off the fact that they know the new rule, and will look to enforce it. This recent incident has highlighted the fact that the rule is indeed to give a yellow card, so it is likely to be fashionable for referees to stick to this. My advice is to not risk the step forward deliberately early in order to avoid punishment.
It’s been something of a tough time for England’s goalkeepers this season.
I’m not convinced any of the currently capped keepers can honestly claim to be heading into the World Cup having had a good season.
Joe Hart, the most experienced of them all, has probably had the worst of the lot as he currently watches on from the bench at the London Stadium. Fraser Forster, Ben Foster, and Jack Butland have endured underwhelming seasons with Southampton, West Brom, and Stoke respectively with some notable individual errors. Jordan Pickford has had some fine performances, but is nonetheless part of an Everton team flailing in mid-table. Tom Heaton (a personal favorite of mine) is yet to properly return from a horrible shoulder injury which perhaps leaves Nick Pope – his young replacement – as the only English goalkeeper in the Premier League who’s playing in a side performing higher than expected.
Admittedly, the performance of the team doesn’t correlate with the ability of the individual – but the numbers don’t look good. In fact, 5/6 aforementioned (and fit) keepers feature in the top 10 teams for most goals conceded, as per http://www.premierleague.com:
Not a great look.
As international friendlies approach, it’s time for Mr Southgate to hone is choices for his first international tournament; one with the obvious weight of expectation that accompanies the Three Lions wherever they travel. But who makes the cut?
Joe Hart
I can’t help but feel sorry for Hart. After a troublesome season in Serie A, where some of his technical and psychological flaws were exposed, his decision to join West Ham on loan hasn’t seen him get back to the goalkeeper we saw before the Euros, or the one who put in perhaps the best performance from an English goalkeeper in Europe against Messi’s Barcelona.
Some of Hart’s technical deficiencies have progressively been targeted by the opposition. Most notably, and as detailed by The Telegraph after the opening of the season, Hart struggles making low saves either side, specifically down to his left. His save percentages in these zones are remarkably poor, at just over 60%—compared to 85% in upper zones. Iceland, anyone?
Hart has also struggled coming off his line, which for me points to a wider issue psychologically…
Now, I’ve got no inside track—no knowledge source that isn’t accessible to everyone. However, Hart has always seemed to be a player who thrives off getting “pumped up,” so tense and agitated that perhaps the balance between bravery/intention and cognition/technique becomes skewed under mental pressure. It’s an area he’s admitted to learning from in an interview before – but the source eludes my memory.
The main worry is his lack of game time this year. There’s no doubt he’s experienced and a leader in the group – and for this reason I won’t be surprised to see him get a space on the flight out to Russia.
Chance of making the squad: 50%
Jack Butland
I like Butland. As someone from a multi-sport background, watching the former county-standard rugby player gives me an insight into what life is like for me in a parallel universe.
He holds his balance and shape well, is strong and decisive in shot stopping and more than capable with his feet. His explosivity is also superb. He had a bit of a mare last weekend against Leicester after pushing the ball into his own net, but a string of fabulous saves afterwards gave us a better account of how good Butland can be—all on his debut as captain.
Whilst Stoke’s defensive record places them at the top of the ‘Goals Conceded’ table, Butland does much better in terms of quantity of saves. In fact, the English stoppers in general make a better show for themselves:
But, as anyone with an analytical mind will contend, these numbers lack the contextual application to make them worthy decision-making tools.
Being the sad interested spectator I am, I took some of the stats and pulled out a save % statistic, comparing the same set of goalkeepers. Butland drops right down the table to 14th. The same impact is seen by Pickford, who claims a very strong 4th spot in quantity of saves, but drops to 18th place in save percentage.
Nonetheless, I feel that the question for Butland isn’t whether he travels, but whether he starts. He has a huge potential both at club and international level, and has impressed when he’s appeared for England previously. Butland is every bit the modern shot-stopper, if lacking in the hollywood-sidewinder-assist department.
Likelihood of needing to know Russian this summer: 90%
Jordan Pickford
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about Pickford is very unorthodox. Whether it’s his left foot, expressive hand movement during games or love of a parry, watching Pickford in action is an experience of its own. This is a young star certainly not lacking in the hollywood-sidewinder-assist department – arguably England’s only proponent of the ‘modern day’ ability to distribute accurately across various distances at the highest level. He also hasn’t missed a single minute of Premier League football this season.
Against Germany, Pickford was superb, denying Werner twice from 1v1 situations to keep England in the game early on. His performances for Sunderland last year rightly brought him acclaim and whilst his Everton side this year has struggled, he doesn’t look out of place at a club where expectations are higher.
What strikes me about Pickford is his communication – a lot of Premier League goalkeepers – De Gea in particular – seem quite ‘passive’ and quiet in comparison but he’s not been shy to make sure his teammates can hear him. It’s a good lesson for younger players that regardless of your age relative to your team mates, you can help them and yourself by talking.
In my mind, the decision over the starting spot is between Pickford and Butland. My personal preference would be Pickford, purely for his ability to turn defence to attack in seconds – something that might prove vital in tight, nervous group games. My one question mark over them both is that they haven’t had a mentality of keeping clean sheets and winning tight games all season – can they switch in the summer when required?
Subjective probability of trading Liverpudlian city views with the Red Square? 95%
Nick Pope
The wildcard. Here’s where it gets [hopefully more] interesting. Pope, originally brought in to cover for the wonderful Tom Heaton, has been outstanding for Burnley. In fact, according to Sky Sports, Pope is behind only De Gea in making unexpected saves, keeping out around 8 attempts on target that were expected to result in a goal. That’s a huge deal for someone no one would’ve expected to be playing, let alone thriving. Charlton Athletic fans will be aware of his talent, but I daresay no one would’ve predicted this level of impact. For context, Pickford has made 0 – he’s kept out exactly how many he’s been expected to.
Pope has a fantastic ability to spread and make himself big, using his massive frame to smother attempts. At 25 years old he isn’t the newbie many expect – and this experience at different levels has no doubt attributed to his assured and consistent performances for a Burnley side doing very well for themselves.
Gareth Southgate, attending Burnley vs Everton this weekend, has certainly got food for thought – I feel as though Pope will get a call up for the upcoming friendlies at least where he’ll be given a chance to prove himself.
I feel as though the third spot for the World Cup is up for grabs between Pope and Hart, which admittedly, becomes an easy decision if considering form alone. Taking into account tournament experience however, given one of Butland and Pickford are likely to start, the decision is a bit more complex.
“It’s pronounced Mosk-va”-o-meter: 55%
The Unlikely Outsiders
There’s a few players who deserve a mention in this section. In reality, barring a freak set of injuries it’s hard to see any having a realistic chance but it’s four months until the World Cup – plenty of times for circumstance to chance.
Tom Heaton
As I mentioned before, I love Tom Heaton. He’s been underrated for several years but last season he was superb – a string of brilliant saves come to mind (The starfish to keep out Ibra?). His injury this year was a huge blow – under different circumstances, Heaton in my mind could have a strong claim to going into the World Cup as the number 1.
If you’re as used to tuning in to FATV as I am, you’ll be familiar with the brilliance of Tom Heaton – his balance and agility is superb, making the most difficult footwork and recovery look easy, with neutral, tidy hands. He’s a great example to show kids growing up and looking for someone to emulate. He’s a leader, brilliant communicator and someone I think, personally, could do just as well at a higher stage. What he lacks in modern distribution he makes up for in a wealth of experience and leadership qualities.
The difficulty for Heaton will be getting his spot back in the Burnley side. Pope’s form makes it very difficult to drop him, but a run of games is essential after such a big injury. A lot comes down to what Dyche decides in this fairly unusual circumstance.
Swapping the John Smiths for Smirnoff? 40%
Alex McCarthy & Fraser Forster
McCarthy has done well this year to work his way back into first team football. Fraser Forster, who has subsequently lost his place, has struggled since Pellegrino took over at Southampton. I initially held high hopes for Forster – he’s a huge, imposing force and impressed when he first came to the Premier League. But over the past two years, i’ve questioned his decision making – his method of recovering, decisions to parry and the areas he pushes the ball into. He’s never stood out for me as a distributor either.
I think McCarthy becomes the next in line should anyone else’s form drop considerably or injury strikes, but I don’t think he’ll be expecting to make the trip. In his favour however is that Southgate has called him up before – although he’s yet to get his first cap.
Angus Gunn
As a Chelsea fan, I was able to watch Gunn for Norwich across the two mightily boring cup games over the winter. I was impressed – both games were low scoring, but Gunn was assured, authoritative and made some good stops. His hands were tidy and distribution consistent. Gunn has consistently shown to be very effective claiming high balls – a remarkable 99% success rate.
The main argument is that Gunn has been a constant through the English youth systems. Southgate has shown a willingness to use the relationships developed at younger age groups, but perhaps bringing Gunn is more a gamble on what he may become in the future rather than his current experience. Maybe one tournament too soon for the on-loan City keeper, but one to watch for sure.
Final Verdict
By no means is it a foregone conclusion, and upcoming friendlies certainly give Southgate a chance to see what these different players offer. For me, the decision is quite clear.
The starting spot comes down to Butland and Pickford. Pickford edges it for me because of his superior distribution and my personal view of how he has performed for Everton this year – although statistics would support this over Butland. I’m aware that Pickford doesn’t have a lot of International experience. But he hasn’t struggled to make steps up the footballing ladder before; I don’t expect the World Cup to be any different.
The third spot is the difficult one – do you go with Pope’s form or Hart’s experience? If Southgate values the nous and wisdom of the struggling Hart, especially as neither are likely to feature, it would make sense to take the former no.1. If the decision is made on meritocracy alone – Pope gets the shout. Perhaps the youthfulness of the rest of the squad will make an impact.
What do you reckon? Who gets on your plane to Russia this summer? Let me know in the comments or on twitter!
March 5, 2018 / Leon / Comments Off on GKHQ Media Intern, James Doig gets a position with NY Red Bulls
Back in February 2017, James Doig who was studying Media at Quinnipiac became our intern. Upon taking up the position, he recognized that the glove part of the business had the greatest potential for growth and he went about creating the website www.L1Goalkeeper.com.
James, for the last year, has continued to market the L1 Goalkeeper brand as well as being a Media advisor for Goalkeeper HQ.
As part of his Masters and, whilst using the L1 Goalkeeper brand as part of his portfolio, James managed to get a position in the media team at the New York Red Bulls.
James continues to work with Goalkeeper HQ as a consultant and managing further interns. If you would like to get experience using soccer or goalkeeping as the vehicle in any of the following fields, please contact info@GoalkeeperHQ.com
March 5, 2018 / Leon / Comments Off on Implications of the US Soccer Player Development Initiatives for Goalkeepers
Back on the 1st of August 2017, the following article came out from US Soccer: “Five things to know about U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives”
I have been meaning to share this article but did not get around to it. Now that the spring season is around the corner, I thought I would dig into the article to see how it affects goalkeepers, especially as this is the last season in which any grace period to transition will be over.
What are PDI’s?
The Player Development Initiatives aim to create an environment for youth players to grow and develop their soccer abilities. The most notable PDI includes small-sided game standards. Small-sided standards are regulations for youth games played with less than eleven players on each team that include field and ball size, game length and special rules. Fewer players on the field will allow players to be more involved and provide more opportunity for development. The PDI for small-sided standards of play will be implemented across the country.
BIRTH YEAR REGISTRATION – REGISTER PLAYERS ACCORDING TO A JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31 TIME FRAME
For goalkeepers that were born in September – December and used to being the oldest players on the team, they will find themselves playing a year up and being one of the youngest.
Implications:
The implications for these goalkeepers are both physical and psychological. Playing up will, will most likely mean that the goalkeeper will be playing against taller, stronger, faster players with shots coming in harder and possibly further away. These goalkeepers will also find that they will be playing with players in a higher school year, which may affect the goalkeeper’s confidence in communicating and presence. By having a uniform age range across the country also means that tournaments and showcases are played with same age players.
SMALL-SIDED GAMES – DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY AND PLAYING STANDARDS FOR PLAYERS 12 AND YOUNGER
The small-sided philosophy is aimed to develop improved skills with the ball and to develop intelligence with and without the ball. The uniform standard aligns with the physiological needs of the players.
Implications:
The small-sided games provide more touches for the goalkeeper and encourage the goalkeeper to make more selection of passes when distributing. The goalkeeper also becomes more of an option to pass back to. The goalkeeper should be ready to be the quarterback of the team, an article which I wrote previously.
The small-sided games also mean smaller fields and smaller goals at the U9 & U10 age groups as goals are changed from the old 8v8 size of 7ft x 21ft to 6.5 x 18.5 This is great for smaller goalkeepers to adapt to.
The recent Philadelphia Soccer Coaches Convention was a great learning tool, but also one to celebrate achievements. For one young man, whom I have had the pleasure of working with, it was an opportunity to pick up his recognition of becoming an “All-American” player.
The United Soccer Coaches ( Previously the NSCAA ) announced in December the 127 players ( 67 boys & 60 girls ) who had been recognized across the country for their efforts and performances throughout the fall of 2017 in their High School season.
The players were formally acknowledged for their accomplishments at the All-America Luncheon on January 20, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention.
Mauricio Arango, a senior from Yorktown Heights, NY was one of three goalkeepers chosen for the boys.
I had the pleasure of working with Mo when I was the goalkeeper coach for Everton FC Westchester as part of the Development Academy. We struck up a great relationship from the first session, which I recall was just him and myself as the note had not gone out to the teams that there was going to be goalkeeper training that night.
Mauricio has some great training qualities that can be emulated by all goalkeepers.
He is always on time to practice and prepared
He gives 100% to each session, even if he is tired
He is good to have as part of the training because of his hard work, other goalkeepers try to reach his effort, making the session more enjoyable for all involved
Mauricio communicates with the coach and with the other goalkeepers during the session. Either to ask questions or to encourage the other gk’s with a “well done”or a “good save”
Here is Mauricio’s highlight video.
I asked Mauricio how and why he may have got picked for such an award.
“I play for Yorktown High School in Westchester, New York and as a team, we had a great year. We won the Section 1 championship for the first time in 27 years and for the second time in school history. We won our region semi-final game and reached the region finals, which is the equivalent to state quarterfinals, only to lose to Ithaca High School”
So, it helps that your High School had a good year. How did he do personally?
“Personally, I recorded 11 clean sheets and only allowed more than one goal on three separate occasions. I won MVP of the League, I was voted the Section 1 Class AA MVP of the playoffs, and I won the Section 1 Player of the Year. I received All-Section, All-State, All-Region, and All-American honors as well.”
That is impressive! It’s starting to tie in now… The clean sheets are both good stats and help the team to get points. It is the combination of winning and securing the shutout at the back that starts to get people to take notice. I’m sure that wasn’t the only thing. What attributes did you bring to the team to help you stand out?
“I think what got me recognized was my leadership on the field. I knew I could perform game after game but it was my leadership and my presence on the pitch that elevated my game even more. I was also always one of the most intense players in the field, I cared so much about my teammates and the overall outcome of the game that I couldn’t accept defeat. That’s what really helped me get recognized.”
Mauricio in action with his High School team (left) and at the Goalkeeping Residential Camp with team-mate Cam. Two success stories as one plays High School and the other the Development Academy with NYCFC.
Your team must have been pretty good. Were you called into action much and did you make any crucial saves?
“In the Section Semifinals against Arlington HS at their home, we were up 1-0 with about 10 minutes left. I made three saves in about five minutes when they were pressuring us. They couldn’t find the equalizer and I think that motivated the team into closing out the game and going on to win that game and going on to win the Section final. In the season, I probably made between three and eight saves in a game.”
You have played US Development Academy soccer and High School. What would you say are the differences?
“I think the biggest difference is the pace of the game and the intensity of the training sessions. The pace at which the Academy games are played is much faster and it demands quick thinking and quick decision making. The training sessions for goalkeepers are also more intense at the Academy. You usually don’t have a goalkeeper coach at High School so it can be difficult at times to keep that high level of intensity when you are running your own sessions.
Why did you make the decision to play High School soccer?
“All my friends were playing High School sports and I felt that I was missing a great opportunity to make friendships and to make memories. I also knew that my High School team was one of the top teams in the section so I didn’t feel it was a big step down in quality.”
What would you say is the weakest part of your game and how did you deal with it or disguise it during the season?
My weakest part of my game would have to be my distribution and one on one situations. I disguised it by distributing as quick as I possibly could. As long as the ball was out of my hands and into the feet of my teammates I was happy. My distribution did progress as the season went on so it didn’t become a detriment to my game. For one on one situations, I learned to anticipate through balls and that made it easier to collect balls and to cut out attacks.
How was the actual ceremony in Philadelphia?
“The All-American ceremony in Philadelphia was an amazing experience. It was great to meet top quality high school players from all across the country. It felt great getting recognized as a goalkeeper too because we usually don’t get much love. It was also great to see all the college level athletes getting recognized, which really motived me to work hard in my future endeavors, whether that’s it’s soccer or in life. The ceremony was an unforgettable experience. “
What are your college plans?
“I will be attending Quinnipiac University. I have been offered a spot on the team.”
Mauricio with his father and his award at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia.
I attended the United Soccer Coaches Soccer convention in Philadelphia earlier on in the year. It was the first time I had been in six years and was excited to see sold old work colleagues but also to really educate myself on the latest goalkeeping trends.
Here are the field sessions or classroom sessions I attended.
Functional Training for Goalkeepers – Mike Crane (Florida Atlantic University) & Andrew Sparks (Swansea City)
Goalkeeping Trends in the College Game – Chris Rich (Duke University) & Tim Wassell (Penn State University)
Modern Trends in Goalkeeping – Lisa Cole ( Papa New Guinea U20 WNT)
Training Concepts for Youth Goalkeepers – Karl Spratt (NE Revolution) & Jason Grubb (Houston Dynamo)
Team Games that Integrate the Goalkeeper – Kat Mertz (University of Oregon)
Effective Strategies for Players with AD/HD – Shawn Danhouser (US Youth Soccer Midwest region)
As we preach at Goalkeeper HQ, it was stated that the modern day goalkeeper’s job is different from 20 years ago and it can be argued that the goalkeeper’s job has changed in the last five years or so. This is because the game itself is evolving.
There is now an attacking trend in the game, which lends itself to playing three defenders at the back or even if there are four in the formation, there are often attacking full backs which are encouraged to get high up the field.
Below is a diagram of what the average game looks like for a college goalkeeper playing 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper has possession of the ball for just 4 minutes
18% of the game is the bits most people associate with goalkeeping – Catches, saves & punches
82% is distribution related – More than when I wrote an article called Back Pass – Facts“
On average, the goalkeeper is expected to make 2.6 saves per game & around 30 passes. The key is to ensure the 2.6 saves are saves and not goals and that as many of those 30 passes are as accurate as possible.
THERE ARE THREE TRENDS IN THE MODERN GAME ARE MOST COMMON
1 – An increased importance of distribution
2 – The ability to deal with quick transitions, both denying the opposition and also setting up a quick transition for your team
3 – Crosses are now rarely floated into the box. They are now whipped in quicker to “Second 6yd box” between 6yd box and the penalty spot or pulled back.
THE GOALKEEPER’S STRENGTHS / WEAKNESSES, AS WELL AS THE TEAMS, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN A STYLE OF PLAY. BOTH ATTACKING AND DEFENDING.
Here are some examples:
A fast team, looking to counter-attack requiring the goalkeeper to distribute quickly beyond the oppositions back line.
A team that builds from the back requires a goalkeeper comfortable to play from the back accurately and provide a number of different ranges
A goalkeeper who is comfortable playing high will enable the team to go with three at the back.
It is often easier for the coach to change the goalkeeper to fit the needs of the team style than for the coach to adopt a style that is best for the goalkeeper
THE AVERAGE POSITIONING FOR A SAVE MADE BY A GOALKEEPER IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS THREE YARDS OUT
With the trend to now whip in fast, low crosses or to pull the ball back, goalkeepers are tending to drop further back and provide more reaction time than to step up and narrow the angle. New balls provide a higher velocity and more movement requiring this reaction time.
Goalkeepers are now taller, and more athletic which enables them to block more of the goal when they are set and have enough reaction time. In fact, goalkeepers are required to be amongst the top athletes on the team.
DUKE GOALKEEPER ( Male )
Height / Weight – 6′ / 180lb
Vertical Jump – 32″ (Ranked #3 on team)
Broad Jump – 9′ (Ranked #3 on team)
40yd dash – 4.8secs (Ranked #5 on team)
PENN STATE GOALKEEPER ( Female )
Height / Weight – 5’11 / 145lb
Vertical Jump – College improvement = 7.5″ (Ranked #1 on team)
Broad Jump – College improvement = 11″ (Ranked #1 on team)
40yd dash – College improvement = .2secs (Ranked #3 on team)
IT IS OUR JOB AS GOALKEEPER COACHES TO BEST PREPARE GOALKEEPER FOR THE GAME.
There are differences in the demands of each stage of goalkeeper development. It is our job as goalkeeper coaches to make sure that the goalkeeper understands what is expected of them and to also incorporate the relevant aspects of each theme of goalkeeping.
Servers should be hitting moving balls as that’s what happens in games
Goalkeepers should face a variety of servers for the same practice or drill to get used to adjusting to different speeds and trajectories of the ball that different servers bring
After saves are made, a transition should be incorporated in the release of the ball
A backpass scenario can be provided prior to most saves
DESPITE OUR SPECIALIST TRAINING, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GOALKEEPERS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO TEAM PLAY
As stated above, a team may have to adopt a style based on their strengths. It is important that the team know the goalkeeper’s strengths and weaknesses so they can better deal with them.
It is just as important for the goalkeeper to know the team’s strengths and weaknesses. It may be that the goalkeeper works out that the left back always cuts in because they are right footed. It might be that one central defender is more comfortable with the ball at their feet than the other.
The goalkeeper should use time with the team to get to gel in a relationship.
For any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to reach out. Leon@GoalkeeperHQ.com
In this video, originally used for our Mentor program, we follow Yale women’s goalkeeper coach, Marty Walker as he recruits players from Surf Cup in San Diego.
Marty looks at Goalkeepers two years ahead of the recruitment year
Coaches have many players and games to watch – They are unlikely to stay for the whole game.
Players playing for MLS teams get the attention of the coach
The perception of the goalkeeper in warm-up is important to encourage coaches to stay and watch games
Coaches viewing schedule is based on communication from prospective recruits prior to the tournament
Although coaches dont just wonder the field in the hope to find someone, they may be at a game looking at someone else ( an outfield player perhaps ) and if you impress, they may inquire about you.
The game may not allow you to shine. If you look good when not busy, the coach will make a point of seeing you in a different game.
Marty was looking at the goalkeeper’s ability to communicate with defenders as well as show good technique, even with the easy saves.
Distribution and starting positions are other areas in which coaches can judge your ability without even making a save.
The Surf Cup is ideal for recruiting as it has many fields in the same area – Allowing goalkeepers to catch the eye of recruits not necessarily there to see you.
Grades need to be as good as possible as certain grades are needed to get into schools
The Charity shield often shows goalkeepers taking penalties if the game ends in a draw. Today saw Courtois miss his to hand Arsenal the first silverware of the season ( Albeit a glorified friendly )
Here are a few goalkeepers scoring penalties – As you can see Courtois is no stranger to taking a good penalty.
The new season provides for many the opportunity to reflect, refuel, reengage, restructure and refocus for future performance growth.
Achievements and failures are in the past – new journeys, opportunities, obstacles, and challenges lie ahead. The best athletes and coaches prepare effectively for all these challenges.
The Mind is the Athlete
Every sporting decision we make—every reaction, every choice, and every movement is based on a fine motor skill using not only the muscles of the body but predetermined by the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
First, you need to understand that there will be good days and bad days on the field. You cannot play at the same exact level every day. Even pro players have ups and downs.
For goalkeeping, one success factor that I’ve observed, which is present across all of the different levels, is consistency. It is what they do each and every day over and over again that allows them to achieve their results. A goalkeeper will always be remembered by the mistakes they make. Therefore it is important to increase the consistency of good performances.
Wolff’s Law states that the body conforms and adapts to the intensities and directions it is habitually subjected to. The key word is habitually. It’s not enough to do a single intense workout then expect to be faster, fitter, stronger. It’s the workouts that you habitually do every week for many weeks that make your body faster, fitter, stronger. Hence the reason for this 8 week plan.
The good news is consistency is a piece of the puzzle that we can all solve. Consistency is not a skill or talent—you have direct control over it. Here are eight habits that will increase your consistency and ultimately your success on game day.
Pregame routine – Arrive early to the field to settle into a routine. Take care of all the details of checking and organizing your equipment.
Warm-Up – Warm up the same way for every game. This will signal your body and mind of your readiness to play. This is not the time to try anything new. Stick to your tried-atrnd-true method for preparing yourself.
Game Plan – Know the game plan from the coach with regards to distribution methods, speed of play, and any adaptations due to weather conditions.
Mental Routine – Have a mental routine to help you visualize good saves.
Commit – Once you have decided on technical method for saving, commit to it.
Trust – Trust your training, your abilities, and most importantly, your capability to make the correct save or decision.
Emotional Control – If a mistake happens, you may not like it… but get over it. One bad decision is not an indication that you are playing badly. You are only as good as your next save. Riding the emotional roller coaster is a consistency-killer.
Now is the Time – During play is not the time to evaluate your progress, analyze your technique, or project the final result. Stick to your plan… What do you need to do at this moment?
Pope has a fantastic ability to spread and make himself big, using his massive frame to smother attempts. At 25 years old he isn’t the newbie many expect – and this experience at different levels has no doubt attributed to his assured and consistent performances for a Burnley side doing very well for themselves.
