I have come to realize that the evaluation of the goalkeeper is just as important in the education of the position as the topics taught. The evaluation is indeed the first part of the Goalkeeper HQ coaching cycle which can be seen here – [THE COACHING CYCLE]

There are two advantages to the evaluation. 

  1. It is good to get an honest opinion from someone other than yourself or your slightly biased ( this could be both ways ) parents.
  2. It is hard to get better at something if you are not aware of where you should be to reach the level that you want to be at. 

In my 25 years of coaching, I have filled out all manner of evaluation forms and not many of them have satisfied my need to provide the goalkeeper with the information required to get better. What does a score of 3 out of 5 for shot-stopping mean? 

A comprehensive evaluation should open goalkeepers’ eyes to all the things that are expected. The job of the goalkeeper is to ensure that each thing is done successfully as often as possible. 

What should be in a good goalkeeping evaluation?

1 ) The evaluation should be catered to different age groups. Although the key elements of goalkeeping apply to all ages, you can not expect younger players to be as consistent in some elements.

2) It should contain aspects of the four pillars of soccer. Technical, Tactical, Physical & Psychological. For goalkeeping more than any other position on the field, the psychology of goalkeeping is so important. Goalkeeper HQ has a whole on-line course for aspects of Goalkeeping Psychology.

3) Technical elements should cover age-related work done but should cover the goalkeeping aspects of Shot stopping, Angles and positioning, High Balls / Crosses, Diving at feet & Distribution.

4) Evaluations should take into account gameplay. This can come from first-hand observations, feedback from the coach or by filling in the match analysis forms.

5) Provide the parent/player with an explanation sheet with the terminology and what it means. Not everyone knows what the ” Three goal situation” or “imperfect world” is.

6) This explanation sheet should also set expectations. – 5 out of 5 on all areas would have your goalkeeper playing on the national squad… In my evaluations, I don’t actually have numbers, rather, the consistency levels. “All the time”, “Most of the time”, “Half the time”, “Some of the time”, “None of the time”

7) Provide areas of improvement. – This means areas that the goalkeeper can do something to improve.  It is unlikely that the goalkeeper being evaluated will do everything all the time. My old coach said that you must work on your weaknesses but maintain your strengths. Giving three aspects of the game to improve will give focus to training.

8 ) Follow up with an action plan allowing the goalkeeper to implement any exercises or drills needed to improve in any particular aspect of their game, and especially the recognized areas that need improvement.