Neil Stafford

The Goalkeeper, The Forgotten Player In Your Team?

Your goalkeeper occupies one of the most important positions on your team, however, in many cases they are the forgotten player when it comes to training. Here are 10 points to help you train your Goalkeeper to their full potential

Your Goal Keeper probably represents the single most important position on the pitch, yet how much specific training do you do with this player?

I was very fortunate when I played as a youngster in that I had a coach who understood the importance of specific training for the goalkeeper.

Sometimes you are so focused on improving your outfield players that you forget about your goalkeeper... a simple shooting session or some penalties at the end of training is not enough!

However, we should all (and I include myself here!always give enough time to help you goalkeeper develop their skills and performance.

Giving your goalkeeper an individual training process that helps them develop their understanding of the game, technical ability, improve on their weaker areas and play to their strengths will increase their overall technique on the pitch.

The conditioning of your goalkeeper should focus on all of these aspects both on their own and in team environment to enable them to develop to their full potential.

During your training sessions you should work on the goalkeeping basics that encompass the use of the head, hands and feet. This will ensure your keeper has excellent positioning and body alignment.

Using your notes and ideas from the games you play each week, work into your training sessions game like situations where your Goalkeeper and defenders can learn to work as a unit against an attacking team.

Remember though, work on technique first with the keeper before throwing them into the game like situation.

We have compiled checklist for you of the key things that we try to coach our keepers on in all training sessions...

#1 Always work on handling and footwork skills

#2 Develop good footwork through controlled foot movements

#3 Make quick and positive decisions when dealing with a shot

#4 Respect every shot that is attempted

#5 Concentrate throughout the session or game

#6 Build self image, confidence and communication skills

#7 Develop a variety of distribution skills

#8 Read the game, keep watch on everything happening in front, to the sides and behind them

#9 Give plenty of technical practice saving

#10 Build a positive attitude and faith in their goal keeping ability

So, there are 10 top tips that we try to build into our training sessions to ensure that we have an excellent keeper as well as outfield players.

In your next training session I recommend you print off this article and take it to the session with you and see which points you are covering now with your keeper and which ones you need to work on.

You may be surprised.

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