General Information
Maryland State Youth Soccer is investing in growing the Goal Keeping Landscape! To help make this new initiative happen, we have:
- Added a Director of Goalkeeping, Ryan Deuber
- Provided GK clinics cyclically for players to learn and club coaches to observe and learn as well
- Started a library of GK content that is free for our coaches
We would love to hear your feedback on any of the items above OR your ideas for how to help this important area grow!
Role of the Goalkeeper Coach
The goalkeeper coach should be working with the head coach to assist with the development of the goalkeeper. This dynamic might include the following aspects:
· The role of the goalkeeper in the team’s playing system
· The planning of training topics for optimizing the goalkeeper’s development
· Specific training time with the goalkeepers
· Providing mental preparation for the goalkeeper
· Post-match analysis: assessing the goalkeepers performance
Skill Introduction
The purpose of skill Introduction is to ensure that players correctly understand the fundamental movements needed to execute a particular skill. Different soccer skills are introduced to players at different developmental ages. Fundamental skills such as basic handling and footwork, which form the foundations of goalkeeping will be introduced first, followed by progressively more complex skills that represent the combining or refining of the fundamental skills. such as shooting or passing while dribbling. More sophisticated skills generally require greater subtlety of movement and decision making, so physiological and cognitive development play a large role in determining when they are introduced.
Skill Development
After players have been introduced to a skill and clearly understand the elements of its correct execution, they must be engaged in repeated practice of the skill so its basic execution becomes reliable. Many hours of formal training will be required, along with opportunities to apply the skill in practices and competitive settings. Qualified coaches must lead technical sessions so players can receive appropriate feedback and correction of the skill. Skills are then incorporated into game situations, forging the link between “theory and practice” (e.g. controlling a ball out of the air and dribbling with a change of direction).
Goalkeeping
Goalkeeping represents a specialized array of skill sets that include abilities in ball handling, diving, throwing, receiving, kicking, foot movement, and agility.
Handling
Ball Handling describes the goalkeeper’s ability to use their hands effectively to catch, parry and punch the ball from a number of angles and in a variety of positions
Diving
Diving normally occurs when a goalkeeper is unable to safely collect a ball while staying on their feet. Usually, but not always, it is when the ball, either from a shot or a dribble, is passing outside of the vertical position of the body.
Foot Skills
In addition to handling, goalkeepers are required to be able to play with their feet, just like any other player on the field. This includes everything from the ability to adjust their positioning to receive the pass, to finding the best passing option to allow the team to keep the ball and go forward.
Crossing
Crosses are some of the most difficult balls for goalkeepers to deal with. Goalkeepers are required to make a quick decision regarding whether to come for the cross or stay. If the goalkeeper decides to come for the cross, then they have to decide whether to catch or punch the ball, based on their surroundings. Additionally, the goalkeeper has to communicate their intentions with the rest of the team, so that they know how to deal with the ball too.
Principles and Tactical Role
Goalkeepers must understand their role in the team organization, and they must understand a variety of basic tactical principles and technical practices to be effective in their role.
Player Clinics
Led by MSYSA’s Director of Goalkeeping Ryan Deuber, these goalkeeping clinics are designed to simultaneously give players an opportunity to learn and grow, club coaches the opportunity to receive training, and parents the opportunity to gain a stronger understanding of the position, and what elements to focus on when away from team trainings.
Upcoming Clinics:
All dates are currently full.
Training Session Plans
Created by MSYSA’s Director of Goalkeeping Ryan Deuber, these goalkeeping training session plans are designed to give club coaches the support they need to help develop players in this specialized position.
Goalkeeper Coaching Shot Stopping Techniques at the Academy Level w/ Jason Grubb
Youth Goalkeeping – Crosses Training Session with Goalkeeper Coach Andrew Sparkes
Age-Specific GK Coaching
Created by MSYSA’s Director of Goalkeeping Ryan Deuber, this age-specific GK Coaching content is designed to give club coaches the support they need to help develop players in this specialized position.
General Guidelines for Coaching Goalkeepers by Age Group
U4 to U6 Goalkeepers
No specific goalkeepers at this age. All players should learn the basic techniques of ball handling at different heights and rolling with one hand on the ground. Footwork is introduced including shuffling to get in line with the ball. Introduce diving from a kneeling position.
U6 to U8 Goalkeepers
All players take turns in goal. Continue development of ball handling and basic diving technique. Introduce simple communication, such as “Keeper” and “Away.” Develop correct body shape and introduce the concept of the keeper in regards to positioning on the field.
U9 to U10 Goalkeepers
Your objective for the season should include preparing every player as a potential future goalkeeper. As a coach, you can recommend extra training to any player showing a strong interest in the position. Every player should be exploring and developing their skills as a goalkeeper. During any team session where goalkeepers are included, ensure that all players are rotating through as goalkeeper in those practice sessions.
At this age, goalkeepers should be building on their handling technique. This should now include pinning the ball and parrying on diving saves. Additionally, the goalkeeper should start learning how to handle 1 v 1 situations. Goalkeepers should continue to work on staying in the ball line as the ball moves from side to side and keeping an appropriate distance with their back line as the ball moves up and down the field. Goalkeepers should continue to develop their basic communication and should start to give specific directions to the defenders when the team is out of possession.
If a player does not appear ready to play keeper in a match, don’t make them do it. But it should be your goal during the season to get every player ready to play in goal during a game. Just as every player should be playing the goalkeeper position, they must be playing in the field too. As best you can, make sure each of your goalkeepers gets a chance to be a part of the game.
U11 to U12 Goalkeepers
Several players will start to show promise as a keeper and a desire to play the position. While we want to foster this interest, we still want to find time for them to play on the field when possible. To achieve this, your team could have two to three keepers on the team. Each keeper should play at least a full half once they are placed in goal.
Keepers should work on developing their skills at the position through goalkeeper specific training when available throughout the year. They will continue to build on the techniques that were introduced in the younger ages, while introducing some tactical training as well. Goalkeepers at this age will learn what to do when a ball is played across the box on the ground versus in the air. How to handle through balls into the box and 1 v 1 situations. The goalkeepers will also work on using the top hand when going for a high dive and using the bottom hand when parrying a low ball. They will also start to learn the footwork used for tipping, which will also require a top hand save.
Though your goalkeepers should be getting goalkeeper specific instruction away from the team, there are still aspects of the game that must be developed within the team environment.
U13+ Goalkeepers
By this age, most teams have a dedicated goalkeeper who primarily, or even exclusively, plays in the goal. There will be teams that have multiple goalkeepers on the roster as well. One of the problems for a backup keeper is that they can end up sitting on the bench waiting for the starter to miss a game. The goal is to not have a backup keeper that is exclusively a backup keeper, you can have two starting keepers that rotate, or have a backup keeper that is also primarily a field player.
As with all players in these age groups they need to be attending goalkeeper specific training. The goalkeepers will continue to develop their techniques from the previous ages while introducing new tactical principles, such as how to deal with crosses. Goalkeepers will also improve their technique for distributing the ball, both with their feet and from the hand. Goalkeepers will now have a stronger understanding of their position and of the game. This will allow them to give more specific communication to their team when in and out of possession.
Despite the amount of goalkeeper specific training players at this age will receive, there will still be aspects of the game that cannot be developed away from their team. They will need to continue to be used in their goalkeeper role during team trainings to get more repetitions outside of the matches.
Role of the Goalkeeper Coach
The goalkeeper coach should be working with the head coach to assist with the development of the goalkeeper. This dynamic might include the following aspects:
- The role of the goalkeeper in the team’s playing system
- The planning of training topics for optimizing the goalkeeper’s development
- Specific training time with the goalkeepers
- Covering all the elements of goalkeeping
- Providing mental preparation for the goalkeeper
- Post-match analysis: assessing the goalkeepers performance
Elements of Goalkeeping
Skill Introduction
The purpose of skill Introduction is to ensure that players correctly understand the fundamental movements needed to execute a particular skill. Different soccer skills are introduced to players at different developmental ages. Fundamental skills such as basic handling and footwork, which form the foundations of goalkeeping will be introduced first, followed by progressively more complex skills that represent the combining or refining of the fundamental skills. More sophisticated skills generally require greater subtlety of movement and decision making, so physiological and cognitive development play a large role in determining when they are introduced.
Skill Development
After players have been introduced to a skill and clearly understand the elements of its correct execution, they must get quality repetitions of the skill so its basic execution becomes consistent. Many hours of training will be necessary, along with opportunities to utilize the skill in competitive settings. Qualified coaches must lead technical sessions so players can receive feedback and amendment of the skill. Skills are then incorporated into game situations, building the relationship between practice and playing.
Basic Handling
Basic handling describes the goalkeeper’s ability to use their hands effectively to catch, parry and punch the ball from a number of angles and in a variety of positions
Diving
Diving normally occurs when a goalkeeper is unable to safely collect a ball while staying on their feet. When diving, the goalkeeper wants to take a forward power step to the side that they are diving. If possible, the keeper wants to use the side-contour technique to catch the ball or they should pin the ball into the ground. If the keeper cannot hold the ball, then they will parry the ball away from the danger area. If the keeper can only get one hand to the ball, they will go with the top hand on high shots and the bottom hand on low shots.
Foot Skills
In addition to handling, goalkeepers are required to be able to play with their feet, just like any other player on the field. This includes everything from the ability to adjust their positioning to receive the pass, to finding the best passing option to allow the team to keep the ball and go forward.
Distribution
Goalkeepers must be able to play with their feet in order to help their team maintain possession of the ball while under pressure. The keeper should be skilled enough to find an open teammate in a forward position when possible. In addition to playing the ball with their feet, the goalkeeper should be able to throw or roll the ball to teammates in different areas of the field, in order to start the attack.
1 V 1’s
The goalkeeper should be positioned off their line according to where the ball is on the field, they should also be in the ball line. Proper positioning is the first element in a successful 1 v 1. If there is a heavy through ball or the forward takes a big touch, that is the opportune time for the goalkeeper to come out and make a free ball save. If the goalkeeper is unable to get to the ball in time but is close enough to the forward as they go to strike the ball, then the goalkeeper will attempt a block save. If the through ball is played well and the forward does not take a big touch, then the goalkeeper will take up as much space as possible before getting set in the ball line to make the save.
Tipping
If a goalkeeper is off their line and the ball is played over their head, the goalkeeper will back pedal until they identify where exactly the ball is going. Once they are able to identify where the ball is going, the goalkeeper will take a drop step to that side, they will take a step across their body as they continue to recover to the goal. As they time their save, the goalkeeper will jump up off their back foot and push the ball over the crossbar with their top hand. If the goalkeeper is able to catch the ball, then they will do this instead.
Crossing
Crosses are some of the most difficult balls for goalkeepers to deal with. Goalkeepers are required to make a quick decision regarding whether to come for the cross or stay. If the goalkeeper decides to come for the cross, then they have to decide whether to catch or punch the ball, based on their surroundings. Additionally, the goalkeeper has to communicate their intentions with the rest of the team, so that they know how to deal with the ball too.
Tactical Role
Goalkeepers must understand their role in the team organization, and they must understand a variety of basic tactical principles. The goalkeeper should be communicating with their team throughout the game to help keep their team organized and difficult to break down. The goalkeeper should also understand when to start the attack and when to slow the play down.
Coaching Courses
Fundamentals of Goalkeeping (GK Course Level 1)
Fundamentals of Goalkeeping is a three-hour course hosted by the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association and our Director of Goalkeeping, Ryan Deuber!
This course consists of a classroom component, as well as a field component. All candidates must attend both components of the course to receive credit.
Both components will be run by our Director of Goalkeeping and candidates will be expected to participate in the drills and activities during demonstrations.
Upcoming GK Course Level 1:
2024 Spring Fundamentals of Goalkeeping (MSYSA GK Course Level 1)
CLICK HERE to Register
Goalkeeping Level 2 Soon to Come!
