The Art of Goalkeeping
“The goalkeeper. They also call him doorman, keeper, goalie, bouncer or netminder, but he could just as well be called martyr, pay-all, penitent or punching bag. They say where he walks, the grass never grows.”
Eduardo Galeano, Soccer in Sun and Shadow
To play the position of goalkeeper requires special training, skills and mindset. As one of the most important roles in the team the goalkeeper must always be alert even if they haven’t been busy for the previous 89 minutes.
To most, goalkeeping tactics and techniques are seen as a mystery. Even experienced outfield coaches and players might struggle to teach a young player how to play in goal.
In this section I will teach you how to play in goal or coach someone to play in goal. Outlining the basic goalkeeping soccer drills as well as going through the psychology of what makes a great goalkeeper.