When to start goalkeeper training?

Discussion in 'Girls Youth Soccer' started by BigRedNole, May 26, 2014.

  1. BigRedNole

    BigRedNole Member

    May 5, 2014
    I searched and found some brief info on forums. My daughter (8 years old) has always had an interest to play goalkeeper. In her development league, it is not a taught position. Each girl rotates to goalie for a half every 5 games. Not a big deal because it is not the focus. The focus for the next 3-4 years is ball mastery and passing.

    My daughter is very aggressive and does not have a fear of the ball or going after it. In the entire league, she is the only one like that while playing goalie (about 10 teams, 100 total girls). I think she likes it for a couple of reasons: the goalie is the coach on the field, they don't run as much, and they get to wear the wild color jerseys. I have been told by others who have older kids playing U12-U14 Classic that she has more goalie awareness than their top goalies. Not to confuse awareness with being a good goalie. She can only stop balls that are at her and reaction times aren't there yet. I was told by a coach that she is more prepared than the goalie he was stuck with on his U13 Classic team because only 4 tried out and there are 4 teams. I will talk to him more about the comments when I see him again.

    My question is when should I start changing our goalie training from playing around to slightly more serious training? It will not be doing anything too serious, just a little more regimented compared to tossing the ball around. I may look into the Coerver Goalkeeping Essentials for ideas.
     
  2. my daughter started keeper training at U8 or U9. she is U15 now. I initially did it so she could protect herself and to have the basics. depending on the team she was in goal a lot or not at all.

    my suggestion, make sure her foot skills stay at the same level as her team. don't let her field skills suffer if she is in goal ALOT! my daughter is a primary keeper on her team (rarely plays the field) and then will guest on the field.
     
  3. BigRedNole

    BigRedNole Member

    May 5, 2014
    Thank you. Her league/development academy does not teach the goalkeeper position. Everything is ball mastery. There are 10 girls on the team and players are randomly selected to play goalie for a half. You only get to play 2 halves the entire season.

    Any training at goalkeeper is completely separate from her league. We just play catch with the soccer ball now. There is no structure and limited work on fundamentals. I am just curious when I should take those no structure play times to more structured approach.
     
  4. IMO, If she is standing in goal, she should have basic training. you can also find an older GK to help them for free. my daughter helps out younger GKers on occasion.
     
  5. BigRedNole

    BigRedNole Member

    May 5, 2014
    I agree. Parents have raised this as a concern and have been told it is not going to be taught. Parents can do it on their own if they choose. Over half the goals against our team was the goalkeeper grabbing an over touched ball and just throwing right back to the attacker. We had one girl that refused to play goalie so she sat down behind the net for the half. Other parents wer upset and the coach should have done something...not allow her to play the second half.

    As a soccer machine in my area, they do not focus on the GK position until U13. When Classic starts at U11, the kids are still put in net at random.
     
  6. GKparent2019

    GKparent2019 Member

    Jun 10, 2014
    Club:
    --other--
    You will hear so many different things but it is up to you. My daughter started playing GK at U10 because she liked soccer and was not as fast as the other girls. That is when I started working with her. She even went to a local camp for Gks.
    I would suggest you work with her if she is going to stand in goal. Make sure she has the proper equipment to play GK too.
     
  7. BigRedNole

    BigRedNole Member

    May 5, 2014
    Thx GK. For now, all we have are the gloves. If there is going to be any type of "real" training, we will get the other gear (shorts/pants, gk jersey).
     
  8. GKparent2019

    GKparent2019 Member

    Jun 10, 2014
    Club:
    --other--
    If there is anymore GK training a GK shirt is a must, if you daughter is willing to dive. Elbows get cut and ripped open. My daughter sees them as war wounds and I am pretty sure she loves them.
    One more suggestion do not get knee pads. As a GK you do not want to go down to your knees when a striker is coming at you. If you go down to your knees your face is right in the way of the strikers follow through. My daughter would go to her knees in the beginning and have spike marks on the side of her face after games.
     
  9. WholeNewWorld

    WholeNewWorld New Member

    Jan 20, 2015
    My daughter started playing GK this past season in u12, she loves the fact that she dont have to run as much and she is tall for her age. Our club does not have GK training so I took it upon myself to teach her the basics. I played basketball in HS and college so I understand body control for athletes and after watching utube vids on GK'ing it was clear that techniques is very important for success and for safety.

    The first thing I taught her was how to slide properly, I think this is the most important thing you can teach your GK child. Go watch utube vids and the technique is to slide on your hips/shoulder in a sideway fashion using your elbows and knees to protect your body from the opponents follow-thru.

    I bought her a long sleeve jersey and pants for the specific purpose of sliding, this way she was not reluctant to get all dirty and itchy from the grass.
     
  10. nicklaino

    nicklaino Member+

    Feb 14, 2012
    Brooklyn, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC

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