With just a single hour-long training session a week, goalkeepers are often overlooked by grassroots coaches focused on delivering sessions for the whole squad.
It is easily done. Coaches are encouraged to plan and deliver coaching sessions that give players as much time with the ball as possible, often working towards a 95% ball rolling time.
That’s heaven for strikers, midfielders, and defenders, but goalkeepers can often feel overlooked. They are they to stand in goal to make for a more ‘match realistic’ drill where a player chases the reward of shooting at goal. Whereas much of the focus is on honing the first touch and quality of passing of outfielders, goalkeepers often don’t receive that same level of detail and attention from their coaches.
Specialist Position
Goalkeeper is a specialist position out on its own on the football pitch. Coaches who did not play the position, whether they are grassroots or professional, often do not feel comfortable critiquing their goalkeepers.
Professional clubs and academies have the benefit of dedicated goalkeeper coaches, and the same to take the goalkeepers to one side and work with them. Often, this is to work on the technical aspects of a goalkeeper’s game before they rejoin the group for match-based scenarios. At grassroots level, that simply isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean that goalkeepers shouldn’t be catered for.
Coaches must be able to support all players on the team. For example, a shooting drill can easily provide several coaching points for your team’s goalkeeper. What could they do to make it more difficult for the striker to score? As a coach, you should be able to recognise the different perspectives of any session – often separated as being in and out of possession or on and off the ball.
The Modern Game
The role of the goalkeeper has changed hugely over the last 10 to 15 years. On top of being able to keep the ball out of the net, the top goalkeepers are expected to be able to contribute to phases of play, effectively acting as an 11th outfield player when in possession of the ball.
Manchester City’s Ederson is a prime example of the above. Not only is he regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the game, but his ability with the ball at his feet often means he can begin an attacking phase of play for his side. Ederson has four assists to his name (per the Premier League’s official website) due to his excellent distribution…having Erling Haaland up front certainly doesn’t hurt, either!
The notion that goalkeepers cannot play with the ball at their feet does not exist in the modern game. This is why it is important that goalkeepers are given the opportunity to join in many of the same pass-and-move exercises as their teammates, as it is applicable to their position.
Goalkeeper Coaching
Whether you are a coach who played the position or not, nothing compares to having a dedicated goalkeeping session for a goalkeeper…young or old. If you are unable to offer this in your sessions, it could be worthwhile to seek out an active goalkeeper coach in your area who offers group or one-to-one sessions.
Coaches who do offer private sessions can work closely with the player, focusing on key areas of development in a way simply not possible on a normal training night. Attending sessions with a goalkeeper coach is something that a lot of young players do, to hone their craft between the sticks.
It could even be worthwhile exploring the possibility of the club taking on a goalkeeper coach to offer dedicated sessions to the club’s goalkeepers. If there was enough interest, this could be offered either as part of the player’s subscription or as an additional offering potentially serving as another source of revenue for the club.
Positive and Supportive
Any mistake a goalkeeper makes is magnified as the last line of defence. If a striker misses a chance, it is soon forgotten about, especially if they score the next. If a goalkeeper misses the ball, the team concedes a goal. In that moment, the goalkeeper needs their coach and teammates to rally behind them, especially the younger they are.
Being a goalkeeper can be a lonely position, whether they are bombarded with shot after shot or with little to do with their side dominating.
Adopting a positive and supportive attitude is a must with your goalkeeper, as with any other player on your side.
