Current Section
Goalkeeper Training
GOALKEEPER TRAINING PROGRAMS
Goalkeepers are often short changed in their training. Unless there is a special goalkeeper coach, coaches often find it hard to find the time necessary to work exclusively with the keeper. Many coaches limit goalkeeper training to kicking a few balls at the keeper followed by using the keeper in the team's normal shooting practice.
MYS has developed a TARGETTED GOALKEEPER training program that allows a Goalkeeper Coach to attend YOUR Team’s training and provide goalkeepers live “game” training. In coordination with the team’s full time coach, the visiting goalkeeper coach can train the keeper on the skills needed to play the position (similar to our Goalkeeper Programs), but has the added opportunity to work with the keeper in his/her decision making and utilizing those skills in a team practice drill specifically designed to simulate a game like situation with the rest of the team.
MYS/MPS also offers 7/8 week sessions during the spring and fall seasons.
The three levels are broken down as follows:
- Intermediate - ages 9-12 or for any keepers with little or no prior GK training. The main emphasis is building a good solid technical background.
- Advanced - ages 12-16 who have some GK training experience and have a good technical grasp of the basics. Emphases are building a stronger and wider technical base and develop their decision making in the goal.
- PSA - three groups, U12, U13/14, and U15 and up who have a strong goalkeeper training background. Emphases are fitness and more advanced exercises and game situations.
Session lengths of 1.25-1.5 hours are broken into three levels of training for youth goalkeepers, boys and girls. They include warm-ups, teaching progressions, exercises and games geared toward learning their position. Topics to be covered over the 7/8 week course are as follows:
- Low/Med/High diving.
- Deflecting, catching and boxing.
- Fast footwork, ball handling and breakaway saves.
- Angle play, crosses, penalty kicks, and reaction saves.
Remember - the goalkeeper is the only true specialist on the team and requires special training to properly do her/his job.
