Article on the Toll on Goalkeepers

So there's this article, which makes the point that given what's happened to Valdez, Neuer and now De Gea, that goalkeepers (known traditionally for their longevity in the sport and the time it takes for them to develop as proficient) are peaking before they are 30 and holding on to their peak only for short times.

https://www.goal.com/en/news/valdes...y-be-peaking-before/oetfyyy9oteb11wtpbu0njogh

Makes some sense. Goalkeepers are expected these days to be not just shot stoppers but also sweepers, distribution experts, and defensive captains. And they are expected to be perfect at it, with a ball which is obtaining even greater speeds. In the event of injury or mental fatigue, it makes sense they wouldn't be capable of playing at the absolute level of perfection which is demanded now days with the pro game. And the article doesn't really touch on the curious case of Joe Hart.

Even on the youth level, it's not realistic for coaches to expect their keepers to be able to extension dive and cover the entire goal, particularly on the youngers level. There doesn't seem to be a clear progression laid out over what exactly a keeper should be proficient in, and unless the keeper comes from a sport like baseball, the first year of training will likely be taken up just on becoming proficient in catching.
 
Thanks for sharing.

My DD is in her penultimate year of youth club soccer, with hopes of continuing her career in college. After 7-8 years in the system, I can definitively conclude that youth soccer (even at the very highest, elite-y/development-y clubs) is a terrible place to learn the trade of goalkeeping. It seems from that article that maybe the scene is not much better at the professional level. For the most part, keepers succeed in spite of the coaches, systems of training and practice and play that exist within clubs, rather than because of them. Coaches that never played the position are, at best, useless, and at worst, detrimental to evaluating, mentoring, instructing, and proper utilization of goalkeepers. So what you end up with is players that make it to the collegiate (for women) or professional (for men) level based solely on the sort of spectacular natural physical talent and instincts that even bad coaching and lack of development couldn't erase. But then, once they get to that highest level, the necessary mental/psychological/tactical understanding that is required for true, sustained greatness, that bulletproof GK psyche and savvy situational mastery is missing because it has never been cultivated and nurtured through the growth process of the keeper.

My kid has survived to see the astounding attrition that happens at the 16-17 year old mark for other keepers, but right now, she's just hanging onto her soccer future by her fingernails as the brutal physical toll of constant training and playing year-round for almost a decade has given her near chronic pain. And that's to say nothing of the psychological toll of continual second-guessing and motivational tactics by clueless, but well-intentioned (?) coaches who think that they can manage goalkeepers the same way they do the field players in all aspects of the game.

I recently read the other thread on here from a parent of a GK kid who's committed to a D1 school on scholarship but who is ready to retire, right on the verge of achieving that which most kids in club soccer strive for, all because of these very factors of mental and physical abuse that "the system" encourages from both parents, coaches, and even the players themselves.

I think there was a golden age of sport which we have now long since passed by, where athletes were allowed to grow organically instead of manufactured. In the days before athletes were millionaire entertainers, they sacrificed and achieved for desire and love of the game on their own determinism, and now it seems we are all far too invested as a society in the success and failure of individual athletes for our own good, and we're seeing it at every single level from the pros to the kids. Unfortunately, I don't see a change of direction anywhere on the horizon.
 
Goalkeeping is a very difficult road physically and mentally. As I have watched my DD go through the process I have come to have admiration and respect for all that take up the roll. @Mystery Train is correct in that most clubs have no idea how to develop and retain keepers. DD was at a club previously where multiple parents on her team @ the time told me how their DD was able to play keeper. Anybody can play keeper for a game or two. And it is easy when everything is going right, but that is not the reality of the position. The club in general does not seem to care about keepers, so I should not be surprised the parents acted the same way.

In the car this week on the way home from a practice my DD was visibly upset. Asked her what was up. The coach, who we love & admire by the way, stated that on a ball that she tipped over the bar that she should have held the ball and she was embellishing the save. My DD was crushed. She made a great save and was criticized for not holding the ball and showboating. Stunned and still not sure if I should have a conversation with the coach. Most coaches truly don't understand the position or what the players need to play at their individual highest level.
 
Goalkeeping is a very difficult road physically and mentally. As I have watched my DD go through the process I have come to have admiration and respect for all that take up the roll. @Mystery Train is correct in that most clubs have no idea how to develop and retain keepers. DD was at a club previously where multiple parents on her team @ the time told me how their DD was able to play keeper. Anybody can play keeper for a game or two. And it is easy when everything is going right, but that is not the reality of the position. The club in general does not seem to care about keepers, so I should not be surprised the parents acted the same way.

In the car this week on the way home from a practice my DD was visibly upset. Asked her what was up. The coach, who we love & admire by the way, stated that on a ball that she tipped over the bar that she should have held the ball and she was embellishing the save. My DD was crushed. She made a great save and was criticized for not holding the ball and showboating. Stunned and still not sure if I should have a conversation with the coach. Most coaches truly don't understand the position or what the players need to play at their individual highest level.
bummer about that comment from the coach. Hope she can just ignore it. One thing that my daughter has is an extremely short memory when it comes to criticism and blame. Great for being a keeper but not so great at home where she feels she never anything wrong.

We have a parent on the team that played keeper in college so he gives my daughter about 30 minutes training during every practice. She then gets some training from an 01 and an 02 keeper once a week which has been invaluable. They offer instruction advice and complements. Peer training from girls that will be playing on scholarship in college is better than anything a head coach could give her.

We had a girl that once told the other girls that playing keeper was easy since all you had to do was catch the ball. Recently the same girl went up to her and told her she was really good at keeper so nice to see the growth in that girl as a person. We are thankful that all the parents and their kids appreciate her and the position that she plays.

This is one of the reasons we have never switched clubs. If you can find parents coaches and players that appreciate your kid and the team continues to improve you as a parent must realize that the big clubs are not always better.

I actually wish she would choose not to play high school soccer. Whole new set of variables politics and no idea the reactions from those parents and the coaches.
 
She made a great save and was criticized for not holding the ball and showboating. .

My son just received the same criticism in training last Friday...from his goalkeeper coach.o_O It was a beautiful tip over bar (at this age, they still do it 2 handed, it's a skill he's just learned and is doing imperfectly right now, and it's a harder skill than just catching it). But the coach was right...in that case it was better to catch it than tip it over bar. But I think your daughter was probably offended more by the "showboating" comment, which was unnecessarily rough and confidence shattering for even a seasoned pro keeper.

More confidence shattering, last year my son was in a tight game where the opposite keeper knew how to tip it over bar. My son hadn't been shown that skill (his GK coach is obsessed with catching and had taught him to claw down those balls for the time being even though it might lead to a rebound and the club GK coach had never advanced more than beyond basic diving). He got a "see how the other kid handles those high balls...do it that way instead".
 
LOL! You mean she's a teenager, then?
But she has been doing it since she was 10. Now at 13 only Getting worse. o_O

Regarding tipping the ball. Yesterday from 19 out on the side free kick girl curls the ball in and daughter tips it up onto crossbar and over. Great play. The give us a goal kick. Her keeper coach looks at me and we both say she tipped that ball. After game we talk to her and turns out our CB says no she didn’t touch it and they give us the kick. My daughter whispers to her I did touch it.
 
Goalkeeping is a very difficult road physically and mentally. As I have watched my DD go through the process I have come to have admiration and respect for all that take up the roll. @Mystery Train is correct in that most clubs have no idea how to develop and retain keepers. DD was at a club previously where multiple parents on her team @ the time told me how their DD was able to play keeper. Anybody can play keeper for a game or two. And it is easy when everything is going right, but that is not the reality of the position. The club in general does not seem to care about keepers, so I should not be surprised the parents acted the same way.

In the car this week on the way home from a practice my DD was visibly upset. Asked her what was up. The coach, who we love & admire by the way, stated that on a ball that she tipped over the bar that she should have held the ball and she was embellishing the save. My DD was crushed. She made a great save and was criticized for not holding the ball and showboating. Stunned and still not sure if I should have a conversation with the coach. Most coaches truly don't understand the position or what the players need to play at their individual highest level.

First of all, I'm really glad there's a GK Forum here. Being a GK parent is an entirely different experience than that of every other parent on the sidelines during a game, at practice and on drives home. Bottom line, our GK's get the least amount of developmental support while at the same time pay more for their rare mistakes than anyone else on the field. I'm not sure about any of you, but I have no problem giving an opposing GK a fist-bump and kudos after a strong performance - win or lose. You don't really see this from field player parents and opposing field players. I consider GK's and their parents like family, and I've come to know many of them (mainly G05's) through various trainings, tournaments, camps, etc... -I think this is mainly because we live the unique struggle outlined in this discussion, so we can empathize with each other on many levels.

I've come to accept that clubs are just not structured or focused on the holistic development of their GK's, which means as parents we have to put a lot of extra time and money to supplement the training they need to meet and exceed expectations - not to mention that we've all become psychologists since the day our kids put gloves on. My DD trains privately with other ECNL and DA GK's, and we're all there for some reason. Have you ever compared your club's GK evaluation criteria to their GK development regiment? Find any gaps? GK's are just expected to get the job done, and that's okay because they're up for that challenge.

There are some talented kids out there and a variety of coaching styles and club philosophies. All we can do is support our kids and put them in positions to develop and succeed. Ironically, I've found this institutionalized lack of GK development to be really healthy for my relationship with my DD. It didn't start off this way and I still have a moment here and there, but mostly I find myself being super supportive anymore, focusing more on preparation and effort over results. And not focusing on the results has produced pretty good results :)

I'm a rookie to SCSF, but I'm looking forward to future posts in this GK Forum!
 
@Grace T. I think our kids have the same keeper coach ...the one that is really tall...

Coach’s and clubs are hit and miss with keepers...we have taken the approach that the technical GK development will be mostly outside the club and the club provides the platform for the gaming circuit, showcases, etc., as well as the team tactics and training using their feet to start and restart attack/possession/play-out-of the back.

This weekend my daughter had one of those days where she let in a bad one early...misjudged a ball, but came back, put it behind her and had a few pretty big saves during the game. Except for the one BIG mistake she played really well. The team lost and she was pretty down on herself after.

The one thing I will say is the parents on her team only said what a great job she did on the other saves, nobody said anything about the mistake that we could hear . Kids did not get down on her. Coaches definitely had some feedback for her. Her keeper coach talks about the position in terms of every keeper wants to play perfect and it is impossible. Mistakes are going to be made, and the goal is to become consistent enough so the mistakes are the outlier, not the norm.

Every kid on the team this weekend made some type of mistake...bad trap, mis-timed attempt for a header, bad pass, a shank in front of the goal, getting caught out of position...it just gets magnified the closer to your own goal, and when keepers make them the result is most always a goal. There is a lot of pressure.

At the end of the day hopefully she learned something from it, understands mistakes will be made, and you have to be mentally tough and bounce back. It’s not the end of the world, and remember that you do this because it is supposed to be FUN. We had dinner after the game with one of her teammates family, and the girls had a blast...you know what they didn’t talk about at dinner....Soccer.
 
@Grace T. I think our kids have the same keeper coach ...the one that is really tall...

Cr.

Does he have tattoos up his arm and is really expensive? :p:p:p He's amazing. Can't stop saying enough things about him. If it wasn't for him my son would have given up after his 2 club experiences.

We had almost an identical game this week, but the kids (including GK son) came roaring back at the end. It's wonderful you found a supportive environment...I'm optimistic this year, but that's tempered because I always start off every year optimistically.
 
I'm not sure about any of you, but I have no problem giving an opposing GK a fist-bump and kudos after a strong performance - win or lose. You don't really see this from field player parents and opposing field players.

Sounds like your team parents could use some education. Every team my kids have been on have had field player parents compliment the opposing goal keeper. Parents of goal scorers should always appreciate a keeper that stops a good shot. I shoot video and make it a rule to not speak much during a game so as to stay on the good side of the referee's. I always make an exception to let a GK know they make a nice save, especially if their defense is not up to the task. The worst GK parent I ever saw was some from some team from NY. Guy kept walking up and down the sideline cussing at his daughter's performance. I was surprised the ref let him continue. I would have said something to him, but did not want to start a scene and further embarrass the keeper.

DD volunteered to play keeper once a few years ago when the team only had 9 players and no keepers. She did an OK job but vowed NEVER to play keeper again.
 
Does he have tattoos up his arm and is really expensive? :p:p:p He's amazing. Can't stop saying enough things about him. If it wasn't for him my son would have given up after his 2 club experiences.
He's less expensive when he's your club's GK coach.:)
 
Thanks for sharing.
And that's to say nothing of the psychological toll of continual second-guessing and motivational tactics by clueless, but well-intentioned (?) coaches who think that they can manage goalkeepers the same way they do the field players in all aspects of the game.
...I recently read the other thread on here from a parent of a GK kid who's committed to a D1 school on scholarship but who is ready to retire, right on the verge of achieving that which most kids in club soccer strive for, all because of these very factors of mental and physical abuse that "the system" encourages from both parents, coaches, and even the players themselves.

@Mystery Train nailed it. Gotta say, coaches that are goalkeepers are sometimes actually worse. That was the proverbial 'straw' with my DD and her High School season. Goalkeepers develop their own style and techniques, especially at the higher levels. GK coaches tend to 'coach' keepers in what THEY would do. When a save opportunity arises - even if the Gk makes the save, the coach critiques HOW they made the save (i.e. you could have caught it on an extension dive instead of tipping it) - but doesn't account for the fact that the GK was aware other variables at play. I've asked my DD many times "why did you do x instead of what coach said" and was humbled by the complex details that there is no way I could have processed when deciding how to handle a ball being shot 15 feet from my face! Yet the coach can critique and question the GK and tell her how he thought she should have made the save and why - geesh!

Our situation is the post MysteryTrain referenced...my DD is in 'burnout mode' after a very difficult HS season and non-stop high level soccer + training for 5+ years. After she verbally committed, the anxiety and pressure in games came crashing in on her. Reading this thread just reinforces that our situation is not only unique, but is increasingly common in GK's between 15-17 years old. The level of play and pressure - not to mention the non-stop physical training and "abuse" (i.e. throwing bodies on the ground 5+ days a week) is cumulative and take a toll when they are at a critical stage of physical and mental growth. It's not a matter of "if" GK's experience burnout (physical and/or mental), it's "when". My DD is conflicted - she loves her team, she loves the game, and when she isn't consumed by the pressure of never making a mistake, she loves(d) being a keeper. But the accumulated physical and mental hurts caught up with her. So she is taking a break - the rest is already helping. We are also parenting her through this - treating this as a life long learning lesson, not just an 'I'm tired of playing soccer' situation. We are taking it one day at a time.

Our club has GK trainers, but does not prioritize GK training. My DD and her GK partner could rarely attend club GK training because the ECNL level training was scheduled at the same time as her team practice at a different field. Private training was hit or miss - mostly miss. Biggest issue was schedule: both conflicts with her team schedule (practices and games) and the trainer's schedule (had their own teams to coach, use of field space was limited, etc.) not to mention the cost ($60/hour plus my time and hers). If I could change anything, it would be to prioritize training over one weekly team practice where she was 'thrown in goal' for shooting practice and sitting around while the field players did other drills. GK training not only hones technical skill, but it also develops muscle memory which in turn promotes injury prevention. I truly believe that the lack of training was a contributing factor to some of my DD's nagging injuries - but it is also a 'chicken or the egg' scenario. Did some of the training exacerbate injuries (sore ankles, sprained fingers/wrists,etc.) or were those areas weakened from insufficient training/development? It's probably both...but those nagging injuries can become career ending ones at the snap of a finger (literally and figuratively). I also believe that clubs need to invest in GK training equipment like landing matts and other stuff to reduce the physical strain during training. How many GKs come home from training with bruises, turf burns, scrapes, etc. from playing on bad fields?
 
So she is taking a break - the rest is already helping. We are also parenting her through this - treating this as a life long learning lesson, not just an 'I'm tired of playing soccer' situation. We are taking it one day at a time.
Glad to hear it. It sounds like your DD and mine have very similar tracks and experiences. It's quite a road we GK parents travel. All the best to you and your keeper. Keep us posted!
 
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