There were 2 trends in the 2000s which seem to have sunset. One, the recommendation of the United Soccer Coaches here in the United States and of goalkeeper coaches abroad were that goalkeepers should not be in goal full time until U13 and should only really start training at around age 10. One trend I've noticed in the soccer camps here though is that full time goalkeepers have been getting younger and younger with kids as young as 7 doing training. And if you look at the ads on the announcement boards, teams younger and younger are advertising for FT keepers. The same has happened with the European Academies as they've gotten younger...the kids enter the academy as either a goalkeeper or a field player and there isn't a whole lot of change (a field player you later teach to be a goalkeeper or a goalkeeper that switches to field).
The other was in the women's game goalkeepers have been a weak spot (Americans excepted). But now that the Europeans have shifted to an academy model for women, this video makes the argument that there's been a notable improvement in women's goalkeeping. They also make the point that while the men have used their size to cover mistakes, the women, being shorter but playing in the same goals as men, have had to get really good with their footwork.
I think both in the US and abroad this bodes badly for the idea that kids should split time in the field and I think more and more soccer is going to move away from that at the younger ages. We're going to see younger and younger specialization in both the men's and women's game, and those that decide to switch late are just not going to be able to catch up. In any case, it's an interesting video.
The other was in the women's game goalkeepers have been a weak spot (Americans excepted). But now that the Europeans have shifted to an academy model for women, this video makes the argument that there's been a notable improvement in women's goalkeeping. They also make the point that while the men have used their size to cover mistakes, the women, being shorter but playing in the same goals as men, have had to get really good with their footwork.
I think both in the US and abroad this bodes badly for the idea that kids should split time in the field and I think more and more soccer is going to move away from that at the younger ages. We're going to see younger and younger specialization in both the men's and women's game, and those that decide to switch late are just not going to be able to catch up. In any case, it's an interesting video.