How many keepers?

[Unregistered]

I am interested to get your thoughts on how many GKs a club team or HS team should carry? What is the norm for club teams? HS teams? What are the benefits and drawbacks?

[Unregistered]

IMO - Two Keepers at club & high school for each roster. College should be three.

[Unregistered]

I agree two keepers but I'd like to know if clubs normally play each keeper - one per half - or is there just one keeper mainly and a back up who only practices?

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It will really depend on the team. At the younger ages (U9-13/14), keepers need playing time to help with development. Training is all well and good, but you need to put what you do in practice into game situations with the element of pressure. Being able to perform well under pressure as a keeper will set them apart from others. On the flip side, it is important that coaches do not have keepers sit on the bench if they make one mistake, which you see all too often.

[Unregistered]

Answer depends upon whether the club uses the club pass actively or not. IMHO, the best situation to be in is a pool situation where a group of keepers are trained as a group and then parceled out to teams based upon the quality of the game and keepers ability.

[Unregistered]

I agree two keepers but I'd like to know if clubs normally play each keeper - one per half - or is there just one keeper mainly and a back up who only practices?

If a club is going to carry more than one keeper, they should be upfront with the two goalies and let them know what their intentions are; to play both equally or will one clearly be a backup and not get much game experience

[Unregistered]

Why do some teams at U12 do not still have a full time keeper? is there a shortage of them?

[Unregistered]

Why do some teams at U12 do not still have a full time keeper? is there a shortage of them?

A lack of goalkeeping education is the key reason. When a kid is forced to do something, they don't want to do it. When a kid is forced to go in goal, they don't want to do it. The lack of education from clubs on goalkeeping and training opportunities within the club system for young goalkeepers is poor. Educating parents and players the role and opportunities of goalkeeping will lead to greater participation in the position. Telling a child they are playing goalkeeper without no prior training or guidance is setting them up for failure and when a kid fails, they do not want to do it again!

[Unregistered]

A lack of goalkeeping education is the key reason. When a kid is forced to do something, they don't want to do it. When a kid is forced to go in goal, they don't want to do it. The lack of education from clubs on goalkeeping and training opportunities within the club system for young goalkeepers is poor. Educating parents and players the role and opportunities of goalkeeping will lead to greater participation in the position. Telling a child they are playing goalkeeper without no prior training or guidance is setting them up for failure and when a kid fails, they do not want to do it again!

Very few clubs address the training needs of a keeper. They'll tell you they have coaches for the position. If they do, they are generally not very good.

If you have a child that wants to be a keeper you better start searching for suitable outside training because your club doesn't have the means to get the job done.

[Unregistered]

Very few clubs address the training needs of a keeper. They'll tell you they have coaches for the position. If they do, they are generally not very good.

If you have a child that wants to be a keeper you better start searching for suitable outside training because your club doesn't have the means to get the job done.

Who are the top goalkeeping coaches in the state that run private sessions/camps?

You are right, my child has expressed interest to be a goalie, but our club does not run sessions on a regular basis and when they do, they are very inconvenient. It seems that setting up goalkeeping sessions at clubs are treated like the red-headed step child. Random location and time slot that makes no logical sense.

[Unregistered]

Answer depends upon whether the club uses the club pass actively or not. IMHO, the best situation to be in is a pool situation where a group of keepers are trained as a group and then parceled out to teams based upon the quality of the game and keepers ability.

What???????

[Unregistered]

Who are the top goalkeeping coaches in the state that run private sessions/camps?

You are right, my child has expressed interest to be a goalie, but our club does not run sessions on a regular basis and when they do, they are very inconvenient. It seems that setting up goalkeeping sessions at clubs are treated like the red-headed step child. Random location and time slot that makes no logical sense.

I have found this to be lacking as well. Hours spent on outside training and no idea how to set a wall or find a post. Not enough quality offered here and the few that do are sorely lacking. Jmho.

[Unregistered]

Two is ideal. They can both learn and train and work together, cover each other if there is an injury or conflict. There a lot of pressure on a sole keeper. Many clubs only have one though. It's not an easy position and isn't for everyone but it seems there aren't enough.

I fully agree that training is insufficient at clubs but it starts even earlier than that . My personal philosophy iis all players should get some basic training when they are in u little travel. Teach them skills then rotate them all in and out. With some basic training they would be less afraid of the position.and more likely to succeed and like it. Other poster is right that some who try it (or are forced to) get shelled and don't want to do it again.

A good trainer should not only train but watch players in game situations and give them feedback. Field coaches don't know how to coach the position.

[Unregistered]

There are good keeper training programs with Stars and Breakers on the girls side. Keeperstop out of CT runs clinics/training in MA in the winter and summer. They have been excellent. CB at Keeperstop also great for gear.

As to the number of keepers... looks for a club that trains their keepers together in a competitive environment. Not a bad thing to have two per team.

[Unregistered]

A lack of goalkeeping education is the key reason. When a kid is forced to do something, they don't want to do it. When a kid is forced to go in goal, they don't want to do it. The lack of education from clubs on goalkeeping and training opportunities within the club system for young goalkeepers is poor. Educating parents and players the role and opportunities of goalkeeping will lead to greater participation in the position. Telling a child they are playing goalkeeper without no prior training or guidance is setting them up for failure and when a kid fails, they do not want to do it again!

Is it really the lack of training or the kid being forced? Or is it that most parents at the U12 level think that the goalkeeper should be the big, fat, unathletic teammate? I think the latter. In fact most of the goalkeepers I know had parents that coached at the younger levels in town and made their kid take a half. From that the talent was noticed and they went on from there. Or the parent knows that the kid has height, is athletic and sees a clear path to future success (BTDT)!