Goalkeeping Tips, Tidbits and Random Thoughts

An athlete talking to themsleves during competition is hardly a new phenomenon.... The talk does not have to be vocal. By merely thinking you are talking to yourself and sending a message.
-- Tony DiCicco, Goalkeeper Soccer Training Manual

If you have a question, comment or rebuttal you'd like to see addressed here, send me email. I will post your mail to the blog at my discretion unless you specify otherwise.

Howard, Friedel

Our favorite basketball player, Tim Howard, seems to be doing okay in the English Premier Leage. Howard hasn't lost a match since joining ManU this summer.

On the other hand (foot?), even Brad Friedel can have an off day.

Labels: Matchday observations

Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2003 | Permalink

The green flash

After watching my new U13 team of girls this weekend, I remain as firmly convinced as ever that footwork and positioning are keys to successful goalkeeping. In the second half of our semifinal match, we were a bit gassed and under pressure almost the entire time. We allowed 7 shots in the 35 minutes, 5 of them on frame, but my goalkeeper was in the proper position to field just about everything, only having to make one real sprawling save on a point-blank shot. She was very active, and never left her feet unless is was to pounce on a loose ball. She kept the clean sheet, and allowed us to get through overtime to penalty kicks, which we won when our opponents missed their last three kicks -- wide left, wide right, and over the bar. Certainly makes the keeper's job easier!

Then, in the final, we were up against a superior team. But down 0-1 late in the first half, one of our attackers, a defender and the opposing goalkeeper all collided near the top of the area going for a through ball. With the keeper down on the ground, the ball squirted free to our right wing who took one touch and hammered a shot at the open net... when from out of nowhere came this green flash (that's the color of the jersey the keeper was wearing) to knock the ball wide with a desperate lunge. That was the play of the game -- instead of getting the equalizer, we stayed down a goal at half and ended up losing. What everyone saw was the dive, but in the second or two it took for the shot to happen, the goalkeeper had to untangle herself, get to her feet, and go about 15 yards just to be in a position to attempt the save. What no one noticed was the quickness and footwork that made the save even possible.

Labels: Footwork and positioning

Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003 | Permalink