A Goalkeepers Guide To Preseason

Preseason is an exciting and nerve-racking time for goalkeepers.  There is ONE starting goalkeeper. Here are some tips on how a soccer goalie can perform their best, earn the respect of the coach, trust of the team, and hopefully the #1 starting goalkeeper jersey.

Summer Goalkeeper Training:  

The PPPPPPs of the Off Season - Prior Preparation Prepares Players For Peak Performance In .... (Insert Situation)…

Preseason is grueling. Preseason is designed to re-engage and activate the goalkeeper and team physically and mentality. To prepare for high intensity training, decision making during games, playing style, and philosophy.  In order to play your best during preseason, develop individually, and grow with the team, you MUST come into preseason in shape with a strong physical foundation. Going to one week of camp is a small part of your summer goalkeeper training. Did you complete the summer lifting and running program?  Did you put the time and reps in for goalkeeper distribution, handling, footwork, and more?  Preseason is the time to fine-tune goalkeeper specific skills and develop other goals for the upcoming season. Prior training prepares a goalkeeper for a long and grueling season of shot stopping during practice and peak game performance. Doing the hard work before preseason ultimately maximizes the goalkeeper’s performance and health.

Prepare The Mind:
Mental preparation is often overlooked.  As goalkeepers, we want to think fast and move efficiently.  This takes training and focus.
Practice Positivity. Negative energy brings us down and allows doubt and indecision to creep in.  Being positive is a learned skill; as is diving or breakaways.  Start finding positive angles and outcomes during preseason and carry it with you through the year.  This will help you believe in yourself and be a better teammate.
Positive Imagery:  Stress, in many respects, is your reaction to a new and pressuring situation or environment.  Goalkeepers train to become familiar with techniques and situations such as diving or crosses. The same goes for the mind. Imagine yourself making a breakaway save.  Making that high hand diving save to pull a free kick out of the top corner.  If distribution is more stressful, imagine a pass back to your left foot and correctly playing a pass out to a target midfield beating a 3 striker press.  If you imagine it, see yourself succeeding, it is more likely to be true.  Positive imagery training helps your brain recognize that the decision or situation is not new, is not stressful, and can be handled.
Learn:  Your team coach may update the team formation and style. The goalkeeper coach has new techniques and new goalie training drills. You have also worked so hard all summer.  A lot is thrown at you doing preseason.  This is a great time to learn.  Utilize the power of your short-term memory as a performance and learning tool. Write down mistakes and development opportunities.  Goalkeeper drills that you enjoy.  Having a journal will help you recall and overcome mistakes.  Also, it could help you set clear goals for the season.

Leadership:

The goalkeeper is an on field general, a strategic position that sees the whole field and movements. This unique position puts goalkeepers in a leadership role to reposition players, motivate teammates, assign accountability, and solve problems in real time.  This right is earned through performance but most importantly respect. Become familiar with the tenants of servant leadership.  It is a behavior that will inspire others and naturally acclimate the goalkeeper into a natural leadership role.

• Focus on the growth and well-being of your teammates. Help them be better.  More focused and efficient.
• Listen and be empathic. Don’t be quick to react and point a finger for blame.
• Use Persuasion - encourage your teammates to take action. Become knowledgeable about every position and formation.  Being well versed will not only help you solve problems, but it will help you persuade others to act in everyone’s best interest. 
• Lead by example. Demonstrate the values and behaviors that you want to see in your teammates, in your goalkeeper core, on the training pitch, or game field. Have confidence to stand up to people when they are not contributing to the greater good of the team, on and off the field.

Perception:

How are you perceived by others matters.  We are not talking about the latest adidas cleats or best goalkeeper gloves.  Many of you may be new to a team or coach. First impressions!  
Easy disciplines for a goalkeeper during preseason:
Be early and ready. This shows the coach and team you are disciplined, caring, and engaged. Being early and ready also helps you mentally and physically prepare as the goalkeeper for the session. Rushing to get ready creates extra unneeded stress.
Look the part. Goalkeeper jersey or training shirt tucked in.  Socks pulled up. Proper goalkeeper training equipment is essential for performance and safety. If you are training on turf do you have Storelli padded goalkeeper compression shorts or pants to protect from the abrasions.  Training like a pro also means protecting yourself.  Scrapes and bruises take you out and off your game and development. Ask questions. Be an active participant in your preseason learning and team preparation.  Asking questions will help you learn be a better goalkeeper and teammate when it matters most.  Also show coaches that you care and want to be a part of the solution.  

These are suggestions based on 35 years of particpating in preseasons as a player and coach.  Preseasons are mentally and physically demanding. Dont be afraid to ask mentors, your peers, our coaches suggestions or help working through problems.  This is the start of the conversation.  Please feel free to ask questions and leave feedback.