What It Takes For a Goalkeeper To Break In At TheCollege Level
Throughout my training sessions and the meetings that lead up to the actual training, parents and players alike ask me what it takes to get to the collegiate level and play soccer. What do coaches look for? What should we be focusing on? Well I am going to tell you what a friend of mine, current high level college coach and former teammate looks for when he is out recruiting keepers.
Ability to Play at a High Level
This might look like a very generic answer, but there are some truths to what is said. Why waste your time recruiting someone who is not going to be able to play at such a demanding level. An average college season is 20+ regular season games. That is not counting any tournaments or preseason matches. Mix your academics along with the play, and you have a very demanding task ahead of you that is more like a full time job than a sport.
Technical Ability and Athleticism
I often tell people that technique can save you in many situations, but being athletic can save you from the rest. As goal keepers we learn from an early age, or we should learn from an early age, the proper technique of how to play goal. It still amazes me at how many senior keepers still have such bad technique and play at such a high level. Keep your technique sharp and work on the athleticism, and you will get noticed.
Decision Making and Becoming a Field Player
My friend said that he wants to have his keepers become the 12th field player if the situation arises. We can all atest that the situation definitely arises often, and many bad decisions lead to goals. Decision making is what makes this position one of the most challenging in any sport. One bad decision could lead to a loss for the team and a loss of the starting spot. Make good decisions and smart moves with your feet and life will be much easier between the posts.
Size Does Not Matter
The days of having a big goal keeper are gone. Teams look for more athletic keepers with smart decision making ability. However being a smaller keeper does provide some challenges that must be compesated for in terms of ability. Focus more on how you can make a save as opposed to how you will get beat. The mental game is just as important as the physical game.
Communication
It has been stressed for years that the keeper must be vocal and become the general of the field since they can see it all. This can be taught at the next level, and probably will take some time to get used to. This does not mean stop talking and expect everyone to just come knocking at your door, but the communication of a goal keeper will not make or break a deal. However you should still remain as vocal as possible, and hopefully a good coach will get you talking like you are supposed to at the next level.
The coach that I spoke to asked to remain anonymous, and I will honor that request. I can tell you that he is a successful coach of a great University here in the US and has the upmost respect of all his peers. His knowledge of the game is impecible and everything he told me about recruiting a goal keeper I take to heart. For a young goal keeper the dream of playing at the next level is not impossible to reach, you just have to know how to get there. Make yourself seen by following the above recommendations and do not be afraid to ask colleges about tryouts. This is the only way that YOU can make sure they see what YOU can do. Take the matter into your own hands and I hope to see you at the next level.
Brad Barnett has played the role of soccer goalkeeper since 13 years of age, is an accomplished goalkeeping coach and writes at Football Kits Blog part of the Football Media Network.
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Brad Barnett
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