Goalkeeping training has revolutionized the art over past decades bearing in mind that once upon a time, provisions for goalkeeping coaching never existed during the inception of football. It can be argued that searching for information about the history of goalkeeping training is akin to finding a needle in a haystack, therefore we can only speculate its inception as a guided measure from the introduction of the world cup in 1930. During those golden years, the goalkeepers’ acquired skills would have been subjective, concerning the level of the quality of the game at that time and to become a goalkeeper one must first accept the responsibility of operating in the three areas namely:-

•  The 18-yard box ( the sweeper area, the cleanup area, distribution area )
• The 6-yard box ( the critical command centre area, primary distribution area )
• The Goal Post ( the target, Bullseye )

From the outlined responsibility presented to the uninitiated, it would appear that the goalkeeper hasn’t got a lot to do throughout a game but they would be wrong to make such assumptions. But having said that, in the golden era the assumptions appeared to be justified by the level of quality and skillset a goalkeeper possessed under the tools available at the time. For instance, goalkeeping gloves weren’t popular until the 1940s and 1950s which is an indicator that the level of goalkeeping training may have been minimal. Furthermore, we cannot help but compare the level of goalkeeping skills between the old and new age of goalkeepers as I personally believe not much of a gap has been created, in comparison to the vast amount in the advancement of outfield players skills in the same era.  Although there are various goalkeeping training methodology requirements, for the purpose of this article I will focus on the training equipment and its short and long term benefits and pitfalls.

Practicality vs Gimmicks

Gimmicks

A gimmick is a trick, tool or device designed to attract attention, publicity and trade. In this ever-evolving world of commerce and technology, there is a rush to reinvent the wheel and release to the public the next “big thing” that claims a whole range of promises, one begins to question if the “product” itself is for the benefit of the consumer or for the creators’ publicity and trade.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am an advocate for evolution but when existing proven methods are yet to be optimised then introducing new ideas in whatever form may be a hindrance than a solution. In general, when a new technology, device or tool is introduced in such conditions, it tends to be more of a challenge than a solution as we’ve witnessed with the Video Assistant Referee introduced into top-flight football, creating an atmosphere of hysterical dramatics than doing the job it was apparently designed to do. Back to the topic and here are some gimmicks that are yet to be proven (some ridiculous) to help in goalkeeping growth and development…

1. Bungee Ropes:- This is the gimmick that prompted me to write this article and I will get into the reason why. For starters, wearing a leash around your waist with a bungee rope connected between you and the goal post will neither “increase” your leg muscle strength, nor has it been scientifically proven to increase leg muscle strength. I was debating this issue with an Instagram goalkeeping coach who was convinced that there are huge benefits because he happens to know a distributor that claims it’s been scientifically proven. He also said that if it wasn’t effective that top pro goalkeepers would not use them, and I had to correct him on this point that first, the bungee ropes NEVER made them into professionals and secondly, they are ENDORSING the product meaning that they get paid to wear these products, and as an intermediary myself I know as fact that top professionals are contracted to endorse products. In reality, they seldom use the product as it isn’t an integral part of their training program, hence an unproven apparatus.   
2. Hazardous Obstacle Apparatus:- Apparatus like 12 inches plus cones that can cause potential injuries when incorporated with groundwork drills, benches and safety fences ( although this practice is exclusive to the social media goalkeepers that are in constant desperate pressure to “impress” and gain followers and sponsorship. Personally, I think this is not only wrong but more importantly irresponsible.
3. Tennis and Yoga Balls:- A case can be made for tennis balls drills for reflex improvement and that is true but the purpose for training is to simulate game situations and quite frankly we know we are never going to face tennis balls in games, and knowing that these reflex tennis ball drills bear no relation to actually catching. Depending on the length of time given to such drills a goalkeeper can be programmed to parry all the time, sometimes with a poor technique that becomes a bad habit and made manifest into game situations. Because tennis balls are not footballs, bad habits and poor techniques creep into ones’ training program. Using yoga-balls is another way of increasing the chances of unnecessary injuries doing adventurous drills that is of no benefit.
4. Beach and Swimming pool Training:- Unless you are actively playing in a beach soccer tournament or you are involved in the water polo scene then the benefits to be gained from these “apparatus” is virtually zero.

 

Practicality

The aspects of a situation that involve the actual doing or experience of things rather than theories or ideas. In the art of goalkeeping, this works to a tee because with the right combination of apparatus and training methods one can simulate real game situations. The chief aim to have training equipment is to aid in stimulating game situations with a low risk of injury. Here are some of the apparatus that are essential for growth and development in goalkeeping…

1. Cones, Flat Discs, Speed Ladders, Hurdles and Ski poles:- these are simple but effective tools combined with a well planned out training program will serve as a catalyst for the development of goalkeepers.
2. Mannequins:- Mannequins are necessary for mimicking wall formations facing freekick and they also serve as mimicking extra bodies in and around the 18-yard box that challenges the goalkeepers’ viewpoint and acts as obstructions as well. Using the imagination, numerous scenarios can be simulated, reconstructed and played out. Football clubs and academies use these apparatus as mandatory due to the unquestionable benefits it so evidently produces.
3. Football Machines:- Generally used by the professional clubs, these football feeder machines are perfect for consistent ball deliveries and can be adjusted from the type of delivery ( Low Shot, High Shot, Top Spin, Back Spin, Curler, Knuckle Ball etc ) to the speed of delivery. This is one piece of technology that I’ve always hyped up because of the unlimited amount of benefits to be gained from its use for goalkeepers.
4. Football Rebounders:- Another beautifully crafted apparatus called the Rebounder is another tool to help in simulating directed shots towards goal from unlimited strategic points around the goal area. These rebounders come in various forms that are designed to be used for multiple simulation phases where necessary.
5. Deflector Apparatus:- One of the best innovative goalkeeping training apparatus I’ve come across and I definitely recommend for every Football club and academy if one is serious in goalkeeping development. ProDeflect is one of the leading companies in this field and I strongly suggest clicking on the name to see the range of deflection products. These brilliant products are designed to create unpredictable deflections and changes in direction of shots that really test the goalkeeper’s reaction skills. A definite must-have tool for goalkeeping growth and development.

 

So there you have it and I know there are many more apparatus that hasn’t been mentioned, bearing in mind that this topic makes up a fifth of the overall anatomy of a goalkeeper. So much has been commented in the goalkeeping community on the evolution in the goalkeepers game but I would like to stress that the levels of improvement in shot-stopping techniques haven’t improved on a grande scale compared to any specific technical skill-set of outfield players in the past two decades. In my opinion, the top goalkeepers in the last two decades are by far better at shot-stopping than today’s modern top goalkeepers and that is attributed to the fact that some specific traditional techniques that have been replaced by modern techniques have proven to be more effective. As coaches and trainers in general, with the technology and the quality of training given to goalkeepers, will reflect on their ability and value in the long run, as one attribute after another will be subject to the ultimate test in every game played. The attitude to adopt is to create and maintain a holistic methodology in goalkeeping training that is consistent in the evolution of goalkeeping, rather than experimenting on gimmicks that will inevitably be of detriment to the art.

Share this article through your mediums or platforms to those you think will need to read it. As a passionate practitioner of the art of goalkeeping, I believe there’s a lot of improvement to be made in specific topics concerning the anatomy of a goalkeeper and sharing opinions can only bridge the gap of the absence of knowledge in recognising and solving conundrums.

“You Are The Ultimate Keeper Of Your Destiny” – ULTIMATE KEEPER