I just can't find it in myself to get enthusiastic about keeping.#-o

However, I've just met a guy who has been a keeper in NSW state league. He was a general team coach to some sort of feeder team to the Mariners (don't know the stem there).

One thing he is emphatic about, is that the Italian keeper training is world's best practice.

He has worked a lot with Zelco Kalac. Even though he endorses current FFA NC in field play, he says that the Italian keeper training is superior to anything else.

Second this. Coaching goal keeping is painful. Even though i only coach grass roots stuff, i still work my arse off to make sure i can keep developing the kid that has played in goals for me for the last few years.

Therer is an Aussie keeper overseas who is doing a lot more coaching than playing these days, and i know for a fact he's pretty highly rated. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does in the future.

I am a keeper - and a keeper coach. It's a dark art :)

I'm happy to help anyone here who wants to know more about GK'ing if it helps...

It all helps.

It is difficult to focus on keeping when one coaches others aspects of football.

How did you get on with FFV with the Tony Franken coaching sessions?


Did they ever reply?

One thing FFA is telling us, is that 80% of keepers' touches are on the ground with the feet.

I would say that should read "80% of keepers' touches should be on the ground with the feet."

I'd agree with that as long as the team is playing 1-4-3-3 per the NCF but it certainly hasn't been true throughout my playing career.

Our GK has decided not to play next season and I've been asked to step in. Only problem is, I've never played GK in my life! (Coach chose me because I'm the tallest at 6' 4").

I'm starting formal GK training in 2 weeks which should hopefully teach me all the basics. For someone like myself, with absolutely zero GK experience, what area of my game should I be focusing on first?

I was useless at the FFA Goalkeeper's Certificate this year. If it had been the FFA keeping licence, I should have failed.

Anyway I'll pass on what I know. There is a FFA keeper's course workbook that we had to download online. Not sure where you find it, but it is good. The collapsing save was something I remember.

A new grip is recommended. Older keepers suggest a different way. Good luck with finding the FFA resource. I'll need to brush up this year, but we have an excellent FFA keeping coach down here, second behind Tony Franken in FFA. I'll use him as a mentor.

In terms of keeping team shape, play almost outside the box if your defensive line pushes up to the half way line, when your team is in attack. Drop off closer to the goal line, when you are defending deeper.

Make sure you keep the back four in a compact shape, usually about 10 -15 metres from each other, often with an ideal width of 40 metres approx. Remember you are the organiser and coach on the pitch for the back four. It may be even worth doing one of the FFA keeper's courses. They only last a day, but you will learn some useful stuff.

That's good stuff, cheers :)

I wrote a blog on "The Set Position" a while back - I never continued the blog, but this one might be useful for you guys,

http://www.performancefootball.net/coaching-the-set-position/

I'd also take a look at the keeping resources here: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/getinvolved/coaching/resources they are pretty good.

Chowden, there is some useful stuff from Barca keeper , Victor Valdes , in the new 442 Performance Section at the top of this page.