Doesn’t matter the level or how highly recruited you were. GK is an unforgiving position
Much more importantly, how is the GK allowed to wear that kit when the opposite are in pretty much the same color!!!Doesn’t matter the level or how highly recruited you were. GK is an unforgiving position
It’s a difficult bouncing ball outside of the box. Field players routinely miss this type of ball.Doesn’t matter the level or how highly recruited you were. GK is an unforgiving position
It's made tougher by the fact that the GK is trying to bash the ball with a forward at close distance, which risks a rebound going backward into the net. So, he is focused on avoiding the attacker, who is bearing down on him. That usually involves going over if possible and requires a diffent kind of swing than just making contact. Plus, this striker is awfully close and is coming in fast, which leaves little room for error. It's not hard to see why he loses focus with the ball itself.It’s a difficult bouncing ball outside of the box. Field players routinely miss this type of ball.
In a college game of this caliber, this kind of a mistake, no matter how you justify it, will cost this goalkeeper his position in the future.It's made tougher by the fact that the GK is trying to bash the ball with a forward at close distance, which risks a rebound going backward into the net. So, he is focused on avoiding the attacker, who is bearing down on him. That usually involves going over if possible and requires a diffent kind of swing than just making contact. Plus, this striker is awfully close and is coming in fast, which leaves little room for error. It's not hard to see why he loses focus with the ball itself.
It’s a difficult bouncing ball outside of the box. Field players routinely miss this type of ball.
In a college game of this caliber, this kind of a mistake, no matter how you justify it, will cost this goalkeeper his position in the future.
And it also highlights how many times it's all based on an earlier (split-second) decision. I didn't see the play live, but was he not far enough off his line or did he delay his run because he thought the defender would handle it?True, but it only illustrates how harsh the position is. The true culprit is the defender who allows the striker to get a clear challenge on the ball.
And it also highlights how many times it's all based on an earlier (split-second) decision. I didn't see the play live, but was he not far enough off his line or did he delay his run because he thought the defender would handle it?
The place to play a bouncing ball is at the bottom, not the top. Play it as it reaches the ground.
And it also highlights how many times it's all based on an earlier (split-second) decision. I didn't see the play live, but was he not far enough off his line or did he delay his run because he thought the defender would handle it?
This youtube video is of choppy quality and the sound is a few seconds ahead of the picture, but it shows that the goal came from a long pass overhead that the keeper misplayed on the bounce just outside the PA.
100%Oooof. Hate that for the keep. But now he has a new challenge: dictate to himself how he will respond to the mistake.
I have developed a philosophy over the years watching my kid live life as a GK. The absolute, most important thing about being a GK is learning how to respond to adversity. Most likely, this young man has already had plenty, as you don't get to play at this level, and USL and internationally (as he has, apparently) without having adversity pop up on you. Mistakes, bad calls, injuries, bad coaches, etc. Of course, all athletes live this in varying degrees, but I would argue none do it with the intensity and stakes of a GK.
At ANY level of soccer, if you play keeper for more than a hot minute, you're going to make mistakes so you're going to have to learn how to overcome them. Obviously, you'd rather not have to overcome a mistake in your college championship game, but life is like that. You don't get to dictate the terms. Sometimes a mistake in a "big" game will get in an athlete's head, and they never can quite get over it. If his coach loses faith in him because of one error and demotes him, well, then that's just more fuel to use when burning the midnight oil figuring out how to get better. You figure out how to get so good and so consistent that nobody can deny you your spot on the field and ensure that, while you will never be perfect, you will always make yourself better as a result of your errors. Make a mistake, study it, fix it, drill it. And then later, when you've retired from sport and have to face real-life adversity, like losing a job, a marriage, a loved one, or your health, you will be grateful for all the adversity that being a GK put you through, especially adversity brought on by your own mistakes, because you will know in your heart that you have it in you to outlast and overcome.
This has to be the attitude of the GK.
a. there's a lot of mental illness and depression going around right now in kids due to things which shall not be discussed on this forumI love watching the position. For me, it’s the most important position on the field. My kid’s current team has a keeper that is pretty good. It’s pretty clear that he is better than most of the other keepers we play. But he is not confident at all and the pressure gets to him. His mother has thought about pulling him because he doesn’t seem to be handling the pressure well. He looks like he is depressed all the time. Doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with his back line. Won’t call off the defenders when he’s got it and won’t offer any instruction. Won’t tell his team how he wants his wall. At the end of the season the coach tasked one of the defenders with the job of organizing the defense for corners and free kicks. He used to ask to come off and the coach would put in the backup GK. After a while though the coach had to tell him that he’s staying in the whole game because he clearly is better at stopping shots. Coach has talked to him but the kid is not the type to talk. Everyone on the team and the coach thinks highly of his skills. I talked to the mother before about it and she claims that he likes the position, he’s just low in confidence. He was a bit pigeonholed into the position I guess because of his lack of speed (and I mean SLOW). Probably has to do with things outside of soccer. Kid seems severely depressed. Doesn’t smile or goof around with the team.
What age group is this?I love watching the position. For me, it’s the most important position on the field. My kid’s current team has a keeper that is pretty good. It’s pretty clear that he is better than most of the other keepers we play. But he is not confident at all and the pressure gets to him. His mother has thought about pulling him because he doesn’t seem to be handling the pressure well. He looks like he is depressed all the time. Doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with his back line. Won’t call off the defenders when he’s got it and won’t offer any instruction. Won’t tell his team how he wants his wall. At the end of the season the coach tasked one of the defenders with the job of organizing the defense for corners and free kicks. He used to ask to come off and the coach would put in the backup GK. After a while though the coach had to tell him that he’s staying in the whole game because he clearly is better at stopping shots. Coach has talked to him but the kid is not the type to talk. Everyone on the team and the coach thinks highly of his skills. I talked to the mother before about it and she claims that he likes the position, he’s just low in confidence. He was a bit pigeonholed into the position I guess because of his lack of speed (and I mean SLOW). Probably has to do with things outside of soccer. Kid seems severely depressed. Doesn’t smile or goof around with the team.