The goalkeeping position is the most demanding position in soccer, as it requires the keeper to excel in countless situations. To do this he or she must be physically fit, emotionally stable and mentally strong to overcome the many obstacles that stand in the way of greatness. The key to being a successful goalkeeper at any level is the ability to play consistently and our Training Program has been proven to provide the keeper with insights into technique while focusing on improving their strengths and reducing their weaknesses. We instill a work ethic capable of taking them to the next level of soccer. As Coach Riccardo likes to say “GOALKEEPERS DON’T GROW ON TREES”

EGK’s focus is on developing each goalkeeper to their highest potential in order to fulfill their goal of playing rep soccer or pursuing a University Scholarship or a Professional Contract. Extreme Goalkeepers believes that it is essential that Professional Goalkeeper Coaches who have played at a high level can offer each student their expertise in the field teaching young goalkeepers.

Training is also in a fun environment… with no pressure on the goalkeepers. The training atmosphere at EGK is comfortable so students will feel at ease and eager to learn. For the goalkeepers who are serious about reaching the highest level, they will you get the chance to train just like a professional goalkeeper. They will get advice, help, support, contacts and the backing of someone who has achieved what they are personally trying to do!

Finally, to all my goalkeepers & parents I will officially guarantee fun, learning and most importantly, IMPROVEMENT! 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.

EXTREME GOALKEEPER PHILOSOPHY

In my opinion I believe that from U8-U10 we should be carrying 3-4 keepers per team and rotating them in and out of the net so that they can learn all the positions on the field. This allows the GK the possibility to know what the players are thinking and going through, where they should be in regards to positioning and what their job descriptions are.

A goalkeeper should know every position on the field otherwise how do you expect him or her to be confident in communicating with their players? Please think about that next time you yell at your keeper for not talking or being out of position or not kicking the ball out fast enough.

Have they experienced enough to know what’s expected of them in each situation? Playing left back as a youngster was a tremendous help to me when I became a goalkeeper because I knew what my defensive roles were. In a game I was confident knowing where my defender should be at all times and if he wasn’t I would yell at him to get in position.

So for all you parents out there don’t let someone stick your son or daughter in net at 7 or 8 and leave them there because by the time they turn 10 they will be at a disadvantage. WHY? Because coaches like the ones I work with will have rotated their keepers and now have complete goalkeepers not just shot stopper’s. Those days are gone when a goalkeeper made the save and that was it, now you have to be a communicator, a sweeper, almost a mind reader and a fully functional player with both feet. So stand up for your keeper and remember that every top goalkeeper started as a player.

WORKING POINTS 

• Handling and Footwork: Here we will establish proper catching and handling techniques of a goalkeeper. Too many goalkeepers are pushing or punching balls away. We will put a stop to this by teaching our keepers the importance of holding the ball and denying the opposition the chance to score on a rebound. Footwork will also be a core component for us in training, as we need to teach this new breed of keepers the proper footwork that is required to maneuver in and around the box.
• Crossing and Box Domination: Here we will teach the keepers how to control high balls that are driven and lofted through the box. We will show them how to feel comfortable in their box and slowly learn how to control what happens in their area. In this section we will begin to introduce the importance of protecting the first post and how to deny the opposing team the chance to put through balls across our six yard box. Once they understand the timing and positioning of the front post, we will then begin the challenge of getting to the back post recovery position.
• Distribution and Counter Attack from Hands and Feet: All Facets of Distribution will be taught in this section from goal kicks to side volleys, from under hand rolls to overhand throws. I believe the most important thing to teach young goalkeepers what I like to call “Distribution with Consequences”. You see every time a goalkeeper releases the ball from their hands or feet we as a team are under pressure to receive and then move up the field. If the goalkeeper releases the ball without thinking about the consequences of that pass then we are at a disadvantage.

We will also be teaching the goalkeeper’s player footy skills and how to control the ball with their feet as a player does. Goalkeepers now have to have the same foot skills as everyone else on the team.

• Breakaways and Through Balls: In this section we will teach the goalkeepers the importance of how to judge and time a through ball which has become so dangerous for goalkeepers now. We will teach the goalkeepers how to stay on their feet as long as possible and learn how to become the SWEEPER. We will also teach the goalkeepers how protect themselves when coming out to intercept a ball that has gotten by the defender. Here they will learn about staying close to the last defenders so that they’re able to help when their defenders are under pressure.
• Communication is a Key: In this section we will try to teach the young keeper the importance of communicating with his or her back four and learning how to give proper direction. Once we strip away the fear of making the wrong call or upsetting the coach with a bad call then we will be able to start creating stronger and more disciplined keepers who are confident in their role and responsibilities on the team. This is not done overnight but created and instilled in them over the years of professional training.
• Shot Stopping: This section is the most fun for the goalkeeper and we do a lot of shot stopping drills in our sessions as keeping the ball out of the net is still our primary role. I have not met a keeper who wouldn’t dive the entire practice, if allowed. The new breed of keeper is taught to only dive if nothing else is possible. We will teach everything from the low collapse dive to the hardest back to the bar dives. The goalkeepers will be taught the proper ways to dive at the earliest age possible as they are sponges and less likely to hurt themselves with the proper professional coaching.