Clinics Help 60 Aspiring Rec. Goalies Master Moves
GK Clinics a Success!
by Len Oliver, Director of Coaching, DC Stoddert Soccer.
U16 Spartans GK Seth Butler warms up before game at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
With three top goalie instructors from metropolitan Washington, D.C., providing useful techniques and insights for young goalies to master, 60 DC Stoddert aspiring goalies enjoyed the two Open Goalie Clinics on Sunday, October 11 at the Jelleff Field.
Instructor Dan Driscoll (City FC), Nick Carlin-Voight (George Mason University), and Jonah Schuman (DC Stoddert Soccer) led their young charges through a series of exercises designed to introduce them to situations they will face in their league games. Tony Fiorello, Goalie/Defender with Len Oliver’s U19 Metros, provided useful field demonstrations for the youngsters.
The young goalie trainees experienced instruction on positioning, how to come off their goal lines to make the goal smaller, basic defensive moves (e.g., catching, diving, communicating), as well what to do with the ball once they have it in their grasp (distribution through throws and punts, maintaining possession, and always being a an outlet for a teammate looking to pass).
All three instructors, supported by Bob O’Sullivan, former DC Stoddert Board member and area high school coach who volunteered to monitor the Goalie Clinics, expressed surprise and gratitude on the level of enthusiasm displayed by the young goalies-in-training. The instructors all emphasized to the trainees that they should all have field skills, as the modern Keeper is indeed an outlet for the field players—using such skills as dribbling, passing, heading, and receiving.
The Clinics placed additional emphasis on young goalkeepers not playing goal full time for their teams, no matter how attractive the position, until they were at least 14 and could decide for themselves if they wanted to concentrate on the goalie position.
The seasonal clinics will be repeated in the spring. As O’Sullivan observed, “I hope we continue to enjoy this type of enthusiasm for this special position in our game.”
posted Oct. 20, 2009 by MCL
