Dozens of rec. goalkeerps turned out for May 9 clinic
By Len Oliver
Playing in Goal
Playing goalkeeper in soccer, the only really specialized skill position on the field, requires both special skills and a special mindset. Some 60 young DC Stoddert players, all aspiring to play the goalie position, attended DC Stoddert’s Spring Open Goalie Clinics at Hearst Field on Sunday, May 9. Jonah Schuman, DCST Travel Coach, led the sessions along with Jenny Akman, collegiate goalie and long-time DC Stoddert player and coach. Bob O’Sullivan, formerly on the DCST Board and Girls Coach at School-Without Walls, monitored the sessions for DC Stoddert
The Beginners’ Clinic: Learning About Goal Keeping
Some 40 youngsters attended the two-hour Beginner’s Clinic at 9 am, with anxious parents looking on. Jonah and Jenny put the youngsters through a series of drills, using multiple goals, with emphasis on how to warm up, the “goalie stance,” foot work, shot stopping, catching driven and flighted balls, beginning diving, punting and throwing for possession, deflecting shots on goal, and “cutting angles” to make the goal smaller. 
The young players had varying skills, always an issue in these clinics, but Jonah and Jenny were able to match up the youngsters and handle the differing levels of skill. By using multiple goals, most of the 40 young goalies were able to get a lot of practice in during the two-hour clinic. The Instructors played down tactical considerations for the young goalies, emphasizing instead good techniques, both defensive and offensive.
From the bemused looks of the huddled parents, anxiously looking on as their kids familiarized themselves with this difficult position, they seemed pleased with the Instructors’ enthusiasm and the young goalies’ response. The youngsters literally “threw themselves” into the sessions, rolling on the ground, jumping for air balls, landing awkwardly, yet coming back for more during the highly-active two hour session.
The Intermediate Clinic: Enhancing Skills
With 20 youngsters attending, ranging in age from 12-16, most of whom had played
in goal for several seasons, the Intermediate Clinic took on more of an atmosphere of an official goalie training program. Jonah and Jenny, ably assisted by a young goalie from Australia named William, put the goalies through their paces with goalie warm-ups, the “goalie stance,” preventing scoring on breakaways, working on positioning for set plays (free kicks, corner kicks), goalie communications—an essential trait for all goalies, jumping and punching, “goalie games” that teach, and goalie tactics.
The Instructors conducted a fast-paced, two-hour session which seemed to fully engage the young keepers. Parents, somewhat quieter than those attending the earlier session, appeared pleased with their kids rolling, jumping, and shouting as they commanded their goal areas.
As young players express interest in this highly specialized position, gaining confidence through professional instruction seems essential to their development. Goalies are our last line of defense in soccer terms, and a “goalie error” is magnified because of this unique status. A mistake in the field usually means several teammates behind you. A mistake in goal is a lonely situation, with only the net behind you. Both professional instructors in our clinics continually emphasized this point, encouraging the youngsters in their chosen positions, and advising them to learn and grow in the position.
Clinic Recap
Bob O’Sullivan, DCST’s Clinics’ representative, offered the following comments on the Sunday Clinics:
“Kids at both sessions learned a lot and had fun, with both kids and
parents coming up to thank us and asking whether there would be an
‘advanced session’…. They left wanting more. Jonah and Jenny worked
very well together….We found the second session easier because almost
everyone was 10 or older and had an attention span at least that long in seconds.
The clinics were fun, and I was glad to be able to help.” 
posted by MCL 5/11/2010
