This week, we bring you Scouting the Goalkeeper from Maarten Arts, Director of Pro Goal and Head of Goalkeeping at Wadi Degla. Maarten was a presenter at last year’s 1st Annual International Goalkeeper’s Conference in Sunrise, FL and also runs the The Bilderberg International Goalkeeping Conference in Amsterdam each year. For information on this year’s International Goalkeeper’s Conference, visit the site and follow them on Twitter and Facebook!
Maarten Arts conducts a series of activities and exercises used to determine the current and potential talent of a goalkeeper. Not limited to any one area of the game, this session will combine elements of the game to help you to gain a better understanding of a goalkeeper’s performance potential.
Also of interest is Distribution and Shot Stopping, a session we posted shortly after the International Goalkeeper’s Conference in June from Andrew Sparkes. This is a session worth referencing again!
Scouting the Goalkeeper
1.
Setup:
4V2
6 GKs, four cones, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
Only 2 GKs in the middle can score points. When 4 GKs on the outside play the ball 10 times to each other, all points are gone.
Coaching Points:
Scout for courage, player skills, personality (coaching).
2.
Setup:
Catching/Falling
6 GKs, four cones, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
GK 1 throws to GK 2 and change to the other side. Progress to service at chest height, high balls, and falling/passing.
Coaching Points:
Scout for learning ability, player skills, focus.
3.
Setup:
High Balls Game
6 GKs, 1 goal, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
Coach throws a high ball, 1 GK from team A and B try to catch the ball. No shouting, point goes to the other team.
Coaching Points:
Scout for courage, physical skills (jump), personality (desire to win).
4.
Setup:
Passing
6 GKs, 3 cones, 1 goal, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
GK1 plays to GK2, GK2 to GK3, two touches. GK1 rotates to position GK4, GK2 to position GK5, GK3 to GK6 etc. Also, 1 touch and if a mistake is made, push-ups for the whole group.
Coaching Points:
Scout for player abilities, focus, eye-hand coordination, learning ability.
5.
Setup:
Diving
6 GKs, one cone, 1 goal, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
Coach throws ball to far corner, GK1 touches the cone and goes for the ball. GK1 throws the ball to GK3, GK3 gives ball to GK2 and then to coach. GK4 goes quickly to position immediately after GK1 touches the cone.
Coaching Points:
Scout for physical skills (jump sideways), personality (“no goals”), footwork.
6.
Setup:
1V1
6 GKs, 5 cones, 1 goal, 2 mannequins, plenty of balls.
Instructions:
GK2 tries to attack the ball, if GK2 saves he earns 2 points, if GK1 scores he earns 1 point.
Coaching Points:
Scout for personality, courage, technical ability: score with left and right.
7.
Setup:
Head/Catch
6 GKs and plenty of balls.
Instructions:
6 GKs in a circle around the coach. GKs put hands behind their backs, coach says “head” or “catch” and throws the ball. Second round the GK must execute opposite of the command.
Coaching Points:
Scout for personality (perform under pressure).