Words from Founder and Director

In this space I will share my reflections on different aspects on the development and training of the Goalkeeper, without intending to present them as absolute truth, but as analyses from a professional perspective, based on concepts and fundamentals that we apply every day.

In speaking of technique, in our case Goalkeeper-Specific Technique, we are referring to a movement or series of movements that, through repetition, can be incorporated in carrying out a specific action – a dive, for example. The Goalkeeper can learn and incorporate these technical movements (or “steps”) into a sequence that allows him or her to perform a particular action, mainly by means of two training methods that encompass several style variants.

One method is analytical, and implies direct teaching from Trainer to Trainee. Instruction progresses from simpler to more complex actions, and involves indicating to the Goalkeeper the posture, and the movements and their sequence of use that must be followed in the execution of a particular action. These individual movements and their sequential patterns in performing the actions required in game situations must be identified and isolated. Then, each movement should be practiced and incorporated into the proper sequence pattern for the   execution of a particular action.

The other method involves simulation of game situations in which the Goalkeeper can apply the techniques to perform an action. In this case, the Trainer must accompany the Trainee in a guided discovery, for understanding various game situations and acquiring the appropriate postural and movement patterns for these situations, until they become second nature for the Goalkeeper.

In carrying out such guided discovery, we must be aware of the various characteristics and needs of the different age groups, and then focus on the correct methodological progressions, understanding, , above all, that each Trainee will have their own individual characteristics and most efficient ways of performing a given action.

It is important to distinguish EFFECTIVENESS (the ability of the Goalkeeper to make a save) from EFFICIENCY (doing so in an optimized way; that is, as quickly as possible while expending the least amount of energy).  The aim of our training, then, is to provide the Goalkeeper with a refined technique as a component in the development of his or her abilities; in other words, one  that optimizes MOTOR EFFICIENCY – the development of technical movements with speed and precise of motor skills,. Contextually, efficiency refers to the Goalkeeper’s ability to deploy in a very short time the appropriate movements required to respond to complex game situations. Without such efficiency, tailored, of course, to the level of competition, the Goalkeeper will not be able to respond competently to the complex game situations arising in modern football.

Our expectation is that our Goalkeepers continuously improve, becoming more technically sound and invulnerable. Our role is to guide them on their path in OPTIMAZATING their performance. Toward this end, we strive to raise their motor movements to higher levels of effectiveness, efficiency, and stability (the movement or sequence pattern has been incorporated), while always being aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, making the most of their particular characteristics, and of their age and level of competition.