With it being the end of the season for most of us (well, in Europe and that little island called England!) and the start for the rest of the world (America and Australia, I'm looking at you!), it's a chance to comment on ways of positively pressing forward to improve. Working on areas of your whole, overall game will see you take huge strides when the new season gets under way (whenever that is!). With the right attitude; the right mindset and the commitment to approach, you can outwork those in your peer group to really go for it, if you take your sport seriously (i.e. want to play to a high level etc.).
With the break, it's a great chance to refresh and reboot, and also a good time to review how well you performed in the season and analyse (but not over analyse like I do!), with constructive self criticism (again, I'm my own worst enemy at this!) and look to self improve your game. Well prepared and building up to the season with the right amount of work, you can give your season that extra boost to kick start the new season, and make sure you get off to a strong start. The higher you are looking to play, the harder you'll have to work; but again, don't overdo it so that you end up burned out, which won't help anyone, you or your team mates!
So, here's a rundown of the different areas to work on, with some ideas of how to:
Technical
For the technical side of goalkeeping, you can look at working on certain weaknesses that are trouble spots and the cause of regular goals. Your balance in your ready stance, getting set on the right angle, getting the right depth to attack the shot and so on. All of these combine to help your whole goalkeeping approach in matches and whilst it might not sound appealing, the little things all end up to make a big difference.
Tactical
The tactical part of goalkeeping relates to setting your defence and working out ways to react to your opponents and 'shut down' attacks more accurately. Working on the right set-up you find best for defending short corners, and learning how you can fit into the defensive approach for your team and the way they structure i.e. 4-4-2, sweeper inclusion, if you need to cover for a high line and so on.
One majorly forgotten aspect of goalkeeping is psychology. If we feel crap we normally end up playing that way. If we think , as our nightmares come true. So instead, we need to work on ! For me and . As Shilton always believed, you need to .
SAQ basically stands for speed, agility and quickness. Goalkeepers aren't going to be constantly running up and down the pitch like outfielders back and forth in formation, but that doesn't mean we don't need to be quick. More like a coiled spring, we need to be quick off the mark when called upon.
With the break, it's a great chance to refresh and reboot, and also a good time to review how well you performed in the season and analyse (but not over analyse like I do!), with constructive self criticism (again, I'm my own worst enemy at this!) and look to self improve your game. Well prepared and building up to the season with the right amount of work, you can give your season that extra boost to kick start the new season, and make sure you get off to a strong start. The higher you are looking to play, the harder you'll have to work; but again, don't overdo it so that you end up burned out, which won't help anyone, you or your team mates!
So, here's a rundown of the different areas to work on, with some ideas of how to:
Technical
For the technical side of goalkeeping, you can look at working on certain weaknesses that are trouble spots and the cause of regular goals. Your balance in your ready stance, getting set on the right angle, getting the right depth to attack the shot and so on. All of these combine to help your whole goalkeeping approach in matches and whilst it might not sound appealing, the little things all end up to make a big difference.
- Work on 'reading' the game by watching footage on Youtube etc. to see game breakdowns and when to look for similar breakdowns in your own to defence to counter early and meet the attacker on time
- Work on your hand-eye co-ordination to help improve your reactions and 'reads' on shots and drag flicks
- Look back on games and if you know of key areas that are a real problem, work on drills to improve; practise kicking, getting your hand down to control rebounds etc., work with a balance board to help your core and balance in the stance, run through angles and positioning and so on...
Tactical
The tactical part of goalkeeping relates to setting your defence and working out ways to react to your opponents and 'shut down' attacks more accurately. Working on the right set-up you find best for defending short corners, and learning how you can fit into the defensive approach for your team and the way they structure i.e. 4-4-2, sweeper inclusion, if you need to cover for a high line and so on.
- Look at short corner defense set-ups and work with your team mates to work out the best plan of approach for defending PC's to best suit your abilities
- Find out more about zonal marking and man marking; how this effects your team's line-up and therefore how you need to fit in with this
- Learn how to spot offensive breakouts from your opponents early and communicate with your defenders to deal with threats as they happen
One majorly forgotten aspect of goalkeeping is psychology. If we feel crap we normally end up playing that way. If we think , as our nightmares come true. So instead, we need to work on ! For me and . As Shilton always believed, you need to .
- Aggressive self confidence is so so key to playing well game in game out; be 'cocky' and self confident on the pitch, but don't be a self involved **** off it!
- Learn to let go; I know it sounds all "new agey" and all, but if we focus too match or could haves or what ifs, then this negativity carries on into the next weekend and so on, instead of feeling good about ourselves and carrying this through to our game performances
- Work on positive self talk, for key times of the game that can leave you anxious or stressed: falling apart when things get tough doesn't help you or your team, so reset, refocus and get back in it!!
- Also work on neurolinguistics to help boost self confidence in games and at training sessions when you need to be at your best
- Work on concentration levels so that you can stay focused and alert throughout the whole game, which can be a problem for some as they switch off in the final 10 or more
- Maybe even work on a highlight reel DVD of your own saves to rewatch before your games to 'get you pumped'
SAQ basically stands for speed, agility and quickness. Goalkeepers aren't going to be constantly running up and down the pitch like outfielders back and forth in formation, but that doesn't mean we don't need to be quick. More like a coiled spring, we need to be quick off the mark when called upon.
- Working on ladders to improve your foot speed
- A skipping rope can help with improving foot work
- Plymetrics and jump boxes for improved height when jumping
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