I've done it for many years and accrued a great number of injuries, but similar to cam_wmh when you make that great save the feeling is amazing.
If I had one piece of advice it would be to echo something cam said but expand on it, not only can hesitancy get you injured, but own your area.
Crosses, Corners, one-on-one, whatever, in most Rec leagues the keeper is the only one still allowed to slide and tackle.
Own your space. Your defenders will love you for it. Be vocal and be aggressive.
But if you're going to go for the ball be sure to tell your defenders and above all....make sure you get that ball. If you miss it you will look like a gigantic jackass.
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As another long-time rec soccer goalie (there seem to be a lot of us here) I think the position is about a lot more than just making saves, important as that is. A goalie can really affect the pace of the game - holding on to the ball to let your team regroup, or playing it quickly to catch the other team off guard. You also have a good view of the play so communicating what you see to your defenders is important. Also particularly in indoor rather than belting the ball as far as you can it is important to make sure you play the ball so your team can easily get control.
This and Fingersave gloves if you play a lot of indoor, they are more expensive but ive never had a sprained or broken finger and i play a lot of indoor goalie.
haha, this isn't bad advice. I've broke my fingers a few times too. Just can't get past how stiff my dexterity is with fingersavers.
One bit of practical advice is to work on angles and near post/far post as well. Keep checking where you are in location to your posts.
Remember that the farther back in your net you are, the more vulnerable you are left and right but you will have the height covered. The farther off your line you are, the better you cover left and right but you concede height or higher shots. More time to react when farther back, more instincts when farther out.
Be extremely communicative when players pass back to you, and for Pete’s sake don’t pick up a foot back pass with your hands.
Whatever gloves you get, practice making a w with your thumbs when you catch the ball overhand so that it doesn’t go through your hands. Watch some football on tv if you can and recognize when keepers change from overhand (fingers pointing up) to underhand (fingers pointing down) when making a save.
Don’t give up. 10 players in front of you each had a chance to stop a goal against. You are the last line of defence but not the only one.
And I cannot say this enough; you need to stretch your groins every time you play. The first time that you try to crack a 50 yard clearance without being warmed up will be the last time for quite some time.
Good luck!
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One bit of practical advice is to work on angles and near post/far post as well. Keep checking where you are in location to your posts.
Remember that the farther back in your net you are, the more vulnerable you are left and right but you will have the height covered. The farther off your line you are, the better you cover left and right but you concede height or higher shots. More time to react when farther back, more instincts when farther out.
Be extremely communicative when players pass back to you, and for Pete’s sake don’t pick up a foot back pass with your hands.
Whatever gloves you get, practice making a w with your thumbs when you catch the ball overhand so that it doesn’t go through your hands. Watch some football on tv if you can and recognize when keepers change from overhand (fingers pointing up) to underhand (fingers pointing down) when making a save.
Don’t give up. 10 players in front of you each had a chance to stop a goal against. You are the last line of defence but not the only one.
And I cannot say this enough; you need to stretch your groins every time you play. The first time that you try to crack a 50 yard clearance without being warmed up will be the last time for quite some time.
Good luck!
Well if you're fortunate enough to have more than one you should be thankful!
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
As an aside, what is the best age to get kids into organised soccer? I recently signed my 4 year old up for the local 3-6 year old introduction program and it did not go well. Each session was an hour long getting them to play kicking games with a 15 minute “game” at the end. The highlight was my daughter taking off with the ball and running across 3 fields. The low light was her spending half the time sitting inside the net playing with grass. I think I’ll try again when she’s 5 and had more interest and attention span.
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The masses of humanity have always had to surf.
As an aside, what is the best age to get kids into organised soccer? I recently signed my 4 year old up for the local 3-6 year old introduction program and it did not go well. Each session was an hour long getting them to play kicking games with a 15 minute “game” at the end. The highlight was my daughter taking off with the ball and running across 3 fields. The low light was her spending half the time sitting inside the net playing with grass. I think I’ll try again when she’s 5 and had more interest and attention span.
That answer is obvious
Spoiler!
sign them up for rugby
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
I loved Rugby for all of the intangibles but the physical toll it took on me? I'm still paying for it.
Meh. Friends and I played rugby and football for years with no issues. Along with hockey and some of us soccer.
Soccer is a game I recommend everyone get out and play as young as you can. Its one of the only sports you can play competitively till you are old as it really only involves running. Easy to get pick up games going. Great exercise. Minimal investment. Great all around sport.
My advice would be to spend a bit more money on decent gloves. When I started playing goalkeeper in recreational soccer, I was using some entry-level gloves from Canadian Tire, and yikes did some shots ever hurt my hands.
Buying some better gloves with finger savers (hard plates usually made of plastic that prevent your fingers from bending back) proved really to be worth the investment IMO.
