GK Union Starts Young!

There is an unwritten membership that some may of heard of called the "GK Union"............you don't have to pay a monthly subscription to join it, you just have to be a goalkeeper, at any level of the game. Its a relatively small band of people in the whole scheme of things when you think how many people actually play football in any position.

Only another goalkeeper will know what it feels like to play in goal, the different emotions that you go through, the pressure you are under and how you are different to the other 10 players on your team. At the same time how your position is probably the most important in the team (well I am biased!). Thats why the "GK Union" as its known is where goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches tend to stick together and fight each others corner and support each other through thick and thin.

Well at about 6:10pm on Wednesday 7th November 2012 just at the end of the younger group session something happened to send a nice feeling through the heart of all the goalkeepers and coaches in attendance. Little Louis Scarpino-Cocking who had this week celebrated his birthday kindly brought along "Birthday Football Cup-cakes" for the rest of his goalkeeping group and the coaches.

At that moment it got me thinking about some of the reasons that I run my goalkeeping school. Obviously one of my main priorities is to help develop young goalkeepers in the area and improve them in their respective position. However it is also about trying to teach them respect for themselves and others, responsibility, confidence, social skills and team-work. All of these factors are important in football but in everyday life as well and I enjoy seeing their personalities develop along with their goalkeeping skills.

A big thank you to Louis and his parents for their cake making skills and their kindness in sharing these with all his fellow goalkeepers.....and coaches of course...!!!