No Session Wednesday 13th February

Just a reminder that due to it being half term, Ruskin Junior School is closed, therefore there is no session. 

See you all on the Wednesday 20th February

Representative Honours

Congratulations go to Ben Paul and Conor Whitlock for being selected as the two goalkeepers for the Swindon Primary Schools squad to play a series of games against other School Representative sides across the country. 

Goalkeeper of the Month

For the months of December 2012 and January 2013 no "Goalkeeper of the Month" awards were made due to the limited amount of sessions that took place due to Christmas and the recent poor weather. 

Weds 23rd Jan Session OFF

Due to the Astro turf at Ruskin School still being covered in snow the session on Wednesday 23rd January is OFF

We hope that the weather improves for the next session on Wednesday 30th January 

Futsal Goalkeeping?

If you are aged between 16 & 18 and either currently play as a goalkeeper in Futsal or would like to then please drop me a line with your full contact details: Name, D.O.B address, telephone number and email address 

These details will be passed on to a Futsal specialist goalkeeping coach who will shortly be running some goalkeeping sessions at the Futsal centre in Swindon with the aim of looking for future England Futsal goalkeepers.

Please email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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...!!!

Guest Article - Goal Kicks

When coaching young goalkeepers, one area of the game that they often find hard is that of kicking, especially goal kicks.

I have spoken about the importance of distribution for the modern day goalkeeper and you can find more about this by clicking on the "About Us" tab and then going to "Goalkeeping Information".

Through the social media that is Twitter I often talk to many different goalkeeping coaches across the country and beyond and many issues we discuss. One such goalkeeping coach is Jamie Wiseman who works in the Eastleigh area, you can see more on Jamie on his website  http://jw-goalkeeper-coaching.co.uk

I would just like to share with you a great article Jamie has done on the topic of goal-kicks and thank Jamie for allowing me to share his article on my website:

Goal Kick’s

On getting around coaching in the last few weeks I am so disappointed to be told that some goalkeepers are still not being allowed to take their own goal kicks.

This is the tired old attitude of coaches / managers out of touch and “in it for themselves” not the development of the goalkeeper.

Can anyone tell me how far Joe Hart kicked the ball at 10 years of age? No, because it doesn’t matter. What matters is the fact he was allowed to develop, practise and try it out in a game scenario. This is why his kicking now, is so accurate.

If you are a goalkeeper who is being prevented from taking your goal kicks ask your manager these questions:

1) If I were weak at crosses, would you put someone else in goal for corners?

2) If I need development with my goal kicks, what coaching or training can you provide me with to improve this area, and when can I take this practise into a game situation?

3) How many goals have we conceded because of my goal kick not going as far as the “big lads”? If the answer is none – what is this actually achieving?

The philosophy of so many managers is the biggest player who can kick the furthest should take the goal kick. WHY? What does this actually achieve?

The long ball game, kick and rush with little to no development of the other players and goalkeeper.

Any manager / Coach working with young players should be setting the environment for them to learn and develop. Taking the practise into a live game scenario is an absolute essential part of the goalkeeper’s development.

There are many ways to assist a goal keeper in improving, not just their kicking but their distribution as a whole.

I like to see all goalkeepers taking their own goal kicks regardless of their ability to “punt it long”. By working on your technique, mind set and routine, will assist your kicking as your body naturally develops and gets stronger. Not only will you then be able to kick the ball long if desired, you will have the technical ability to keep the ball accurate. It’s accuracy that counts, not the distance.

I usually coach my goalkeepers some basic principles:

1) Try and create a slightly raised area of pitch (sometimes difficult with some of today’s pitches)

2) Place the ball down so your target area of the ball (Valve, marking etc) is facing you, just below the centre of the ball.

3) Place your standing foot along side the ball (approx 1 ft to the side and then 1ft back). Then measure 4 – 6 long strides back.

4) Pick the area of the pitch you want to find by looking at it and visualising yourself kicking the ball

5) Take 2 deep breaths and relax your body

6) Now focus solely on the target area of the ball, ensure you plant your support foot accurately, strike your target area of the ball (with confidence) with the laces of your boot, ensure you kick right through the ball and follow through.

7) Practise, practise, practise, practise

If your manager continues to encourage the “big lad” to take the kicks, provide them with this article for reference and their own coaching development.

All goal keeper job’s, should be done by the goalkeeper.

Coming Soon......................

Coming shortly a series of Interview blogs with a range of different goalkeeping coaches. Look out for these on my Blog pages! 

Treat Your Goalkeeping Gloves

Your goalkeeping gloves are the "Tools of your Trade" and therefore need looking after. I have used for years and thoroughly recommend using glove wash. Not only does it help keep them clean, more importantly the chemicals help keep the latex soft and enhance the life of the gloves.

I recommend the following supplier:

Just Keepers Ltd

www.just-keepers.com

01455 233355

AquaKleen Goalkeeper Glove cleaning solution costs £7.00 per bottle and if you quote discount code SHGK you will get 10% off

Under 14 Goalkeeper seeks new club

7 years experience as a goalkeeper, seeks a new club, following the folding of existing team

Please call Marc on 07841 491590 if interested in offering a trial