Goalkeeper Training Session: Recovery Diving

The video features a training session focused on recovery diving. The original session was led by George Kostelis during an NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma Coaching Course.

This session was one of the more memorable of the Level III course. The video quality isn't outstanding, but is pretty good considering it is from a hand-help Flip camera.

You can get a good idea of the positive intensity that George Kostelis brings to training. Using one of his favorite terms... it's "Magic". Somebody needs to hire this guy on to their college or professional staff while he's still available.

Warm-up:

Phase 1 - One bounce catch

Phase 2 - No bounce catch

Phase 3 - No bounce catch x 6

Phase 4 - One bounce collapse dive

Phase 5 - Collapse dive recovery

Phase 6 - Collapse dive same-side recovery

Exercise 1:

Phase 1 - Foot Service - Volley to Chest

Phase 2 - Foot Service - Ground to Side

Phase 3 - Recovery Footwork

Phase 4 - Accelerated Recovery From Near Post

Exercise 2:

Phase 1 - 1v1 Collect & Shoot

Phase 2 - Collect & Shoot Competition

Restricted Game: Small Field 4v4 + GKs

Special thanks to George Kostelis, Instructor; NSCAA Coaches & Willing Participants. Filmed on a Flip Video Camera.

Working Through The NSCAA's Goalkeeping Institute

In June, I had the fortunate opportunity to participate in the NSCAA's Goalkeeping program.   I fully intended to participate one year earlier, but a party at my house for the USA vs. England game took was going to take priority over any coaching course.  It just so happened that a very notable goalkeeping gaffe occurred on that very day.

Greatest Excuse Ever - My Team Lost Because They Were Struck By Lightning

The go-to excuse of "the dog ate my homework" wouldn't work very well in North Korea. You have to be MUCH more original that that.

After the 2-0 loss to the United States in the Women's World Cup, North Korea manager Kwang Min Kim told the press that his team was recently struck by lightning.

From the BBC:

"When we stayed in Pyongyang during training our players were hit by lightning, and more than five of them were hospitalised," said coach Kim.

"Some stayed in hospital and then came to Germany later than the rest of us. The goalkeeper and the four defenders were most affected, and some midfielders as well. The physicians said the players were not capable of participating in the tournament.

"But World Cup football is the most important and significant event for a footballer, so they don't want to think about anything but football.

"The fact that they played could be called abnormal, the result of very strong will."

Awesome! More at Yahoo Sports

Who guessed the best player on the field for Mexico would be Jonathan Bornstein?

Tim Howard (USA) vs. Penedo (Panama) - 06.22.2011

Final: USA 1, Panama 0

Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA

CONCACAF Gold Cup

06/22/2011

A very quiet game for both goalkeepers.  Penedo was only required to touch the ball 20 times, 6 touches less than an average game.  From the goalkeeping statistics, it looks as if Panama forced most of the attack in the match.  Tim Howard's exceptional finger tip redirection over the bar in the 79th minute proved to be the difference in the match.

Howard wins the GK battle.

The USA goal may have been prevented with some increased communication from the goalkeeper (Penedo) to the panamanian left defender.  The defender fails to step to the ball leaving the attacker 10 extra yards to advance, and a few extra seconds to pick up his head and find another attacker at the far post.   The execution by the attacker was exceptional, Penedo had no chance to defend this on his own.   His near-post positioning was proper.

Tim Howard
USA
GK Rating: 105.6

Minutes: 90

Touches: 26

Tests: 0

Goals Allowed: 0 

PK Goals Allowed: 0

Routine Saves: 3 (5th, 78th, 84th)

Exceptional Saves: 1 (79th)

PK Saves: 0

Exceptional Plays: 0

Errors: 0

Critical Errors: 0

Error Rate: 0.000

Critical Error Rate: 0.000

Save %: 1.000

Save % + PKs: 1.000

Jaime Penedo
Panama
GK Rating: 72.0

Minutes: 90

Touches: 22

Tests: 2

Goals Allowed: 1 

PK Goals Allowed: 0

Routine Saves: 1

Exceptional Saves: 1

PK Saves: 0

Exceptional Plays: 0

Errors: 0

Critical Errors: 0

Error Rate: 0.000

Critical Error Rate: 0.000

Save %: 0.667

Save % + PKs: 0.667

Who Is To Blame: The Linesman Or The Goalkeeper?

In the last few minutes of the first half, Tottenham goalkeeper Gomes mishandles a long range shot from Chelseas's Lampard.   The ball trickles past him towards the goal line before Gomes amazingly stretches back to get a finger to the ball before it goes completely over the line.   The line referee was in a position where he was not able to definitively determine whether the ball completely crossed the line.    The linesman signals to the center referee that it was a goal... but replay clearly shows that it was not a goal.

Who is to blame?  The linesman or the goalkeeper?

The linesman completely fails on the call, but I do not believe he is to blame.    My take is that the fault should still be placed on the goalkeeper for putting the referee in the position to have to make a tough call.

The shot from Lampard was from long range and directly at Gomes.   Gomes got lazy and had poor technique.  Rather than dropping a knee, Gomes should have gathered the ball "frog catch" style and smothered the ball into the ground.   If the GK centers his shoulders and hips to the ball, collects the ball with both hands (pinkies together), simultaneously securing in his chest while his body motion propels him forward and down to the ground using the ball to break his fall... the ball would have never leaked past him.

I will applaud Gomes for his extremely athletic recovery.   He could have simply watched the ball trickle into the goal, but he got off his ass and worked to make a save.  

There is nothing more deflating to the rest of the field players than to watch a goalkeeper be lazy.   Field players are running 6+ miles a game, the least a GK can do is give every ounce of effort on every ball... even if the GK knows they won't be able to make  the save.   The field players will get some satisfaction out of the fact that their GK busts his ass on every play.

Interview With UK Blog, 'I Luv Football'

I recently participated in an interview with a blog based in the United Kingdom called 'I Luv Football'. I've listed an portion of the interview below... but I encourage you to visit the I Luv Football Blog to read the interview in it's entirety.