By Tim Mulqueen
I have a U-13 keeper who is big for his age, has talent and skill, but for the life of me I can’t get him to be a vocal keeper. He is asoft-spoken shy guy who will just not speak up and direct things from the back. Any suggestions to help change this?
This is a common problem for many young keepers. The mainthing is that he has talent. You can use that to help him get out of his shell and begin talking.
Maybe it’s his personality that keeps him from talking in goal. That is OK. Hedoesn’t have to be boisterous or inspirational. He just needs to speak when it is appropriate and give useful information.
Too many keepers when told to communicate becomecheerleaders or talk only to the negative plays of their teammates. Both of these situations are bad. I would rather have a keeper say nothing then do either.
Here are some bullet pointsthat can hopefully help him become more assertive in goal:
1. Use his talent to give him confidence to speak. Help him comprehend his place in the team and his leadership potential.
2. Stand with him in training games and help him with what to say. He maybe talented but may not read the game well and needs help in what to say and when.
3. Make him organizeactivities in training. An example; have him pick his team; or pick his backs. Anything that makes him address the group.
4. Make a vocabulary list of verbiage you would like himto use. For instance: clear, tackle, away, force left (or) right, keeper, etc.
5. In training games have him play in the field as a back so he has to organize those players around him. Itwill also help in his reading of the game.
This should be more than enough to start the process. Be patient and supportive. The keeper needs to realize that you will support him in whatis not a natural part of his makeup.
Make sure he is communicating important messages and not narrating the game or cheerleading. If he does that, the important messages will be lost. Heneeds to speak in a firm and commanding voice but with a calmness and confidence to his words.
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Really good advice. (From a Psychologist)
Perhaps he just doesn’t like his kit? But seriously, so much of youth coaching is psychological isn’t it Dr. Walther? And this is where we benefit their personal growth through sports the most. I wonder if his social standing with his peers may not allow him to boss them around. Coach, try to reinforce the keepers role with his teammates so that they understand it’s not personal when he SHOUTS at them. When I was a parent coach I always saw all the kids as equals, yet was constantly surprised when my son would make a statement about the relative social standing of various players off the field and at school. I took it as an opportunity to better integrate the player and boost his or her self-confidence.