Rochester Pride - RSC Lightning '96

The Soccer Goalkeeper is certainly the most specialized position in the game and it takes a very special and unique balance of dedication, focus, courage and skill. Yet it is the single most neglected position on most youth teams – but not on this team. Anybody who has an interest in proper, qualified and dedicated goalkeeper training has that opportunity available to them on this team. I will hold a “Keepers only” practice once a week – probably on Fridays. My goalkeeper sessions are generally more difficult and challenging that full-team training sessions. I take them very seriously because I know that anybody asking for this training also takes this opportunity seriously. My goal is to give anybody who trains under me the leadership qualities and technical skills to play at a varsity level once they reach high school. All players are welcome to attend these training sessions. Any field player who attends may chose to participate on one of 2 levels: (1) full participation/workout or (2) observe/assist. (1) full participation/workout: In past years I have had field players who have asked my to allow them to fully participate simply for the benefit of the extensive physical workout, which can be rather demanding depending on my focus for that day – certainly it is far more demanding than anything I require during regular full-team training sessions. I have allowed this in the past and will make the opportunity available to this team as well. If you do choose to train and work out with the keepers, that does not mean you will be obligated to play during matches if you do not wish to (beyond the scope of my team policy covered above). History has taught me, however that players who do workout with the keeper tend to develop futher and faster even as field players due to the physical exercise and the tactical information they are learning in the process. (2) observe/assist: In the past I have also had players who ask to attend the session but do not wish to work out as the keepers do, but possibly could help with taking shots if required. I also will allow players to attend on this basis - but these are the conditions: These sessions are all about the keeper. Any player in attendance and not working out will assist in gathering balls, setting up the field as needed, providing pressure, shooting on net, serving balls, crossing balls, etc., etc. as required. Depending on the skills I need to work on that day, there may or may not be the opportunity for players to shoot on net. I will expect assistance and get you some shooting or attacking on net if I am able. But all in the context of working the keeper's skills - not the attacker's. By no means should anybody show up to a goalkeeper training session expecting that it is just a shoot-around. It is not. When: (subject to change) Fridays 5:30 How Long: usually 60-75 minutes