Goalkeeping coach

[therealGlenn]

My son, 12, is a GK and has been attending Rondos academy for a few years. They have just lost their goalkeeping coach and I'm looking for other opportunities for him. Does anybody know of a good GK academy or coach in South East London/Kent area that I could consider? Thanks in advance and COYS!!

edit: he plays for Welling United (U12 JPL and Selkent 'Premier' league), he also plays district for West Kent

 

[philll]

@Shanks might have an idea...

 

[Yid-ol]

@Shanks might have an idea...

Was about to tag him also!

 

[Shanks]

Possible, I knoe a good one near to me, but thats north Hampshire/Surrey area, but will do some digging mate.

Has he had any trials at any local academy's yet as they often have 'feeder' group coaching as well?

 

[therealGlenn]

Possible, I knoe a good one near to me, but thats north Hampshire/Surrey area, but will do some digging mate.

Has he had any trials at any local academy's yet as they often have 'feeder' group coaching as well?

Cheers mate, willing to travel depending on the day so not ruling out North Hampshire...

Hasn't had a trial yet as he has been happy at his current academy

 

[Trix]

Just some general advice not aimed at the OP because he obviously already knows this and it's why he's asking. Anyone with a son or daughter who wants to be a goal keeper you should(if you can) get them specialist coaching. Just taking them along to grass roots clubs is not enough. I've watched litterally hundreds of youth games at varying levels for various reasons, and you can tell the keepers who have had actual goal keeper coaching within minutes of seeing them play. I've posted about it before on here but I think all grass roots clubs should have at least one coach who has a badge for coaching keepers in their ranks. I honestly feel for keepers because they are often nothing more than training cones at junior levels used to train the other kids taking pot shots at them.

Also I dislike, and am very much against JPL, but that's for another thread.

Good luck finding one pal

 

[Shanks]

https://www.elgkacademy.co.uk/

GOALKEEPING DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Goalkeeper coaching goalkeeper training goalkeeping courses and goalkeeping events Lambeth Southwark Lewisham Greenwich Bromley Bexley Croydon Merton South London South East London Kent Surrey UK

Goalkeeping Development Centre, goalkeeper coaching, goalkeeping training, goalkeeper courses, goalkeeping tuition, 1v1, goalkeeping, goalkeepers, academy, bacons college, selsport, Lee Heywood, bermondsey, lewisham, greenwich, merton, south east london, kent, surrey, UK, gkdevelopment.co.uk

www.gkdevelopment.co.uk

Worth getting in touch with these if location works, these are the type of goalkeeping coaching that are run locally.

As @Trix says, specialist training is key for any kid who aspires to be a goalkeeper (nutters), it is really easy to spot those that have been trained compared to those that haven't in grassroots.

My friend set up this goalkeeping setup in our area, and I do recommend him, he has had a few go from there into academy and even just today a 19 yr old keeper just signed his first pro contract with QPR, I recommend his as he is brilliant with the kids too https://bowmangoalkeeping.co.uk/

Obviously this coaching comes at a price, unlike academy football where it doesn't, but its a really good thing to help develop those basic fundamentals needed.

 

[thebenjamin]

Agree with all being said about specialist coaching, it's the most technically challenging of positions - both my boys (12&8) are keepers and have been in the academy system for a while. There's a great coach I use but this is north London so probably not much good to you. You're welcome

 

[therealGlenn]

Just some general advice not aimed at the OP because he obviously already knows this and it's why he's asking. Anyone with a son or daughter who wants to be a goal keeper you should(if you can) get them specialist coaching. Just taking them along to grass roots clubs is not enough. I've watched litterally hundreds of youth games at varying levels for various reasons, and you can tell the keepers who have had actual goal keeper coaching within minutes of seeing them play. I've posted about it before on here but I think all grass roots clubs should have at least one coach who has a badge for coaching keepers in their ranks. I honestly feel for keepers because they are often nothing more than training cones at junior levels used to train the other kids taking pot shots at them.

Also I dislike and am against JPL a lot but that's for another thread.

Good luck finding one pal

Thanks Trix, yeah, JPL is a bit mad and the parents do my head in, but just trying to get him playing the most competitive football he can. Next year Kent Youth League so hopefully better. You are spot on, not looking for anything grass roots, he needs to refine some technical aspects. Has had some really good technical stuff until now and MOST of that has been focused on his footwork which he is actually very good at now.....needs some work on some positioning fundamentals especially corners and FK's as that never gets coached! Also trying to break his tendency to sink into saves for ages now!!!

 

[therealGlenn]

https://www.elgkacademy.co.uk/

GOALKEEPING DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Goalkeeper coaching goalkeeper training goalkeeping courses and goalkeeping events Lambeth Southwark Lewisham Greenwich Bromley Bexley Croydon Merton South London South East London Kent Surrey UK

Goalkeeping Development Centre, goalkeeper coaching, goalkeeping training, goalkeeper courses, goalkeeping tuition, 1v1, goalkeeping, goalkeepers, academy, bacons college, selsport, Lee Heywood, bermondsey, lewisham, greenwich, merton, south east london, kent, surrey, UK, gkdevelopment.co.uk

www.gkdevelopment.co.uk

Worth getting in touch with these if location works, these are the type of goalkeeping coaching that are run locally.

As @Trix says, specialist training is key for any kid who aspires to be a goalkeeper (nutters), it is really easy to spot those that have been trained compared to those that haven't in grassroots.

My friend set up this goalkeeping setup in our area, and I do recommend him, he has had a few go from there into academy and even just today a 19 yr old keeper just signed his first pro contract with QPR, I recommend his as he is brilliant with the kids too https://bowmangoalkeeping.co.uk/

Obviously this coaching comes at a price, unlike academy football where it doesn't, but its a really good thing to help develop those basic fundamentals needed.

Cheers mate, will look into it!

 

[Trix]

Thanks Trix, yeah, JPL is a bit mad and the parents do my head in, but just trying to get him playing the most competitive football he can. Next year Kent Youth League so hopefully better. You are spot on, not looking for anything grass roots, he needs to refine some technical aspects. Has had some really good technical stuff until now and MOST of that has been focused on his footwork which he is actually very good at now.....needs some work on some positioning fundamentals especially corners and FK's as that never gets coached! Also trying to break his tendency to sink into saves for ages now!!!

Genuinely mate if he's good enough get him into the local district schools programme. It's free(JPL is a rip off), regular competitive games against all the best kids in the area's, great training, and most importantly no false promises of scouts turning up etc.

 

[therealGlenn]

Genuinely mate if he's good enough get him into the local district schools programme. It's free(JPL is a rip off), regular competitive games against all the best kids in the area's, great training, and most importantly no false promises of scouts turning up etc.

yeah he is currently playing district for West Kent, but havent been that impressed with the GK coaching which is only every other week

edit: or is the local district schools progamme something different as his district football isnt free? Also, the whole scouting thing is a complete lottery and nonsense.....played against PL teams academies and I havent been impressed at all

 

[thebenjamin]

Both my boys just got released by Chelsea, the fucks

 

[Shanks]

Thanks Trix, yeah, JPL is a bit mad and the parents do my head in, but just trying to get him playing the most competitive football he can. Next year Kent Youth League so hopefully better. You are spot on, not looking for anything grass roots, he needs to refine some technical aspects. Has had some really good technical stuff until now and MOST of that has been focused on his footwork which he is actually very good at now.....needs some work on some positioning fundamentals especially corners and FK's as that never gets coached! Also trying to break his tendency to sink into saves for ages now!!!

I remember my son when he moved into academy football, the first 6 months was purely catching and throwing drills, with a bit of footwork (leg positioning to move across goal), at first I thought it all looked a bit basic instead of seeing him flying across the goal. Even though I was a non league keeper, I learned more about goalkeeping seeing him train and play 3/4 times a week than I ever did in 30 years playing that position, modern goalkeeping is a challenge.

One thing that was always spoken about was height - I'm 6'7 tall, so the club were absolutely fine that my lad would get to the physical height they required (he is 6'3/6'4 ish now at 18), so its worth keeping an eye on if he really wants to push that way too.

 

[Shanks]

Both my boys just got released by Chelsea, the fucks

Lad turned Chelsea down for Reading (well that was mostly me truth be told)!

 

[thebenjamin]

Lad turned Chelsea down for Reading (well that was mostly me truth be told)!

Smart move. It's been quite weird to be honest. They pitched me this whole long term plan for both of them and I turned down quite a few other opportunities to go there - the drive to Cobham is absolutely savage for me so it hasn't been easy.

And then they've ditched both of them which obviously is their right to do but the reasoning is just odd. My older one didn't have a great term tbf what with starting secondary it was all a bit much for him and it affected his form, but still, he's the same potential they loved a few months ago. Just turned 12 and 6 foot!

My younger one baffles me completely, they're saying he's not good enough with his feet but he's fucking 8 and shit hot at everything else (in my v biased opinion) - maybe coach him?! What keeper isn't a project with potential at this age?

Apologies been waiting to rant to someone about this lol

 

[easley91]

Right how many of you have keeper kids?

 

[Shanks]

Smart move. It's been quite weird to be honest. They pitched me this whole long term plan for both of them and I turned down quite a few other opportunities to go there - the drive to Cobham is absolutely savage for me so it hasn't been easy.

And then they've ditched both of them which obviously is their right to do but the reasoning is just odd. My older one didn't have a great term tbf what with starting secondary it was all a bit much for him and it affected his form, but still, he's the same potential they loved a few months ago. Just turned 12 and 6 foot!

My younger one baffles me completely, they're saying he's not good enough with his feet but he's fucking 8 and shit hot at everything else (in my v biased opinion) - maybe coach him?! What keeper isn't a project with potential at this age?

Apologies been waiting to rant to someone about this lol

Are they both keepers as well?

6ft at that age is massive, my just turned 13 year old lad is only 5'10 (I say only), he can't play in goal though, can't catch the ball

Tbh, it was a difficult choice back when he was 9, Chelsea, QPR, Reading, Southampton and Fulham wanted to sign him, I chose Reading in the end as there seemed to be a good pathway through to pro level and I really liked the coaches styles back then (his original coach is now GK coach at Villa), lucky or him its worked out and he's now a first year pro, very different challenge now as its all about getting minutes, loans or chances (with a little bit of growth still to do).

So whilst I've never been on the side of being let go, I've certainly had the bullshit excuses, or seen people let go for things that just don't make sense at all - honestly, it is a frustrating industry, I'm sure Trix has a better understanding of it all, but ability alone just isn't enough, you need to know the right people, be in the right place at the right time, be liked, have the right engagement (not too much) and all sorts of stuff on the side along with the ability and body to perform. Goalkeeping physicality is very different to an outfielders one...

 

[therealGlenn]

Smart move. It's been quite weird to be honest. They pitched me this whole long term plan for both of them and I turned down quite a few other opportunities to go there - the drive to Cobham is absolutely savage for me so it hasn't been easy.

And then they've ditched both of them which obviously is their right to do but the reasoning is just odd. My older one didn't have a great term tbf what with starting secondary it was all a bit much for him and it affected his form, but still, he's the same potential they loved a few months ago. Just turned 12 and 6 foot!

My younger one baffles me completely, they're saying he's not good enough with his feet but he's fucking 8 and shit hot at everything else (in my v biased opinion) - maybe coach him?! What keeper isn't a project with potential at this age?

Apologies been waiting to rant to someone about this lol

Its all so brutal...told my boy there is a career to be had that doesnt involve playing in PL...and its all so subjective based on a very small sample! feel your pain mate

 

[therealGlenn]

Both my boys just got released by Chelsea, the fucks

sorry mate, we pour hearts into our lads and this is so hard to take!! Doesnt mean they are right though!!