Q:  What is good age for a child to start specializing on playing goalkeeper?  Julio, Lexington, KY

A:  Although the US Youth Soccer does not recommend that we introduce that actual position of goalkeeper to the game until the U10 level I do feel that we need to introduce our youth soccer players to some of the technical elements of what is required to be a goalkeeper as early as U6. Children this young need to experience skills such as rolling, throwing and catching the ball to help them improve with their hand eye coordination as well as tumbling activities all which will be required not just for goalkeeping but for general play and physical development.

During our youth many of us grew up playing pick up games where there were no coaches and the rules were created by us. Even during the ages of 7 or 8 we would have keeper in our street soccer games, the rules were simple who ever the last defending player was in and around the goal area was allowed to use their hands. This concept at the time was just part of the game we did not have any understanding that this tactically may be helping players develop some minimal tactical concept of what it is like to play the position of keeper. This rule may not be allowed in your regular weekend games but it can be introduce when you scrimmage with your teams during your practice sessions. The advantage of playing this rule is that is allows every player to be exposed to the position, even though not every player will go on to play as a keeper it does allow everyone to gain some technical and tactical understanding just by playing the game.

Once the position of keeper is introduced at the U10 level you may not find as much reluctance from players to play the position because of the exposure during their younger years in the game. This is a very important age for all players to focus on the technical aspects for playing both keeper and on the field. If a player at this age stats expressing a bigger desire to play just in goal don’t make the mistake and pigeon hole them there, still allow all players to experience playing in between the goals even in training or actual games. Keepers need to be able to work with their feet and outfield players need to be able to respect the technical, tactical and psychological demands on being the last line of defense and the first line of attack for the team. It is important that you refine the rules of now playing this position.

As players start reaching their adolescent years you can probably start narrowing it down to just have 1 or 2 keepers on your team. I like the concept of keeping two keepers to keep the element of competition for the starting positions in place, plus it allows them to train against each other during practice sessions. It is also that you still allow these players to be exposed to some time on the playing field because as they probably reach the age of 15/16 years old you will only require on goalkeeper.

Q:  My daughter has some raw talent as a goalkeeper but does not receive any specific keeper training with her club team can you recommend any training sessions or events she can attend that will help her develop as a goalkeeper?   Lorne, Nicholasville, KY

A:  This is a very common problem with young goalkeepers as clubs do not have the resources or funds to hire a specialized coach. We always recommend that outfield players work on the technical skills during their own time and this is also something that any players interested in playing keeper can do, but because the positions is more specific the technical skills do need more refining and correcting as to limit the mistakes made, after all mistakes made by a keeper can often prove more costly than those made by an outfield player.

Through the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Programs offered in Kentucky and other US Youth Soccer states there is always specialized keeper training offered at the practice sessions, obviously this does require players going through a try-out process to make the training pools but it is at least one form of specialized training you can receive. I am aware of a few companies that offer individual training and summer camps just for goalkeeping, however if you are unable to find one in your area you can also contact the local colleges to see if any of their coaches or senior players offer any training.

Q:  What is the rule of play for U14? How many kids are allowed on the field at a given time?   Paul, Henderson, KY

A:  At any time of play the maximum number of players allowed on the field of play at U14 is 11 players. The minimum number of players allowed is 7