Steve Hale Goalkeeping School - developing grass roots goalkeepers

1. Steve Hale
My philosophy on the development of Grass Roots goalkeepers
My thought processes over 14 years experience of “Steve Hale Goalkeeping School”

2. Set up in 2007 with the aim of helping young Grass Roots
Goalkeepers develop and enjoy the position of Goalkeeper

3. Aspects to work on
• Set Position
• Catching/Handling techniques
• Footwork
• Speed around the goal
• Shot-Stopping
• Diving techniques
• Positioning
• Start positions
• Dealing with crosses
• Distribution with feet
• Distribution with hands
• Dealing with back-passes
• 1v1 situations (Dive at feet/Block/Spread/Smother)
• Foot saves
• Communication
• Organisation
• Reading the game
• Decision making
• Game situations
• Teamwork
• Social skills
• Goalkeeping psychology
• Goalkeeping fitness
• Fun and enjoying the position
Achieved through Structured practice for repetition, Random
practice for decision making elements, Game Situational practice
and ensuring lots of fun!

4. Realistic to the game?
Social media now will show all sorts of whacky and weird clips of goalkeeping exploits. I want the
time spent with the goalkeepers to be fun, but still realistic to the game to help them develop.
My belief is to try and keep practice close to what really happens within the game, we don’t need
to over complicate things
• Structured practice, repetition of technique, honing their skills
• Challenge and make competitive for the goalkeepers, test their desire
• Random practice, decision making

5. Group Work
As part of their learning and development I believe its good for the goalkeepers
to work in small groups with other goalkeepers
They get to watch and learn off other goalkeepers of similar ages which is
important. They can see what works and what doesn’t for others and perhaps
try different ways themselves
They get to train with AND compete against other goalkeepers. This
“competition” can help motivate themselves to try and be the best goalkeeper
in that group, therefore pushing standards up
By working with other likeminded goalkeepers, they also get to experience the
values of “Team-Work” and “Respect” supporting each other

6. 1-2-1 Work
Spending some individual time with a
goalkeeper allows you to really focus on
the needs of that particular goalkeeper
It gives you chance to build that
relationship of trust with the goalkeeper
You get plenty of time to work on many
different types of techniques.
You can break the techniques down and
focus on “Repetition” to improve those
specific techniques
I like to finish these sessions with a
“Coaches Challenge” to provide both a
competitive edge along with fun where
they compete against me the Coach to
try and beat me and claim the bragging
rights which they enjoy

7. Match Situation Play
As part of a cycle of topics, the Match Situation
Play session is really important
A game is played where the goalkeepers play
out on pitch and rotate in goal
When out on the pitch they get to experience
the different outfield positions and gain
understanding how those positions can impact
on them as a goalkeeper and as a goalkeeper on
an outfield player
When in goal, I like to look at a number of
factors such as:
• Start position in relation to where the ball is
• Reading the game
• Communication and organisation
• Decision making
• Different distribution skills under pressure
These are really important aspects they need to
learn to improve their understanding of the
requirements of their position within the team

8. Educating Grass Roots Clubs
Although I coach goalkeepers in groups and 1-2-1 our young goalkeepers will often be left to
their own devices when in their clubs due to a lack of goalkeeping knowledge at their
respective clubs. Where possible it’s good to try and help give some basic knowledge to
outfield coaches in a bid to help them to help their goalkeepers
Probably the biggest issue for young goalkeepers is taking goal kicks, struggling with distance
on their strikes. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been told a young goalkeeper isn’t
allowed to take their goal kicks which is really disappointing.
If a goalkeeper is struggling they need patience and support, from me as a goalkeeping coach
but also importantly, their team coach. A goal kick isn’t just a goalkeeping technique, striking a
ball is a technique every player needs to master. Therefore I would encourage coaches to help
their goalkeeper practice it in their team training, even if its spending 10-15 minutes a week
with them. Then back them and show patience even if they make mistakes in a game but allow
them to take them, they wont develop if they don’t get opportunities to take them

9. I try to think carefully about the words and sentences I use when discussing something that has not quite gone
right and also think about the tone of my voice or body language when speaking to the goalkeeper:
“Could you have done any better on any of them?”
“Could you have done anything differently to prevent them?
“What do you think to that goal?”
“How can you do better next time?”
Try and finish the discussion with a positive…..
”I bet you do better next time”
“Don’t worry, mistakes are there to help you learn and improve”
Over the years, many goalkeepers will tell you of this scenario after a game. You get asked a couple of questions by
people:
“How did you get on today”?
“We lost 6-0”
“You let in 6”!!!!!!!!!! (…..no goalkeeper “Lets” a goal in!.....a goal is “conceded”)
“How many were your fault?”
Confidence
The psychological side of the
game is huge
Confidence takes time to
build but a second to crush
I try to support, praise and
encourage the goalkeepers
Fault rectifying needs to be
done in a constructive way

10. Social
The social element to working with Grass Roots goalkeepers is
important
I want the goalkeepers to have fun and enjoy themselves as
this will also help them develop in the long run, enjoying what
they do
I encourage them to mix and make new friends
With todays technology, people in general don’t talk as much
face to face so the art of communication has got worse.
Therefore if I can encourage the goalkeepers to talk socially, I
feel this will help with their communication skills on the pitch

11. Summary – Developing Grass Roots goalkeepers
What the goalkeepers need
• Patience
• Fun and enjoyment
• Coaching within a goalkeeping group
• 1-2-1 work
• Coaching within their team
• Support from Goalkeeping Coach, Team Coach, Parent and team-mates
• Game opportunities

12. Joe Alexander (Charlie's Mum)
Just wanted to say thanks.
Charlie's team aren’t having the best of seasons, rooted to the bottom, even tougher
when you are the last man standing.
Yet each week he goes onto that pitch with confidence. I can only see this
being confidence he has gained through knowledge gained each week at Steve Hale
Goalkeeping School.
I watch every Wednesday him learning and mastering skills to then put them into
action on a Sunday; to the point I can actually talk through why he's done something!
So again thank you, I think your help, guidance and drilling is helping a 12 year old
goalie through a very tough season
Sacha
I've noticed a great improvement in Archie's behaviour. He used to mess around even
though he wanted to be part of the team.
Since joining your school on a Wednesday evening his approach is improving & we
are extremely proud of the positive changes in him. After watching him last
Wednesday, apart from a few lads, some of them were mucking about. Archie
purposely didn't get involved in this and stayed focused.
This has also shown during training or match days with his team too and I'd just like to
say thank you for everything you've done for our son.
He is growing into a fabulous young lad & I'd like you to know that you are part of that.
Again, thank you & to your team.
Andy Milloy
I wanted to state how delighted I am at the progress my son Ross is making whilst
currently attending The Steve Hale Goalkeeping School.
The quality of the coaching given to Ross by Steve has been exceptional. Ross
joined the School last summer and his skill level, ability to read the game and
confidence has increased enormously.
This has been demonstrated by Ross' performances in league and cup matches
for his Club side. For example, He has earned clean sheets in his last four
matches and produced some very slick goalkeeping. His improvement can be
directly attributable to Steve Hale's coaching.
The Goalkeeping School is very professionally run and Steve has a genuine
rapport with the boys they coach. I would highly recommend the School to
budding young Goalkeepers who want to develop their goalkeeping education.
Dawn & Derek
Our son Marcus has been attending the Steve Hale Goalkeeping School for 18
months now which we are extremely happy with.
Our son enjoys the experience of being around other goalkeepers and the training
we believe to be exceptionally good. He is given one to one training with very
competent staff, if a particular area is causing a problem that needs extra work.
We have seen our son grow in confidence as a person and as a goalkeeper and
we expect this to continue the more sessions he attends.
Thank you for your hard work!

13. www.stevehalegoalkeeping.co.uk
UEFA A Licence Goalkeeping Coach
FA Advanced Youth Award Goalkeeping
UEFA B Licence Outfield