This week, Developing Goalkeeping UK speaks to Woking keeper Craig Ross.
As you are more of a senior goalkeeper would you dictate to the goalkeeper coach that you are currently working with what you would like to do on a Tuesday and a Thursday or are you still open-minded to try new things?
Craig Ross: To be honest it’s been a bit of an open topic I have said to him on a Tuesday I would like him to put me through my paces so I get a good blow out of the session.
Then on the Thursday we work on shorter, sharper stuff also adding in crossing and some kicking during that session. We speak quite a bit about it, but it is a challenge to try and fit and cram everything in in them two sessions a week.
If you make a mistake on a Saturday would you go back through it with the goalkeeping coach on Tuesday or continue what you had planned originally?
CR: I personally would crack on and work on that topic that didn’t go to plan from Saturday’s game.The difficult thing is because this so many games on a Tuesday night we can’t always fit this in so we have both agreed that the minute we get the chance to work on it we do.
Would you say you change your style of play depending on which manager is at the football club at that time or would you stay quite stubborn?
CR: I think you’ve got to be adaptable and I don’t think you would survive if you just had the attitude of this is who I am take it or leave it.
Challenging yourself as a goalie is a big part of the game and if you can manage to do this with every new manager, it can only add more value to your game.
I had four different managers last year and they all wanted completely different things from me as the goalkeeper.
One manager who came in to Barnet was hot on goalkeepers coming and dealing with crossing and communication. I found myself working a lot more in training on dealing with crosses and making sure I took extra care in communication skills.
Goalkeeping tip of the week from Martin Brennan:
Communication I believe is even more basic in goalkeeping than basic handling. Being able to communicate with your team is absolutely vital and can potentially stop many attacks by organising or even just making your players aware that there is an opposition player close by.
Here are some basic communication skills that you as a young goalkeeper can put into your game instantly:
- “Keepers” or “away” – when you are potentially dealing with a cross into the box
- “Squeeze up” – get the team higher up the pitch as the ball moves away from your goal
- “Left shoulder” or “right shoulder” – you are letting your teammate know there is a player to the left side or the right side
- Encouragement – Show respect to your players as you are asking them to do a lot for you as a team and this will improve your relationship with them
So there are four things to focus on when communicating in games as a goalkeeper. If you are a parent of a young goalkeeper then please set them this task in the next match.
This will help them stay focused in the game and also show some good leadership skills to benefit the team.
DGUK ONLINE WORKSHOP – special offer
DGUK Are now offering an online goalkeeping workshop which will provide you with goalkeeping analysis, philosophies and training ideas.
Each week there will be a pro goalkeeper attending the workshop to give their views on goalkeeping which will help your own performance.
If you wish to see more details please click the link below…
https://developinggoalkeepinguk.lpages.co/dguk-online-workshop-pro/
http://www.developinggoalkeepinguk.com
The Goalkeeping Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-goalkeeping-podcast/id1348402331?mt=2
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For a FREE copy of the DGUK HANDBOOK please follow this link: https://developinggoalkeepinguk.lpages.co/freedgukgoalkeepinghandbook/
DGUK is a goalkeeper academy owned by Martin Brennan, a former first team goalkeeper coach at Fulham, Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient, that offers professional and semi-professional goalkeepers the chance to prepare for the new season with pre pre-season training camps.
There are also camps for college and university goalkeepers who are trying to reach the Non-League game and weekly group sessions and 2-to-1 sessions throughout the week.
