By Richard Lee - 29/11/2009

Coaching Keepers Like You

I'VE always had one eye on doing more than just playing football - and those who know me will realise that setting up the goalkeeping school and some other bits which I've done this season is just me being me, making the maximum out of what spare time I have.

My first priority will always be my playing career, make no mistake, but I wanted to get something started on the coaching side of things and I'm pleased to report that my first keeper school has really taken shape over these first few months.

The first few weeks I took the sessions myself personally, but now the boys doing the coaching are all good friends of mine and have links to Watford. Lads such as Reece Kirk and Liam Watson have both been Academy keepers with the club so they are in tune with my line of thinking and of good goalkeeping pedigree. It's important we're all singing from the same hymn sheet in that respect.

We've done something a bit different with the sessions in that we focus on particular technical aspects each time we meet. It's been a great chance for me to put across some of my ideas, it's gone well and I'm hoping to be opening some more schools next season.

We have two separate sessions: 12 and under then 13 and over. We like to get the people on the course serving each other as well as watching demos from our team of coaches. There are all ages and sizes, it''s great. We've got lads of 32, the oldest I think, and some really younger ones too.

Around 20-odd signed up initially - we're nearer 30 now - which is a great number considering it's such a specialised area of the game. This was without too much advertising at first, so I'm hoping it's growing by word of mouth as well.

The pro game is very cut-throat with keeper selection; before technique or any other metric is judged, it's all about size. And while that's true for outfield players, it's not felt quite so acutely as if you're a budding young goalkeeper.

So as we encounter some of the more talented lads on our course - and we've seen some already - for as much as we want to help them grow and be the best they can be, there's a little bit of expectation-setting goes on.

But for the majority of the participants, it's about being a better keeper in a Sunday League match. It's great to hear them coming back week after week sharing their experiences and improvements.

Of course if we did see someone with truly exceptional potential on the course, we'd be happy to nurture them and make sure that if they had a chance of getting a club, we did everything we could to help faciltate that.

Overall though, it's going very well and was my first true step outside of just being a player. I've also recently produced a keeper coaching video with plenty more stuff lined up.

Check both angles of my work away from the pitch out at:

www.goalkeepingguru.co.uk

and

www.gkworkout.com

MIght see you at a keeper coaching course soon!