Lawrence Hamnett Competitive Soccer: Goalkeeper Training

GOALKEEPER TRAINING SESSIONS

Paul Lobben has again volunteered to run specialized goalkeeper training for the travel teams in Lawrence Hamnett. I strongly encourage each coach to support this effort by encouraging your top two or three goalkeepers to attend the weekly, 60-minute training sessions. Each session will encompass the economical coaching model, and be organized with a simple to complex progression reinforcing the technique and tactic through the session while pushing the physical component and always staying positive to foster high self-confidence in the young keeper.

Training for the U8-U10 (small-sided) and U11-U17 (full-sided) players will be broken into separate sessions. Based on the available field schedules, we have organized the training sessions to be held in back-to-back time slots on Tuesday nights at Village Park (6:00-7:30pm on Gordon side; 7:30-9:00pm on Yeager side).

Paul has developed a ten-week curriculum that will focus on the four pillars of goalkeeping:

Technical: hand-eye skills, diving, crosses, 1-v-1, etc.
Tactical: decision making, angle play, organizing defense/set-pieces, restarts, etc.
Physical: proper warm-up, foot mobility, etc.
Mental: leadership, self-confidence, staying focused, etc.

Paul is a quality coach with a track record of coaching youth soccer and competing at a high level. Many of you know Paul from his involvement in LHSA and participation in the coaches game. I've included a brief biosketch below.

Many thanks to Roxanne Yonan, John Shutak, Jeff Arch, and Fran Wilgus for volunteering to help Paul with his training sessions in order to provide adequate coverage for our players for the Fall 2011 season. Within the curriculum, training sessions will also emphasize the psychological component of the position and train the goalkeepers to be mentally strong and more confident. Each session will address three specific components: "off your line", "ready position", and "talk" (see below).

I appreciate your support and efforts to make this a successful endeavor.

Kay Bidle,
VP of Competitive

1st "off your line"
By playing off the goal line, the goalkeeper is:

engaged in the game
ready to intercept and smother a thru ball
able to better communicate with defense

2nd 'ready position'

always be in the 'ready position'
shuffle to follow the movement of the ball

3rd "talk"

command the 18-yard box with a loud voice
communicate and direct your teammates
- keep players goal-side of the attacking players
- mark-up on corner kicks, including goal posts
- make walls on free kicks
an organized defense makes goalkeeping much easier
congratulate players on good plays and communicate mistakes

Brief Biosketch
Paul Lobben has been involved in LHSA for the past six years, coaching at both the recreational and travel level. He holds an "E" license from the New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association. He has been playing soccer for over 30 years, and currently playing for S. Nini Builders FC in the over-30 Mercer County Men's League, as one of the top goalkeepers with one of the lowest GAA average for the league. Contact Paul Lobben at 609-558-9441; paullobben@verizon.net