Jason Fukushima is a new writer for the site and will regularly give his perspective on events from a goalkeeper’s point of view, as well as tips on how wannabe goalkeepers around the world can improve themselves- Ed 

To start off my name is Jason Fukushima and I am a goalkeeper.  I play for a competitive team in California playing in a good league.  However, this league is not professional and I am still an amateur looking to play college ball.

So let’s begin:

I think before I start naming off things is to clarify first off that the whole misconception about Goalkeepers.  We do not and shall not become goalkeepers by force and by athleticism.  Most coaches either force kids to become the keeper or because they are the slowest or most unfit on the team.  We become goalkeepers because we like responsibility, know how to control all 11 players on the field including ourselves for the whole game, and we love soaring through the air making unbelievable saves.

1. Hands: Our hands should always be good.  This is why the United States has produced some pretty good keepers.  To name a few, Tim Howard, Kasey Keller, Tony Meola…the list continues. The
   U.S. plays baseball, basketball, and other sports that requires SOFT HANDS.  Soft Hands is part of having them in general.  We must be good at receiving balls to the hands cleanly.  By this I mean proper shape, while many of my trainers have forced the “W” on me and I employ this shape to this day, the “Triangle” probably works just as well though.  But one of these definitely has to be good and sound for a keeper to properly receive the ball.   

2. Athleticism: After hands, athleticism probably comes next. We need to have very fast reflexes or be very tall. I will not endorse height as a necessity because I am a rather short goalkeeper. Also, about the height thing, I have reached and saved balls that my taller counter parts looked at and coveted. We should not be the most athletic player on the team, but one of the most athletic. 

3. Leadership Ability: If you think about enough and notice who wins games and who doesn’t, it’s usually the keeper that has the best leadership qualities that wins the match.  When you watch a game, the one who is the most absent minded, rarely communicates to his/ her teammates and doesn’t think about his/ her orders is the one that is going to lose.  Look at it this way, no matter who the captain, co-captain, or vice-captain is, you are the leader.  The captain is a mere figure head, like the Queen of England- no control just wears the band.  So, remember, tell your defense what you want done before, during, and after the game.  Tell your midfielders what you want during the game, and get on your forwards if they don’t come back to help in big situations. 

4. Bravery: It took me a little while to get over this one major fact of goal keeping: I’m going to go very high and I’m going to crash very hard against a ground that is unforgiving.  After a little while, you get used to it and it doesn’t hurt anymore, seriously.  As keepers, diving is a big part of the game that comes with a painful price sometimes.  My suggestions are padded shorts, ¾ pants, or full pants.  You must be prepared to make any sacrifice to save a ball that would otherwise without your interference, be a goal.  Remember this-There will always come a time when you are utterly exhausted, your teammates will say save this one, just this one time, your teammates are looking for a miracle, you need to find it within you to be that miracle.

5. Coping Ability: When you are in a game, and you get scored on, nothing is worse than trying to pick up the goalkeeper.  If the goalkeeper is down about a goal, the whole team might as well turn in their jerseys to the coach because they aren’t winning this game today.  Some of the best goalkeepers are the worst goalkeepers once they get scored on.  You need to pick yourself up and shake it off.  It’s going to happen and its bound to happen, it’s the ultimate consequence of becoming a goalkeeper.  Something to remember: Scouts look to make sure you have all of the above before this, but all four of the above can be trainable to some degree-scouts know in their minds that you can’t train a complete headcase- that’s why they still clear of them once they know who you are.

Good Luck!

Posted on September 24th, 2007 |
Filed under: Fukushima, goalkeeper, tactics, tips