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. 

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