Another J4K success story!

 

Above is ex J4K student Josh Cook. Josh trained with Just4keepers goalkeeper training schools for over 5 years with his 2 brothers Nathan and Jimmy.

Josh is now a goalkeeper for Burnley Football Club and J4K is very proud to say how well Josh is doing. Josh was taught by J4K Founder Ray Newland and Ray says, 'Its great to see a great guy make the grade, not only is Josh one hell of a goalkeeper, he is one of the nicest youngmen I have had the pleasure to know and teach!'

Josh at full stretch in action against West Brom! Good to see a young goalkeeper come for a cross!

What is the best starting position technique?

Over the past three decades as a goalie coach , I have seen so many different variations of the goalkeeping starting position, some good, so very bad!

If yu have ten different keeper coaches this year, I will GUARANTEE you that each one of your coaches will show you a different starting position technique.

So what’s right goalkeeper starting position technique and what do I teach?

I have been taught by five ex international goalkeepers, and because of my proven results of the past 30 years for my students, my techniques are better than 99.9% of other goalkeeper coaches.

But I would not state my starting position technique is the right!

I think one of the BIGGEST errors coaches make is to think their technique is the best, and then make their students clones of themselves.

What a lot of in experienced keeper coaches do not understand is their students are all different and are individuals, so what is correct for one student, will not be right for another student. So a Gk coach should adapt is coaching to each students individuals needs.

Any goalkeeper trainer that states to his students, ‘You HAVE to stand like this, or you HAVE to put your hands in this position etc” in my opinion is either very in experienced or does not know what he is talking about.

As you grow and get older you will develop your own goalkeeping style, and it is up to your GK coach to murge his goalkeeping knowledge and experience with your personal style... this will then make you the complete goalkeeper that is suitable to you and your body.

Goalkeeper Coaching for Children

If you are a parent or grandparent looking for goalkeeper training for children there are a few very important pointers to look out for.

1: Make sure the keeper coach is who he states he is because some goalkeeping coaches exaggerate their claims regarding their goalkeeping career.

These GK coaches say they played for a professional soccer club but reading between the lines, they only had a  trial with a particular pro club, so they have NOT been a former professional keeper like they state..
  
So as a parent looking for goalkeeper training for children, IS DO YOUR RESEARCH ON YOUR GOALKEEPER COACH!

The only problem is when a soccer club employs a goalkeeper coach all the goalkeepers HAVE TO attend his sessions. I have seen many of these goalkeeper coaches in action and its very worrying as these coaches are un intentionally doing more harm than good.

Most parents ask me what I would do in that situation, and I say I would not allow my child to attend the coaches sessions! However, some parents sadly are frightened by the club and let their child attend these classes, then wonder why their child does not develop as a keeper.

I understand why soccer clubs hire a keeper coach as they want to do the right thing for their keepers. But if the club do not get the correct goalkeeper coach, in my opion it is a waste of time, especially for the goalkeeper.

2: Make sure he is qualified.
I have seen a few times over the year’s GK coaches who actually  lie about their qualifications. So make sure they have the qualifications they state! 

3: The next thing to do, is check out the GK coaches classes BEFORE you hand over your cash. What you want to see, is the coach training his students in a relaxed and friendly environment. If the gk coach is screaming and shouting at his students, stay away!

You also want to see all the keepers doing something. If you see keepers standing about doing nothing or waiting for the next directions from the gk coach, the chances are the coach does not know what he is doing, and or is very inexperienced.

4: Check your coach out online If this coach is making claims about his experiences etc, google him. If you cannot find anything about this coach online, I would be asking him some very serious questions!

5: What has he done for his current students? 
If he has helped his students succeed, the chances are he can do this with your child. You want to see  some decent success stories though, like his students getting a career opportunites because most gk coaches cannot do this for their students.

6: How much does he charge: I have seen some goalkeeper coaches and they charge a small fortune. Some of these coaches, I would not have them working for me for free because they are not very good, yet they are asking for ALOT of money for medicore coaching.


A good soccer keeper coach, coaches chidren to give something back to the next generation of goalkeepers so his coaching fees will always be fair

So if you are looking for Goalkeeper coaching for children I hope this article helps you pick the correct goalie coach because even though there are a lot of poor goalkeeper coaches coaching, there is thankfully a lot of very good keeper coaches out there… so it is up to you as a parent or grandparent to make sure you find the correct one for your child or grandchild.

Best of goalkeeping

Ray Newland

How to cummunicate with your defence

Communication with your Defence – by Jay Gibbs


Goalkeepers who communicate with their defenders are much valued. Clear, early calls can alert team mates to unseen dangers as well as averting any confusion arising between players. Furthermore constant communication with your defenders will aid your concentration, especially during those periods in the game where you are largely inactive.

It is important that you know what, how and when to communicate as a goalkeeper. As you are in the privileged position of seeing the whole pitch, you can alert defenders to blind-side runs from opponents, As play develops down one flank a quick glance across the pitch might reveal unmarked players. An early call to a team mate can ensure that the unmarked player is picked up. You must be specific in the information you direct at the team-mate who is dealing with the situation. In this case it may be:

‘Jay, Pick up the spare man at the back post!’

If the ball is played over the defence, you must make your intentions clear in order to avoid any confusion. Any hesitation on your part or the defenders could have disastrous consequences. If you intend to claim the ball, you must call:

‘Keeper’s ball, let it run!’

On no account should the defender play the ball if you are coming to collect it. When you want the defender to make a back pass, you should shout:

‘Keeper’s on. Push it back!

Merely to call ‘Keeper’s!’ does not clarify the situation sufficiently. The call should leave defenders in no doubt as to what the keeper intends to do. Typical instructions for back passes are:

‘Keeper’s on. Push it back! ‘Keepers on. Early!’ ‘Keeper’s on. Head it on!

‘Keeper’s on. Time!’

The call for a back pass must be combined with support at the correct angle and distance so that the defender has little trouble.

Whenever defenders are in possession and are facing their own goal you should always help them make the right decision. On the one hand they maybe under severe pressure, necessitating an early back pass, and on the other they may have time to turn with the ball. The calls in these situations would vary from:

‘Keeper’s on. Man on!’ to ‘Time. Turn!’

You should feel happy about maneuvering your own defenders in order to protect your goal. If you feel that attackers are being allowed too much space you must tell your team mates to mark more closely. For example you might call:

‘Get tighter! Or ‘Close him down!’

One of the aims of defending is to force play in one direction so that it becomes predictable and easily dealt with. Information such as:

‘Tight!’ Do not let him turn!’ and ‘Force him down the line!’ will help to achieve that end.

Futhermore, reminders to team mates of basic defending principles, such as:

‘Close him down quickly! Or ‘Stay on your feet!, will also assist the defensive unit in its job.

When the ball has been cleared you should encourage your defence to push out to leave those forwards remaining in advanced positions offside. A loud cry of

‘Push out!’ or ‘Squeeze up! Will suffice.

You must always encourage the nearest player to pressurise the ball carrier when the defensive unit is pushing up.As soon as the ball crosses the half way line you should be giving information and encouragement to other defenders. You should be mindful of the defence’s objective to make play predictable by forcing the ball in one direction.

When coming for a high cross you must not allow defenders to drop too deep and thus deny you space in which to attack the ball. The timing and manner of your communication is almost as important as the information you impart. Early calls are absolutely essential because defenders already committed to a plan of action will not react well to late instructions, The information must be concise and easily understood. Precious seconds could be wasted by instructions that are long winded. All information must be given in a loud, clear voice that instills confidence. An indecisive and nervous call can panic defenders and drain confidence. Even if you feel nervous inside try and be calm. You will achieve this if you provide early and relevant information in a confident and controlled manner.

Key Points

A) Adopt a good starting position relative to the proximity of the ball

B) Keep in line with the ball

C) Be ready to deal with through balls

D) Support team-mates when in possession

E) Give clear information to team-mates when and where necessary.

And finally……..BE LARGE AND IN CHARGE!!!!!!

J4k Pennsylvania

Here is a picture of our goalkeeper students enjoying their time at a course ran by J4K coaches Joe Weirs and Simon Robinson.

Just4keepers is one of the fastest growing goalkeeperschools in Pennsylvania with it becoming the ‘place to be’ for budding young goalkeepers to improve their goalkeeping skills.

At J4K Pennsylvania, goalkeepers are taught all the goalkeeping aspect needed to make those important saves and under the watchful eye of coach Joe and Coach Simon there is some fantastic success stories coming for 2012!

Whats the best height for a goalkeeper

What’s the best height for a goalkeeper?

I get asked this ALL THE TIME and over my 30 years as a goalkeeper coach, coaching all over the world the most common asked question I get asked is ‘ Am I too small to be a goalkeeper’.

However rightly or wrongly the fact of the matter is that most pro soccer clubs only want goalkeepers who will grow to be 6ft plus!

This is very hard for me because as a goalkeeping coach I have seen sooooo many great young goalkeepers who I believed had the ability to become a professional goalkeeper and I had been left just as frustrated as my goalkeeper student when they have been rejected by a pro club because of height, or lack of it to chose a better word.

I am a firm believer if you are good enough you are big enough!

The problem a lot of young goalkeepers have is when they try to get to a professional clubs academy at aged 6 – 15 years, alot of the coaches at these pro clubs are frightened to speak out. Each pro club has a template of what the ideal goalkeeper should look like in terms of stature and height and if they do not fit into this mould, again rightly or wrongly, they will not give this keeper a chance.

I am not saying all clubs do this but most do.

As I said above, the problem with young keepers who are small but HAVE the talent, they need their coach at this pro club to stand up for them. But as most coaches do not want to rock the boat and risk losing their coaching role, they play it easy and go with the template their club set out.

One part of me believes these coaches have no backbone but having being around professional clubs for many MANY years now, I do understand why they do this because for the most part, they would get ignored anyway.

The older you get, the stronger the chances are you have of making the grade if your are small.

If you can keep the faith and play the highest levels you can locally, if you can find a good independent goalkeeper schools or something like goalkeeper agent this can help you. I am also a firm believer if you are good enough and you keep playing, you will eventually  get noticed.

The key to this story is... NEVER GIVE UP!

even if you have been to an professional academy and have been rejected, this is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. Please believe when I say this, as I am probably more epxerienced than any other goalkeeper coach to understand this as I have seen it all!

I believe the window to make it as a goalkeeper is between the age of 15 and 23... 

So never give up on your goalkeeper dream!

Goalkeeper signs for Derby County

Many may not know this but Just4keepers runs the biggest goalkeeping camps in europe each year.

Every year we have ran this course we have always managed to get several young goalkeepers contracts at professional clubs or scholarships in the USA, and this years goalkeeper event was no different. Below you will see GK Daniel Wells who was one of our atttendees at the course in August 2011 who has now just signedwtih Derby County FC!

You see can see Daniel pictured with Just4keepers and Derby County goalkeeper Coach Jason Pearcey. Jason was instrumental in getting Dan this contract, so we would like to thank him for his efforts.

Also a big congratulations to Daniel from everyone at J4K!

Win Goalkeeper Gloves

The winner of my Everton Goalkeeper Jersey is David Wood from Bucks, UK.

Apologies it took a month longer to make this draw but I have been coaching abroad AGAIN.  I should produce my own travel show. Lol

ALSO HERE IS ANOTHER COMPETITION TO WIN A PAIR OF THE NEW J4K GLOVES.

All you have to do is email me at info@just4keepers.co.uk and tell me what developments you would like to see added to the new J4K gloves below. Also, let me know what glove size you take.

Competition ends the end of this month (Dec 31st 2011)... so be quick!

Goalkeeper Gloves In England

Over the past few years there has been many MANY goalkeeper glove companies come onto the market, so great some not so great. The reason why you have seen loads spring onto the market of late is because its so easy to find glove suppliers!

However there is good suppliers and some very bad glove suppliers. Most people pick bad and poor glove suppliers because they are cheap!

However one thing we pride ourselves at Just4keepers Gloves is that we use quality in our gloves and even though our suppliers are more expensive than other gloves suppliers (As we want quality for our customers) at J4K we DO NOT put high profits on our gloves, so our customers get high specification goalie gloves at rock bottom prices!


Only at Just4keepers do we provide notch keeper gloves at such low prices!

J4K - The goalkeepers choice!


Best of Goalkeeping

Ray Newland

Getting into Academies

Most young goalkeepers dream of getting to a professional football or soccer club academy. Or should I say the parent, especially the dads want to get to academies!

Please do not think I am knocking this dream because as a youngster this is all I dreamed about EVERY single day!

Most keepers and parents think if they are not at an academy that they have no chance of becoming a professional goalkeeper, however the great news is this could not be further from the truth.

Being at an academy is no big deal and especially with goalkeepers, with all the specialised GK coaching schools around, a young keeper is probably better going to a independent goalkeeper school rather than their local professional soccer clubs academy

Why?

Basically because most independent goalkeeper coaching schools are run by ex professional goalkeepers and at most professional academies the goalkeeper coaches, might be qualified but in terms of having professional playing experience, they have nothing!

So you are best having your son/daughter training with ex professional keeper rather than an inexperienced keeper coach all be it he is a GK coach at a Pro club.

Also if your child get to a pro club, you better learn how to handle being a pro club so you can best help your child because if you do not know what to do, when to do it and also be strong with the coaches at this club, your child may get messed about.

However rather than blabber on about how you should conduct yourself at a professional football soccer club academy, you are best reading a great book called ‘How to become a professional goalkeeper’ as this teaches parents how to deal with professional clubs academies.

Please goto Become a PRO Keeper

Free Goalkeeper Gloves

Just4keepers does it again and we are constantly proving we have the best interests at heart for not only young grassroot goalkeepers at grassroot level but also for parents who we help to save a small fortune!

The Just4keepers Goalkeeper Gloves have been out on the market for only about a year now and they have fast become one of the most popular gloves in the UK. Not only because the specification is top class on each of our gloves but more importantly, parents and goalkeepers appreciate what J4K is trying to do!

Please see one of our success stories below:

Do you REALLY need Goalkeeper Glove Cleaner?

I am always getting asked by my students, do I believe in paying money for goalkeeper glove cleaner that you now see advertised on goalkeeper coaching shops.

Too be totally  honest, I do not think its worth paying any money because water can do just the job.

By the way, I am not saying these glove cleaners are bad, they are not because I have spoke to a few goalkeeping students of mine who swear by this stuff, but me personally I would rather save the money and not buy this cleaner, then put this money towards a new pair of gloves.

Goalie Gloves are a VERY fragile products and if you wash them wrong, you could easily ruin them. I have done this with my gloves so soooo many times my the years were i washed them wrong and had to throw them away, and I had only used them once!

So what do i use if i do not use glove cleaner?

As basic as it sounds, i just use clean luke warm water, and i DO NOT add any detergent, cleaner etc, I use pure water. This has worked very well for me in my 20+ years of playing in goal at the highest levels. And my gloves have always lasted me a long time doing it this way, thus saving me money!

Another tip:
One of the things that i do after a game as sad as this sounds is I jump in the shower wearing my gloves and clean them this way. Yes I know very sad but it works for me.

Another thing that i do is when i get home, is fill a bowl of luke warm water, i then:

1: Gently wash my gloves with my fingers until I get the dirt off.

2: Rinse my Gloves.

3: Repeat number 1 and 2, so you are getting all dirt off gloves.

Cleaning my goalie gloves in this manner has helped my gloves last longer and preserved my grip, so please give my go a bash. Plus it saves you money!

FREE Goalkeeper Gloves

I have just found a great site that explains how you can get fee goalkeeper gloves in England, Free Goalkeeper Gloves in the USA and Free Goalkeeper Gloves in Canada.

In fact, I think you can get free goalie gloves in any country that you live??

got www.freegoalkeepergloves.com and check out the video.

Are you big enough as a goalkeeper??

I hate this guys, over the years the amount of great goalkeepers I have taught that have been rejected by professional clubs because of their height has been staggering! I believe if a goalkeeper is good enough, they are big enough.

Well check out this website that I have found, they believe the same as me! www.goalkeeperagent.com

So role up your goalie gloves and check out what these guys say!

This is what these guys say: (what they look for in a keeper).

This really annoys us at GK agent but football clubs are looking for goalkeepers who will grow to be at least 6ft 1 inch plus!

We at GK Agent believe if you are good enough, you are big enough, but sadly most professional football clubs have this template in their mind that goalkeepers need to be 6ft plus! So as an goalkeeping agency, this is what we need to look for and develop. Basically the football clubs are the customer and as the saying goes… the customer is always right!

Again we stress, we particular do not agree with this and we will give anyone a chance and if we feel a goalkeeper has talent and are good enough, not matter what their size is, if they are one of our clients we will push them all the way.

In fact for most keepers under 6ft, GK Goalkeeper agency might be their only lifeline, because of the respect football clubs have for the goalkeeper representatives of GK Agent.

But we feel we need to be brutally honest with you in this section and let you know the football clubs requirements what they look for in terms of goalkeepers.

So who do we look for:
If you are a current semi professional or even seasonal professional, please email us at info@goalkeeperagent.com with your details and we will get back to you.
IMPORTANT: We DO NOT answers general questions via email, please subscribe to get our updates and our updates etc.

If you are under 21 and you are just playing local football or if you are a parent of a young keeper wanting to give your child an edge, please go to our webpage ‘Become a GK Client’ and see how you can send GK your goalkeeping details.

Basically if you think you are good enough but are getting overlooked by football clubs, get in contact with GK and we will see what we can do for you.

Goalkeeper Gloves shops in Liverpool

Are you looking for goalkeeper shops in liverpool? If ye, look no further.

www.gkgloves.co.uk is based in Liverpool and is offering discounted gloves ONLY for goalkeepers of the Liverpool area. These prices will NOT be beaten anywhere else and all glovs offer top specification in the palms and backhand!

Also there is a free training sessions with every first purchase of the goalkeepergloves.

Best of Goalkeeping!

Is your goalkeeper coach doing more harm than good?

GK coaches who have never played at no great standard, taking their coaching badges and then all of a sudden thinking they are goalkeeper experts. Now please do not get me wrong, anyone who wants to take their coaching badges to help children has my full support and my admiration.

But I think these goalkeeper coaches need to know their limits. Please Note: There is NOTHING wrong with knowing your limits, if you speak to the gk coaches in the world, they also will be honest and tell you that they too know their limits!

So why do goalkeeper coaches who have no real playing experience who take a maybe their level 1 or 2 goalkeeper badge be a closed shop and let nobody into their soccer club?

In one word 'Fear'.

I have seen so many cases where a experienced goalkeeper coach was invited to run a goalkeeper course by the clubs president or secretary etc but the goalkeeper coach put a halt to this.

actually, The worst case I seen was in New York state when aex international goalkeeper coach who I knew was prepared to come and coach the goalkeepers at this soccer club but the gk coach in question kicked up such a fuss because he said he could develop the keepers just as good as this international. So this coach was stopped.

I did my research on this coach and the highest he played was college soccer and he only had his first level gk certification, so with the greatest respect, he had no right to make these comments. What is sad, its the children that had missed out on this coaching and also the gk coach in question would have also developed because he would have learned some new drills etc.

The reason this type coach does not want a 'experienced goalkeeper coach' coaching at his chosen club is because is he frightened that he will be found out, that all the keepers and other coaches will all of a sudden say 'hold on, what we have been teaching?'

What these grassroot soccer gk coaches do not realise that these experienced goalkeeper coaches are not after their job, they LOVE giving something back, not only to young gk students but also to coaches.

So a grassroot soccer goalkeeper coach can gain just as much as the goalkeepers with having a more experienced gk coach at hand. I run the biggest goalkeeper schools in the world, and would not hesitate to ask for help!

I do think some of the presidents and secretary of grassroot soccer clubs need to be lot more tougher with their goalkeeper coaches and make sure that they are getting the correct help and advice. And it does not mean getting the next level of a goalkeeping certification, sometimes alls it needs is a more experiences gk coach to come into the club and offer their expertise.

So my point is to grassroot soccer gk coaches, for the sake of your goalkeepers development, please do not think you are an expert because you have taken a few goalkeeper courses, and do not be afraid to bring in a more experienced gk coach to come and help you. As you win and more importantly so do your student

The only way you improve as a goalkeeper coach, is seeking help and advice from as MANY other gk coaches as you can.

Remember, 'Keepers Union!'

Matty Edwrads mkes his Professional debut

Matty started with J4K at just 10 years old and was coached by J4K Founder Ray Newland for several years. J4K and Ray helped Matty get to Manchester United were he spent a few years, before signing for Leeds United and then and now Rochdale!

Well done Matty, we are very VERY proud of your achievements!

Matty Edwards

Womens Goalkeeping Coach

Women Goalkeeping Coaches?

I have been asked many times now, if I would recommend that young keepers should use a womangoalkeeping coach.

If you would have asked me this question ten years ago, maybe even five years ago, I would have said no way. This is because I believe to be taught by a goalkeeping coach, you should seek out a keeper coach that has been a success.

I am a firm believer that you should ideally get coached by a doer, not a theorist.

When I started Jut4keepers in 1999 the standard of womens soccer was not that great, even the best womens international teams was not really that exciting to watch. However over the past ten years you cannot deny that womens soccer has improved ten fold and as a result, so has women’s goalkeeping.

Even though some women goalkeepers may struggle to compete with the physical side of goalie coaching compared to men, they are definitely on par teaching anything technical.

There are some excellent women goalkeepers now, with the likes of Everton goalkeepers Rachael Brown and Danielle Hill, there is also the impressive Hope Solo from USA. And then you have Tania Singfield who runs the very successful goalkeeper schools Golden Gloves Academy.

So would I recommend a goalkeeper to be taught by a womengoalkeeping coach?

I would say yes, but please make sure that this gk coach has had some type of success herself as a goalkeeper. If you find a women goalkeeper coach who has had this success herself as a player, the chances are she will be able to help you develop!

J4K Goalkeeper Students

This is a picture of the J4K goalkeeper students from South Africa and Slovakia. In august 2011 they attended the J4K 5 day residential camp and J4K coach Ian Pledger had a surprise for them all. he took them to a Peterborough United match. Above is a photo of the J4K students outside posh! 

Do NOT buy Cheap Gloves

Why it can be a BIG mistake buying cheap goalie gloves!

Parents and Goalkeepers PLEASE read!

Goalkeepers or a parent of a golkeeper who type in the term cheap goalkeeper gloves into a search engine normally tend to get the worst type of goalie glove on the market that wear away too quickly which means in the long run they end up spending  more money through the soccer season.

Why?

This is because cheap goalkeepers gloves generally have poor quality and poor specifications, which means for the most part they will wear away ALOT quicker.

Also cheap gloves again generally do not perform very well, ie their grip will be very poor!

I understand some goalkeepers might not have a choice because of lack of money in the household so they have to purchase the cheaper goalkeeping gloves. However, did you know if you spent maybe just £5 ($8) more on a pair of gloves this will be a smarter option.

So instead of going through say six pairs of cheap poor quality gloves each season, you might only go through three maybe four pairs if you spend a bit more on your keeper gloves, thus saving you money but more importantly you will have a glove that will perform well for you.

In my experience, if you spend less than £10 ($16) for a pair of cheap goalie gloves, you will have the problems above. But if you can stretch that bit more money to say £12-£15 ($20-$22) you will get a much better performing glove that will last you longer, thus saving you money throughout the season.


So paying that bit more on your gloves are worth it!

Best of Goalkeeping

Ray Newland