How can you tell a good goalkeeper? It’s determined by physical and mental attributes as well as game intelligence.

You can often recognize a quality goalkeeper at first glance by their height and overall body proportions. They also possess analytical thinking and overall player intelligence. However, only training makes a master, and this is especially true for football goalkeepers. They are the ones who must not only work on their physical fitness but also on their balance, concentration, and other mental qualities. Individual training sessions led by goalkeeper coaches, and even special schools, serve this purpose. But of course, the main thing is the motivation and effort of the players themselves.

Physical attributes

Currently, a height of ideal is considered to be between 185 and 190 cm, which gives the goalkeeper a greater reach and allows them to win aerial duels. For shorter players, it’s harder to succeed in such cases because they simply can’t reach the ball. And with a taller stature, they might be less agile and not flexible enough.

Besides height, a lot depends on the goalkeeper's weight, for which there are no exact numbers. It’s crucial that it corresponds with their height. A goalkeeper who is too light could easily be pushed aside or lose the ball, while a high weight means lower flexibility and dynamism. A quick start to the ball is absolutely essential. At the same time, the goalkeeper must have great strength to handle a rapidly flying ball and easily play it to the opponent's half of the field. Additionally, they should also have endurance, as they need to perform well from start to finish in every match.

Comprehensive readiness

The best professional goalkeepers, their coaches, and owners of goalkeeper schools agree that training must be comprehensive. And while in the past the greatest emphasis was placed on technique and fitness, since the 90s, individual, group, and team tactics have come to the forefront. In addition to improving player skills, coaches, along with mental coaches, also focus on the psychological aspect, especially on courage and healthy self-confidence, concentration, the ability to read the game faster than others, and always being a step ahead of the opponent.

In any case, it’s necessary to regularly set goals, work towards achieving them, and keep moving forward. Feedback is also very useful, which coaches should not forget. This way, goalkeepers have constant motivation to improve, and it shows in their results as well as the entire team's performance. And of course, there are also quality boots or goalkeeper gloves, which provide even greater confidence.

Team collaboration

Although the goalkeeper is largely an individual athlete, they are not alone on the field and must work perfectly with their team. It’s essential that they can communicate with their teammates and support them even in challenging situations. Especially since today, they have much more space on the field than in the past. They also get involved in offensive actions, so they need to pay more attention to their footwork and overall body movement, as well as their thoughts and emotions. There is no other player behind the goalkeeper, and no one can fix their mistakes, which are therefore the most visible, and according to statistics, up to 90 percent of them end in a goal.

Game intelligence