How do you recognize a good goalkeeper? Physical and psychological prerequisites as well as game intelligence are decisive

You can often recognize quality goalkeepers at first glance by their height and overall body proportions. They also lack analytical thinking and overall player intelligence. However, only practice makes perfect, and this is doubly true for soccer goalkeepers. They are the ones who not only have to work on their physique, but also on balance, concentration and other mental qualities. Individual training sessions led directly by goalkeeper coaches and even special schools are used for this. Of course, the main thing is the motivation and effort of the players themselves.

Physical prerequisites

At present, the height between 185 and 190 cm is considered ideal , thanks to which the goalkeeper has more range and can win aerial battles. It is harder for smaller players to succeed in such cases because they simply cannot reach the ball. And with a taller figure, they could be less mobile and insufficiently flexible.

In addition to height, of course, the weight of the goalkeeper also depends a lot , but there are no exact figures for this. It is essential that it corresponds to his height. A goalkeeper who is too light would easily be pushed away or robbed of the ball , and high weight means less flexibility and dynamism. A quick start to the ball is absolutely essential. At the same time, the goalkeeper must have a lot of strength to be able to handle a fast-flying ball and play it in the opponent's half of the field without any problems. Furthermore, he should not lack endurance either , because during every match he has to give a quality performance from start to finish.

Comprehensive readiness

The best professional goalkeepers, their coaches and the owners of goalkeeping schools agree that training must be comprehensive . And while earlier the greatest emphasis was placed on technique and fitness, since the 1990s individual, group and team tactics have come to the fore . In addition to improving player skills, coaches together with mental coaches also focus on the psychological side, especially courage and healthy self-confidence, concentration, the ability to read the game faster than others and to always be one step ahead of the opponent.

In any case, it is necessary to regularly set goals , work to achieve them and move on. However, feedback is also very useful, which trainers should not forget. Thanks to this, the goalkeepers have a constant motivation to improve, and this is reflected in the results of themselves and the entire team. And then, of course, there are also quality soccer cleats or goalkeeper gloves , which bring even more confidence.

Teamwork

Although the goalkeeper is to a large extent an individual athlete , he is not alone on the field and must play perfectly with his team . It is necessary for him to be able to communicate with his teammates and support them even in difficult situations. Especially since today he has much more space on the field than in the past . He is also involved in attacking actions, so he has to pay more attention to his footwork and work with his whole body, but also with his thoughts and emotions. There is no other player behind the goalkeeper and no one can correct his mistakes, so they are the most visible and, according to statistics, up to 90 percent of them end up with a goal.

Game intelligence