How to Be a Great Soccer Goalie

Nothing gives a soccer coach peace of mind like having a great goalie backing the team up.There are several good goalies out there, but in order to be a great goalie, you'll have to give all the extra effort you can.Here are some things you can do as a goalie to set you apart.

Instructions

1. Many of the best goalies start training with a goalie coach at a very young age. At a team practice, there is very little time to pay personal attention to the goalie. That is part of the reason why all the college and pro teams have goalkeepers coaches. Find a coach that knows goalkeeping. Even an hour-long training session a week can do wonders

2. It may sound silly, but the goalie--who runs the least of all the players--is supposed to be in the best shape of anyone. And that's not just stamina. The goalie should have the quickest feet, the best reaction time, the most agile and the strongest. Hit the weights and make sure as a goalie that you do lots of agility and quickness training as a goalie.

3. To be the best, you have to observe the best. Watch soccer every chance you have on TV. It doesn't matter if its MLS, international play, European club ball or juniors, coaches can always tell right away which players are avid watchers of the game and which ones just play it.

4. The two most important parts of a goalie's body are his or her feet and hands. Take extra time before, during and after practice to increase your foot and hand speed.

5. You need to be able to play in the field as well. All the best goalies have good field skills. You may only be out of goal rarely, but it's important to be a complete player.