How to effectively assess and scout goalkeepers within the women's game

Scouting goalkeepers within women’s football is a unique challenge given that the role and skillset of the goalkeeper is dramatically different from that of all other positions within the game.

 

Goalkeepers at the elite end of the sport possess not only exceptional ‘traditional’ goalkeeping skills but are also excellent with the ball at feet, demonstrate high levels of physical performance, and make rapid and accurate decisions. 

 

While it may appear overly simplistic or obvious, it is vital to have a clear understanding of the roles and skills of a goalkeeper before jumping ahead to consider recruitment and talent identification approaches. Without such an understanding, it is impossible to put in place structures that will allow for accurate judgements to be made. While this article will provide a generalised overview of this, it is important for readers to consider how to weight or apply these concepts at their club. For example, you may ask questions regarding whether certain skills are more important within your game model or level of competition.

 

The role of the goalkeeper can be divided into four distinct areas. Out of possession, goalkeepers must both defend the goal and defend the space in front of the goal. In possession, goalkeepers are required to start and support build-up play, while in all phases they need to communicate with teammates to provide clear and relevant information. These four areas require a range of skills which will now be considered.

 

Goalkeeper skills: out of possession

To effectively defend the goal, the goalkeeper must be capable of making saves from a variety of scenarios. These include 1v1s, long-range shots, reaction saves and shots from cutbacks/crosses. This requires a broad skillset of physical (e.g. speed, power, flexibility), technical (e.g. footwork, diving, handling), psychological (e.g. concentration, confidence, bravery) and tactical (e.g. decision-making, positioning) skills. Ideally, a goalkeeper should be capable of making big, match defining saves as well as demonstrating the consistency required to limit errors when dealing with less challenging efforts on goal.

 

Defending space can be split in terms of a goalkeeper’s ability to defend balls from wide areas and central areas. Defending space from wide areas requires a goalkeeper to be effective in dealing with crosses, cut-backs and corners. From central areas, the goalkeeper is tasked with defending the space behind the defensive line. Speed, power, bravery, positioning (start position), decision-making, distance judgement and communication are all vital skills in this regard as is having the technical skills (e.g. catching, punching, deflecting, ball control, clearances) to execute an effective action.

 

Goalkeeper skills: in possession

In the modern game around 75-80% of a goalkeeper’s actions are linked to distribution. Goalkeepers should be capable of accurately distributing the ball over both long and short distances from both their feet and hands. Goalkeepers should also be able to receive the ball with both feet, allowing them to play quickly and cope with pressure applied by opposition attackers. Goalkeepers also need to understand their team’s tactical approach and the state of the game to make quick and accurate decisions on pass selection.

 

Goalkeeper skills: all phases

The final role of the goalkeeper is to provide clear and precise information to teammates both in and out of possession. Goalkeepers who are effective communicators develop shared language with teammates allowing for short, clear communication which is understood by all, have a sound tactical understanding to ensure the information provided is relevant and accurate, while remaining positive in their choice of words and tone. They will also demonstrate the confidence and resilience to continue to communicate and positively impact the team even after a mistake or when their own level of performance is below their usual standard.

 

A four-corner framework

With all this in mind let’s now consider how to design a framework to observe and recruit goalkeepers. Most commonly, in England, this has been done by rating a goalkeeper’s skills within the English Football Association’s four corner model, incorporating physical, technical, psychological and social. 

An example of this, adapted from the Professional Football Scouting Association’s framework, can be seen below:

 

		Rating
Physical qualities	Speed	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Agility	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Presence	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Strength	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Power	1	2	3	4	5	N
Technical qualities	Set position	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Handling	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Shot stopping right	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Shot stopping left	1	2	3	4	5	N
	1v1s	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Claiming crosses	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Punching	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Right foot	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Left foot	1	2	3	4	5	N
	First touch	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Short passing	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Long passing	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Throwing short	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Throwing long	1	2	3	4	5	N
Psychological qualities	Concentration	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Composure	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Bravery	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Dealing with mistakes	1	2	3	4	5	N
Social qualities	Communication	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Support	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Organisation	1	2	3	4	5	N
Tactical qualities	Crosses: catch or punch	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Balls between defence and GK	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Shots: catch or deflect	1	2	3	4	5	N
	Start positions	1	2	3	4	5	N

 

 

The effectiveness of the goalkeeper in match scenarios

However, more recently, goalkeeping performance has been considered in terms of the effectiveness of the goalkeeper in match scenarios.

 

When considering goalkeeping in these terms, it may be more appropriate to consider a goalkeeper’s performance and skills mapped against their role, rather than the four corner model. By doing so, you may build a more accurate picture of what it is they do and how they perform in matches.

 

While there is no magic formula for this, I have found a checklist, mapped against the role of the goalkeeper, with additional comments on physical and mental performance a useful starting point for observations. This checklist, an example of which is below, can provide a useful tool to guide observations and assessments although it may not be possible to observe every subsection within a single match.

 

Shot stopping Ability to make a variety of big saves Close range (reactions, penalty box) Long range Diving (high, medium, low; negative step, positive step; power/speed) 1v1 (close range (block/spread and decision-making), medium, long range) Handling (scoop, K, W) Post-shot decision-making (deflections (distance/angle), control, catch or punch) From crosses (tracking, positioning, speed of decision) Positioning (alignment and depth) Footwork (speed, balance, change direction/shift weight) Variety of saves (blocks, top hand, bottom hand, feet, high, low, consistency, big saves)	Distribution Ability to retain possession, break lines, create in transition and build accurate pictures First touch  Decision making (pass choice, speed, ‘pictures’) Short passing (both feet, speed, accuracy (foot), under pressure) Mid-range (consistency, accuracy, both feet, under pressure) Long range (technique, distance, accuracy, height, under pressure) Roll (speed, accuracy) Overarm (speed, accuracy) Kicking from hands (speed, accuracy, height) Can they start counter attacks? Can they retain possession under pressure? Does their technique break down under pressure?
Defending space Ability to prevent chances through sweeping & dealing with crosses Crosses (frequency, pressure, handling (in front and above), punches (two hands, one hand straight, overhead) positioning, decision-making, errors) Sweeping (distance, speed, possession retained?, frequency, start position)	Organisation and communication Ability to prevent chances through communication with team-mates Clarity of information Regularity of information Volume of information Quality/relevance of information
Physical Ability to quickly cover the goal and space both laterally and vertically Athleticism Speed Height Jumping reach	Mental Ability to stay connected to the game regardless of ability and game state Bravery (physical and psychological) Confidence Reaction to mistakes (resilience)

 

The skills in the checklist can then be assessed either quantitatively or qualitatively by a scout. Quantitative assessments can be useful in terms of providing quick and easily interpretable information/judgements on a range of skills and comparisons to other goalkeepers being scouted.

 

However, they can introduce biases in terms of different scouts providing different ratings as well as challenges around accurately mapping ratings against different performance levels. For example, say a goalkeeper is rated a 4 out of 5 for defending the goal in WSL2, does this change if they are now playing in WSL1? Alternatively, qualitative assessments may not allow for as easy comparisons, however, can allow for greater depth of understanding regarding a goalkeeper’s performance and actions.

 

Below is an example of a completed scout report for an international women’s goalkeeper using a qualitative approach.

 

Defending the goal + Showed good reactions with hands and feet Showed good handling Made good decisions around when to hold/close space and save selections Good composure and focus in a variety of scenarios   - Could develop power in dive Could set feet earlier for shots from distance Demonstrated an over dependency on a block technique 1v1 and should focus on developing spread technique to increase range of saves Speed across ground and recovery speed could improve Weight can sometimes shift backwards pre-shot or in shape saves	Defending central space + Takes up positive start positions Aggressive and looks to affect play Makes positive, early decisions         - Could hold higher position for longer when ball reaches final 3rd to cover through balls
Defending wide space + Aggressive start position and looks to regularly impact play Showed good handling Showed excellent bravery to come under pressure and punch Constantly adjusts position Made quick decisions and changed visual focus early when holding   - Reading of cut-back scenarios could improve (remained closed off which limited space she could cover) First instinct to come for crosses can leave her in poor positions when decision should have been to hold	Build-up play + Calm and composed on ball Good focus on weight and accuracy of short passes Showed understanding of when/how to support play dependant on scenario Sped play up well when trailing         - Accuracy and distance on long-range passing (ground) could improve
Communication + Communication appeared loud and clear Appeared to take in good tactical information to relay Showed head movement to read play	Mental + Continued to be positive after conceding first goal and came for a cross in her next action Showed good bravery in 1v1 scenarios
Style notes Fairly traditional shape, holds hands by side and wider when in and around box Sets feet wide for shots in box allowing her to make quick reaction saves with hands and feet Sound and adaptable technical grounding which allows her to be effective in a range of scenarios and perform a variety of actions/saves Positions deep to maximise reaction time Frequent small adjustments to position Positive and looks to affect play Looks to catch where possible Could become more explosive in her movements