Motivating the non-starting goalkeeper

Being a goalkeeper is one of the most challenging roles for individuals starting in soccer.

There are a couple of fears around the position. The first is the assumption that being the last line of defence confers on a goalkeeper a greater sense of responsibility for results, even though success is much more dependent on the performance of the whole team.

There is also sometimes a belief that the keeper is significantly exposed to injuries when executing a specific move, such as diving. 

It is therefore not unusual for clubs to struggle to find individuals willing to play in goal, compared to other positions.

With this in mind, clubs must create a high-quality and effective goalkeeping development programme, provided by qualified coaches and focused on the early stages of a goalkeeper’s career, thus building a solid foundation. 

It is essential that all goalkeepers, be they starters or reserves, benefit from the learned skills.

At both grassroots and professional level, having a successful career as a goalkeeper requires great commitment from the individual, and, as much as they might have high expectations, it is vital to focus primarily on their mental, rather than physical, strength.

This is particularly true for non-starting goalkeepers. Those who do not get enough game time or receive enough focus during training sessions may feel undervalued by their coach and team-mates, even if that is not necessarily true, to the point of almost not feeling part of the team. 

Often, there is also an expectation that they need to meet or exceed the performance levels set by the starting keeper, and, depending on the skill gap, they may, without proper support, struggle to see a clear path to becoming the first choice themselves.

Coaches must detect such issues quickly, and act to support their players beyond the technical and physical aspect, helping them cope psychologically with the challenges faced on and off pitch.

A coach also needs to set an example to the rest of the team by including the individual in all group activities, maintaining frequent communication, providing constructive feedback on performance and giving appreciation for achievements, in a manner consistent with the rest of the team.

To boost confidence, and help bridge the skills gap, coaches should try to create additional game-time for second-choice keepers, such as playing them in friendly/exhibition matches and, where possible, making substitutions during official games.

Coaches should aim not to have a second-choice goalkeeper, but rather a second first-choice goalkeeper.

That means providing the conditions during training to elevate the skills of the individual to a comparable level of those of the starting keeper, to the point where both become interchangeable. 

A wise coach could then strategically use a well-rested goalkeeper in a difficult game, or where their specific skills are needed, such as a penalty shoot-out.

Goalkeepers are a scarce resource and it is vital to ensure they all feel valued.