PRINCETON FC Youth Soccer Players Development Club

Princeton FC is excited to announce the details of the Fall edition of our Goalkeeper Training program. Our Goalkeepers Training program focuses on developing and improving the necessary skills to successfully deal with different situations in front of goal. We focus on the specifics of the position and teach players how to deal with high shots, low shots and ground shots, cutting and crosses, break-aways,etc.  We work on instilling the correct technique of catching, diving, closing down, positioning and communicating. The activities within the GK’s development program are age specific and provide the much needed functional training in a challenging learning environment. 

The Goalkeeper Training will focus on the following themes:

• Footwork
• Blocking/Catching: High Shots, Low Shots and Ground Shots
• Cutting out Crosses: 
• Diving: Low to Middle Balls, Middle to High Balls
• Angles of Positioning and Approach
• Communication

PFC's Goalkeeper Coach Ted Papadopoulos brings a coaching philosophy that focuses on confidence building as the foundation for developing young goalkeepers. From his own playing experience reaching the Division I level, “confidence truly is everything when defending the net.

"I fully developed my confidence a little late in my Junior year in high school which then took my game to the next level, where I led my team to the NJ Group IV State Finals playing against Soccertown USA’s Kearny High School”.
That game is where Ted was recruited to play for Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ.  

Coach Ted believes that until a goalkeeper fully develops their own confidence, he or she will play “handicapped” to hide their vulnerabilities and avoid being exposed above all else. Since keepers are the critical last line of defense, many therefore play this position with a self-limiting mindset. On the flip side, an overconfident goalkeeper often takes unnecessary risks, leaving their team exposed which will ultimately lose the confidence & trust of their teammates. Striking the right balance of confidence allows a goalkeeper to play intelligently fearless which leads to sound decision making. To achieve this balance, a goalkeeper must first understand themselves and their limitations before they can master themselves on the field. 

Age: U7 - U14

Frequency of Training: Once per week on Friday