The ESUSC Goalkeeping Program (ESUSC-GKP) focuses on introducing and refining technical & tactical skills in combination with physical and mental activities related to the goalkeeping position. The program follows the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model recommended by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) but is adjusted for the development of goalkeepers. The ESUSC-GKP covers the 2nd and 3rd stages (Fundamentals and Learning to Train) up to the age of 12, emphasising the learning with fun activities and the recognition and learning of fundamentals in very basic technicals kills to help them to enjoy safely the goalkeeping position. Once the goalkeeper is introduced to more competitive competitions between the ages of 13 to 17, the program covers the 4th, 5th, and 6th stages of the LTPD.
These stages involve increasing the training time, increasing the number of repetitions in game situation activities, and the developing advanced attacking and defending organizational skills (including recognizing and solving set pieces prepared by opponent teams). For the 5th and 6th stages, the ESUSC- GKP adds the introduction of extra off-field curriculum activities such as video analysis for players to recognize strategies and tactics defined by the ESUSC Game Model. The program methodology developed, structured, and implemented for the ESUSC-GKP follows the guidelines set out by the National Youth-Goalkeeping Diploma for Goalkeeper Coaches, which delineates the development strategy for youth goalkeepers in four development areas: Technical, Tactical, Physical & Mental/Cognitive. Each on-field training session given in the ESUSC-GKP covers the four development areas in different percentages depending on the topic of each individual session.
The ESUSC-GKP offers to players and parents/guardians monthly digital reports showing the progression of the goalkeepers, monitoring participation/attendance and accumulated time in training during the season, disclosing in detail the time covering each skill topic in each session, and providing a performance rating for each player’s participation, training effort, and skill performance during sessions. The objective of the ESUSC-GKP is to help players to learn, improve, and master their goalkeeping skills by making the goalkeeping position a safe and enjoyable experience from a technical, tactical, and social perspective on and off the field. Its mission is to retain and increase youth goalkeeper skill levels within the ESUSC, and to provide positive training environments for all players regardless of ability. The ESUSC- GKP is committed to scout and identify potential goalkeepers in our region, offering equal opportunity to try out to every member in our communities.
Our GK Program is overseen by Steve Parsonage.
2022 – CSA National Youth Goalkeeper License, 2022
FAW ‘C’ Goalkeeping License.
