I would appreciate maybe getting some feedback from some of you guys. My family has been around soccer for a long time now - my oldest is U17 - but for the first time in my youngest I now have a goalkeeper. He does enjoy the position a great deal, but he also enjoys (and is very gifted) playing in the field. He plays up this year with U11s, but next season will be returning to his true age group for another season of U11 play.

This season we have been happy and he plays a half in the field in most games. However, looking forward to next year our club is pressuring us for him to be an all time/exclusively goal keeper (not surprisingly he is our only really gifted top U10 keeper). I feel that this is too young of an age, and looking at some of the other top keepers at the national level they don't seem to have focussed exclusively on the position until a latter age.

So, for anyone with some experience in this area can I get some advice/thoughts/input on when is the right time to focus on this position? I don't want my son to be taken advantage of or have his overall growth stunted just for the benefit of his club/team. Thanks so much for your feedback guys, it's appreciated.

The clubs will say 6 months ... Thats after you pay them..

That is a good question? I am in the same boat but my son is younger U8. He enjoys playing keeper and is pretty good at it. On our other team we have an all star keep but he has been playing only keeper since U6 and it had help. U can see he is more advanced than other U8 keepers due to his 2 yrs of experience.

I do agree a well rounded player is best but a real good keeper is hard to find and will be more of a commodity than any player on the field.

The right time is when he says "I want to be a full time keeper" and not a second sooner.

my2cents wrote:The right time is when he says "I want to be a full time keeper" and not a second sooner.

Obviously I understand that aspect of it, but what if he is not sure? My question is from a developmental perspective, when is the right time?

Roman wrote:

my2cents wrote:The right time is when he says "I want to be a full time keeper" and not a second sooner.

Obviously I understand that aspect of it, but what if he is not sure? My question is from a developmental perspective, when is the right time?

I am sure many will disagree but I would not worry about it until U14 or even U15. A good keeper needs foot skills , quickness and agility all things honed with on field play. I think too many players are labeled at a certain position too young and that it is bad for their overall tactical knowledge and understanding of the game. Unfortunately not many select teams split time at keeper.

my2cents wrote:

Roman wrote:

my2cents wrote:The right time is when he says "I want to be a full time keeper" and not a second sooner.

Obviously I understand that aspect of it, but what if he is not sure? My question is from a developmental perspective, when is the right time?

I am sure many will disagree but I would not worry about it until U14 or even U15. A good keeper needs foot skills , quickness and agility all things honed with on field play. I think too many players are labeled at a certain position too young and that it is bad for their overall tactical knowledge and understanding of the game. Unfortunately not many select teams split time at keeper.

If he only wants to play keeper, start it right away. If he is not sure and still likes to play on the field find him a team that will play him on the field and maybe give him a bit of time in the box. Like my2cents says, from a specialized development aspect you can start it at U14 and up. If the bb is talented he will catch up quickly to the "made" goalies.

BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

indyfc wrote:
BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

He plays competitive U11's. He attends 3-4 training sessions a week (2-3 for his team, 1 goalie session). He loves goalie and wants to be one, but he prefers to split time still - and is skilled enough to do so. My feelings run kind of like what my2cents was saying about field play developing needed footskills, quickness and understanding and reading of the game for a succesful keeper at an older age, but as this is my first time to be a keeper's parent I was hoping for insight from those who have "been there, done that" before.

I have contacted another good club to discuss our issues and a possible move, but we are definately not club hoppers and it's hard to think about leaving a club that we've been a part of for many years, where my son has many friends, and where we do like many of the training staff.

Roman wrote:

indyfc wrote:
BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

He plays competitive U11's. He attends 3-4 training sessions a week (2-3 for his team, 1 goalie session). He loves goalie and wants to be one, but he prefers to split time still - and is skilled enough to do so. My feelings run kind of like what my2cents was saying about field play developing needed footskills, quickness and understanding and reading of the game for a succesful keeper at an older age, but as this is my first time to be a keeper's parent I was hoping for insight from those who have "been there, done that" before.

I have contacted another good club to discuss our issues and a possible move, but we are definately not club hoppers and it's hard to think about leaving a club that we've been a part of for many years, where my son has many friends, and where we do like many of the training staff.

It's always good to look around and get different opinions. Are you currently with one of the big clubs (don't have to diclose which one if you are)?

indyfc wrote:
It's always good to look around and get different opinions. Are you currently with one of the big clubs (don't have to diclose which one if you are)?

Yes, I do want to leave it 'anonymous', but the club we are with is a 'big club' with a DA at the older ages - as is the other club that I have contacted at this point.

Roman wrote:

indyfc wrote:
BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

He plays competitive U11's. He attends 3-4 training sessions a week (2-3 for his team, 1 goalie session). He loves goalie and wants to be one, but he prefers to split time still - and is skilled enough to do so. My feelings run kind of like what my2cents was saying about field play developing needed footskills, quickness and understanding and reading of the game for a succesful keeper at an older age, but as this is my first time to be a keeper's parent I was hoping for insight from those who have "been there, done that" before.

I have contacted another good club to discuss our issues and a possible move, but we are definately not club hoppers and it's hard to think about leaving a club that we've been a part of for many years, where my son has many friends, and where we do like many of the training staff.

He plays competitive U11's

He is an 01 and plays on an U-11 competitive team? Did not think an Academy aged player could play select soccer. Am I wrong?

keepersdad wrote:
He plays competitive U11's

He is an 01 and plays on an U-11 competitive team? Did not think an Academy aged player could play select soccer. Am I wrong?

Honestly? I'm not sure about your rules for that. I am from STYSA currently, though I very well may be moving to Dallas in the next year or two for my job. I know that you guys tend to outperform us overall and have an active message board so I thought I would seek input here.

As for our rules, kids are able to, and my son does play up and trains exlusively with the U11s, but actually still is able to play in U10 Academy games as well (which are held on Sundays as opposed to Saturdays for U11-U14 games here).

keepersdad wrote:

Roman wrote:

indyfc wrote:
BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

He plays competitive U11's. He attends 3-4 training sessions a week (2-3 for his team, 1 goalie session). He loves goalie and wants to be one, but he prefers to split time still - and is skilled enough to do so. My feelings run kind of like what my2cents was saying about field play developing needed footskills, quickness and understanding and reading of the game for a succesful keeper at an older age, but as this is my first time to be a keeper's parent I was hoping for insight from those who have "been there, done that" before.

I have contacted another good club to discuss our issues and a possible move, but we are definately not club hoppers and it's hard to think about leaving a club that we've been a part of for many years, where my son has many friends, and where we do like many of the training staff.

He plays competitive U11's

He is an 01 and plays on an U-11 competitive team? Did not think an Academy aged player could play select soccer. Am I wrong?

You are correct; that's not possible. No U10 player can play up in the U11 division (in classic league). There is something not right about that whole story....

Roman wrote:

keepersdad wrote:
He plays competitive U11's

He is an 01 and plays on an U-11 competitive team? Did not think an Academy aged player could play select soccer. Am I wrong?

Honestly? I'm not sure about your rules for that. I am from STYSA currently, though I very well may be moving to Dallas in the next year or two for my job. I know that you guys tend to outperform us overall and have an active message board so I thought I would seek input here.

As for our rules, kids are able to, and my son does play up and trains exlusively with the U11s, but actually still is able to play in U10 Academy games as well (which are held on Sundays as opposed to Saturdays for U11-U14 games here).

Oh my bad, so he is not playing in classic league then. Well I have heard that the 01 teams around the metroplex are in need of keepers. Come over next year...

gababa wrote:

keepersdad wrote:

Roman wrote:

indyfc wrote:
BTW, out of curiousity, is he currently playing competetive soccer with U11's or recreational soccer?

He plays competitive U11's. He attends 3-4 training sessions a week (2-3 for his team, 1 goalie session). He loves goalie and wants to be one, but he prefers to split time still - and is skilled enough to do so. My feelings run kind of like what my2cents was saying about field play developing needed footskills, quickness and understanding and reading of the game for a succesful keeper at an older age, but as this is my first time to be a keeper's parent I was hoping for insight from those who have "been there, done that" before.

I have contacted another good club to discuss our issues and a possible move, but we are definately not club hoppers and it's hard to think about leaving a club that we've been a part of for many years, where my son has many friends, and where we do like many of the training staff.

He plays competitive U11's

He is an 01 and plays on an U-11 competitive team? Did not think an Academy aged player could play select soccer. Am I wrong?

You are correct; that's not possible. No U10 player can play up in the U11 division (in classic league). There is something not right about that whole story....

Roman, hopefully you are on the up and up with your respond, but that's exactly where I was going with this. In NTX you cannot play competetive until you are of U11 age. Now, I have heard that there have been exceptions made by NTX, and that's what I wanted to know about.

Best of luck with your decisions and finding a good club in NTX.

In STYSA there are lots of play ups. 3 are allowed per team, and at the big clubs they generally keep close to that. Anyways, I'm really not intending this to become a discussion of playing up. I would still welcome anyone with input about goalkeepers and appropriate ages to start specializing.

Roman wrote:In STYSA there are lots of play ups. 3 are allowed per team, and at the big clubs they generally keep close to that. Anyways, I'm really not intending this to become a discussion of playing up. I would still welcome anyone with input about goalkeepers and appropriate ages to start specializing.

My son is at the same age as yours and has been exclusively a keeper for the past four years in an academy setting (big club). His skills at that position have definitely been helped by the keeper training. As far as I can see, it is no different that a field player in that skills training and repetition make for a better player at his position.

I will say that he also attends all of the team practices so he gets tons of regular touches and has the opportunity to play in small sided tournaments as well so he hasn't really fallen behind in skills development either. About the only negative - if you see it that way and he doesn't - is the on field, 11 v 11 playing experience.

The bottom line is that being a keeper takes a special type of kid with that specific calling. If your guy has it, I say the sooner the better that he starts honing his skills at a unique and difficult position.