The photo for the article was taken in 2009 at a Goalkeeping course in Virginia. GK's train in any weather! This article was written by National Staff Coach, Giovanni Pacini.

No matter the level, a game can be won or lost based on a goalkeeper’s performance! That big save when needed can propel a team to victory and if not made… well, we know how that can turn out too!

Every coach needs to have the knowledge necessary to coach and develop goalkeepers effectively and the NSCAA is proud to offer what is unquestionably the most complete program of goalkeeper courses in the world. Developed by NSCAA Director of Goalkeeping Tony DiCicco, NSCAA coaching education for training and developing goalkeepers offers a total of 86 dedicated hours of instruction.

The Goalkeeping Level I Diploma course is designed to empower the coach with knowledge and practice methods that will enable him / her to evaluate a goalkeeper in game situations. From there, the coach will be able to design an appropriate practice program for goalkeepers in and outside of team practices. The course includes lecture (theory) and field (practical) sessions and is six hours in length.

The Goalkeeping Level II Diploma course is designed to create an optimal learning environment for this specialized position. The 12-hour course is geared towards the specialist goalkeeping coach and the team coach looking for in-depth information surrounding the coaching of goalkeepers. An NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I Diploma is a prerequisite for this course.

The Goalkeeping Level III Diploma will explore the tactical components of goalkeeping and the specifics of training and developing goalkeepers. The emphasis of this eighteen-hour course is on the tactical role of the goalkeeper within the team framework. All candidates wishing to take the Level III Diploma must hold the Goalkeeping Level I and II Diplomas or equivalent (NSCAA/USSF Level I and Level II Diplomas).

For those wishing to take their goalkeeping education to the ultimate level, the NSCAA is proud to offer the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. The Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma builds on the previous Level III Diploma course. The ANGD course is a 50-hour residential course and is one of the most comprehensive goalkeeping courses for coaches anywhere in the world. All candidates wishing to take the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma must have the following pre-requisites: the Goalkeeping Level III Diploma a National Diploma or equivalent.

"The Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma course has allowed me to find new exercises to teach my keepers." said Colleen Pitts, who attended the course in January 2012. "It allowed me to network with other coaches at the highest level and to pick their brains for new ideas on training. The course made me a better coach and taught me how to read the game, from the keeper's view, better." 

As is the case with all NSCAA coaching education courses, the methods used and information shared in the Goalkeeping Academy is indeed cutting edge--world class. So why wait and hope for your goalkeeper to make that big save for you! Through the NSCAA, you can develop the skills necessary to train that “keeper” to make the save more often than not!

Be sure to navigate your way to the goalkeeping portion of the NSCAA website to find a course near you. If you’d like to host a course within your community, contact your State Director or the NSCAA National Office.

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