National Soccer Coaches Association of America

The NSCAA Coaching Academy launched its Goalkeeping Institute in 1998 to focus attention on the education of coaches working with goalkeepers as a special and unique position to train. Courses are offered both residentially and non-residentially.

NOTE: As of Jan. 1, 2006, any non-member who takes a non-residential course will receive a complimentary one-year NSCAA membership. This applies to NEW members only.

State Goalkeeping Diploma (Level I)
The overall objective of the State Goalkeeping Diploma is to explore some of the myths and mystiques surrounding the goalkeeping function. The six-hour course is directed towards the team coach - not the specialist goalkeeper coach. The object is to empower the coach with knowledge and practice methods that will enable the coach to evaluate a goalkeeper in game situations and then design an appropriate practice program for goalkeepers in and outside of team practices. The course includes lecture (theory) and field (practical) sessions.
Course Fee: $40 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses

The overall objective of the Regional Goalkeeping Diploma is to create an optimal learning environment for this specialized position. The twelve-hour course is geared towards the specialist goalkeeping coach and the team coach looking for in-depth information surrounding the coaching of goalkeepers. The course includes both lecture (theory) and field (practical) sessions. An NSCAA State Goalkeeping Diploma is a prerequisite for this course.
Course Fee: $65 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses

The overall objective of the National Goalkeeping Diploma is to 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 National Goalkeeping Diploma must have the State and Regional Goalkeeping Diplomas or equivalent (NSCAA Level I & II or NSCAA/USSF Level I and Level II Diplomas).
Course Fee: $140 per candidate | 20-person minimum | Upcoming Courses

Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma
The newest course addition to the Goalkeeping Institute, the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma builds on the National Goalkeeping Diploma under the guidance of Tony DiCicco, Director of the NSCAA Goalkeeping Institute. A 50-hour residential course, the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma will be one of the most comprehensive goalkeeping courses for coaches wishing to improve their ability to coach and train goalkeepers. Lectures on all aspects of positioning, communication, goalkeeper psychology, fitness and the methodology of training goalkeepers will be addressed. There will also be field sessions dealing with the following topics:

Basic to advanced handling, including how to coach and train goalkeepers to make diving saves

Resolving the through-ball and breakway saves

Dealing with all aspects of flank attacks

Commanding the penalty area and the space behind the defense

Training the team on backpass situations and goalkeeper distribution

Training goalkeepers to cover the space behind them

Coaching coaches to teach goalkeepers how to read the game, how to organize the defense and how to control game tempo

All candidates wishing to take the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma must have the National Goalkeeping Diploma as well as the National Diploma or equivalent (USSF C License).