Sometimes it can be difficult to get younger players to think about how they are practicing and if they're giving full effort. Over at Sports Girls Play, they have come up with an interesting concept for girls to track their development in practice and help them get motivated. Click to continue reading...

Sometimes it can be difficult to get younger players to think about how they are practicing and if they're giving full effort. Over at Sports Girls Play, they have come up with an interesting concept for girls to track their development in practice and help them get motivated. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

I would like to take a moment and say thank you to my newest sponsor, Integrity Athletic Performance and Physical Therapy (IntegrityAPPT.com).

The newest service offering of Integrity Healthcare, APPT is run by Cory Carr. From the website:

Integrity Athletic Performance & Physical Therapy (IAPPT) offers athletes of every sport, age and skill level the opportunity to improve their speed, power, agility, quickness and overall conditioning.

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(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

Good day for Roman Pavlyuchenko yesterday. Scored his first Spurs goal against Newcastle, after thieving the ball in the midfield which wound up in the back of the net via his head. Safe to say he prefers gamedays too, because training for him is just a wee bit difficult. "But when there is a week's gap [. Click to continue reading...

Work, and The Magazine, are requiring plenty of my time these days folks so I apologize for the lack of diversity on the site the past week or so. I love the High School game but there's more to be aware of and enjoy out there. I'll be back to normal programming next week, including a number of College Player updates.

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Work, and The Magazine, are requiring plenty of my time these days folks so I apologize for the lack of diversity on the site the past week or so. I love the High School game but there's more to be aware of and enjoy out there. I'll be back to normal programming next week, including a number of College Player updates.

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(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

To all our readers, we'd like to thank you for you're tremendous support over the last few years. We started the blog in August of 2005. By August 2008 it would have been three years of writing, creating resources and providing support to all of you about how to become a better goalkeeper.

During that time we went from a handful of readers to over 12,000 unique visitors per month and close to 200 paid customers from around the globe for our innovative G-Code program, and it is all thanks to you, our small but loyal readership!

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Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel may sign for Man City for this coming Premiership season for what some speculators are claiming may be 10 million Euros. Demirel was sent off during the recent Euro 2008 championships against the Czech Republic for pushing over Jan Koller in the 92nd minute, resulting in a red card.

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Gordon Banks Statue Unveiled by Pelé at the Brittania Stadium
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool


Image details: null served by picapp.com

On 12 July 2008, a rare honor was bestowed on Gordon Banks, the legendary English goalkeeper. A statue in his likeness was unveiled none other than by Pelé himself at the Brittania Stadium, which is home to one of Mr. Click to continue reading...

Early this year, it was a case of "I liked what I saw over at Villa...but..." for 24 year old MLS goalkeeper of the year (2007) and Chivas shot stopper Brad Guzan. It would be like scraping the honey pot, taking a look inside at the golden goodness of a possible career changing move, then heading back home with you tail between your legs.

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Clarence Seedorf and Ali Campbell for Goal4Africa
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Image and text courtesy of Kate Carlisle, ON International.

"On 12 July 8 p.m. Goal4Africa will celebrate its global kick off at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

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Palmeiras' star goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri is almost in the clutches of Rafa Benitez, as Liverpool has "almost" completed a supposed $5.9 Million transfer fee for the 25 year old Brazilian shot stopper. It will be interesting to see how well he will compete against the likes of Pepe Reina, and the following video gives an inside view of his great ability.

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"Cashing In" on Goalkeeping: Oliver Kahn
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

HypoVereinsbank is a premium partner of FC Bayern Munich.

Recently, they began a new initiative with the recently retired Bayern legend, Oliver Kahn. In what may be a first for the goalkeeper's union, Herr Kahn has a bank card named after him:

Image details: Hypo Vereinsbank Launch Limited Edition Oliver Kahn Cash Card served by picapp. Click to continue reading...

With the Euro's just past, I think it was befitting to find a video that sums up the explosive goalkeeping performance of some of the best of a generation, and those whom stand in their wake. Personally, I felt that some of the goalkeeping displayed in this Euro 2008 competition was the very best I've seen in quite a while.

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Three is a Crowd at AC Milan
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

On 16 July, AC Milan will convene at their Milanello training facility to begin summer training. They have an interesting dilemma. Who among three very experienced goalkeepers (Zeljko Kalac, Christian Abbiati, and Nelson Dida) to select as their #1?

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You can say what you like about the 38 year old German shot stopper, but Jens Lehmann did provide a stellar save even with Spain's brilliant display of dominance in the Euro 2008 final. Steve has written a great account of the performance between each individual goalkeeper in his summary of the game between Germany and Spain early this morning (Australia time).

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Steve's Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Euro 2008 Final on 29 June 2008: Spain x Germany

by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Image details: Germany v Spain - UEFA EURO 2008 Final served by picapp.com

Iker Casillas Raises The European Nations Cup

This was the 13th final for Germany/West Germany in a major competition. Click to continue reading...

Statistical Analysis of Penalty Shoot-outs
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

I was reading an interesting article in La Gazzetta dello Sport. They quoted a British Professor, Jon Billsbury of the Open University, about a web site that he has created for the specific purpose to study penalty kick shoot-outs.

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Steve's Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Semi-final Round for 26 June 2008: Spain x Russia
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Spain, who are on a 20 game unbeaten streak, face a team that they defeated, 4 x 1, in the first fixture of the group round phase. Russia have not been at the semi-final stage of a major tournament since Euro 1988, but was very impressive in their last two games against Sweden and The Netherlands, respectively.

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Speaking to a few of my female work colleagues about what they think is appealing in a guy, and they suggested the usual tall, dark and handsome spiel (check). Apart from that, they mostly want there guy to be a take-charge kinda lad (check). If the guy gets cocky, then the girls would find that unappealing (put a cross next to that).

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Steve's Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Quarterfinal Round for 25 June 2008: Germany x Turkey
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Germany face Turkey in the first semi-final. The Germans are overwhelming favorites to eliminate this very entertaining and tenacious Turkish side that had only 15 players, due to injuries and suspensions, available for this game. Click to continue reading...

Brazil has produced some of the most potent footballers on the planet. Names like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo (not the Manchester United maestro) spring to mind. But, Brazil has also produced some of the sexiest goalkeeping you'll ever see...goalkeeping, and some may argue goalkeepers as well, or not. Dida and Rogerio Ceni with his goal scoring prowess are two that spring to mind instantly.

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It is not very often when you get to see the best of a generation battle it out in a penalty shoot-out. An epic struggle of wits and goalkeeping savvy smashed heads for advancement into the Euro 2008 semi finals. Spanish coach Aragones suggested that he knew Casillas would save a penalty during the shootout:

"I was sure he would stop one, absolutely positive," Aragones told a news conference.

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Steve's Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Quarterfinal Round for 22 June 2008: Italy x Spain
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

Spain is the last team at Euro 2008 to remain after winning their first three games. Croatia and The Netherlands have been eliminated. As I noted yesterday, only one team has ever won the European Nations Cup after winning their first three group round games: France in 1984 with Michel Platini, who is the current President of UEFA. Click to continue reading...

Up until the age of 13 or 14 I had eyes like a falcon (consequently I'm blind as a bat now). My confidence had grown in leaps and bounds coming from playing local park football, to Super Youth League in Sydney. One training session dented my confidence profoundly for some time. During a one to one situation, I had run out to attack the ball in my 18 yard box, as the player ran onto the ball.

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Steve's Stats: Analysis of Goalkeeper Performance at the Quarterfinal Round for 21 June 2008: The Netherlands x Russia
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool

The Netherlands has demonstrated some of the best football in the group phase. They defeated France and Italy in their first two games, and only conceded one goal in the process. Click to continue reading...