Top Level Goalie Questions (Girls)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL parent here, U15, and I've never watch a game where the other team doesn't switch keepers at halftime. I like, one game Loudoun had one keeper the whole time, but the most recent game, they had two and switched at half. Never seen a single game keeper.

ECNL parent here too. We have two u14 boys who swap at halftime. Neither is what you would call standouts. I think if we had a good goalie our coach would go with one main and one back up that would only be a back up. One has been with us since u9 and his father is the team manager which my play a part in it.

the back up would find another team. No kid willingly signs up to ride the bench

Good goal keepers are good field players too. There is no reason for a kid to be riding the bench even as a backup goalie.

Good goal keepers are good field players, but not necessarily good enough to get serious minutes at the ECNL level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL parent here, U15, and I've never watch a game where the other team doesn't switch keepers at halftime. I like, one game Loudoun had one keeper the whole time, but the most recent game, they had two and switched at half. Never seen a single game keeper.

ECNL parent here too. We have two u14 boys who swap at halftime. Neither is what you would call standouts. I think if we had a good goalie our coach would go with one main and one back up that would only be a back up. One has been with us since u9 and his father is the team manager which my play a part in it.

the back up would find another team. No kid willingly signs up to ride the bench

Good goal keepers are good field players too. There is no reason for a kid to be riding the bench even as a backup goalie.

Good goal keepers are good field players, but not necessarily good enough to get serious minutes at the ECNL level

This can be said about all ECNL players... vast majority were strikers and goal scorers in their U9-U12 days before being solidly one position like defense or keeper. Those strikers today are just better. It's like the best cornerbacks in NFL are said to be really good receivers with not-so-good-hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL parent here, U15, and I've never watch a game where the other team doesn't switch keepers at halftime. I like, one game Loudoun had one keeper the whole time, but the most recent game, they had two and switched at half. Never seen a single game keeper.

ECNL parent here too. We have two u14 boys who swap at halftime. Neither is what you would call standouts. I think if we had a good goalie our coach would go with one main and one back up that would only be a back up. One has been with us since u9 and his father is the team manager which my play a part in it.

the back up would find another team. No kid willingly signs up to ride the bench

Good goal keepers are good field players too. There is no reason for a kid to be riding the bench even as a backup goalie.

Good goal keepers are good field players, but not necessarily good enough to get serious minutes at the ECNL level

This can be said about all ECNL players... vast majority were strikers and goal scorers in their U9-U12 days before being solidly one position like defense or keeper. Those strikers today are just better. It's like the best cornerbacks in NFL are said to be really good receivers with not-so-good-hands.

I think goalies are different. Years ago, but the best goalie I saw growing up was a safety and took up soccer in high school. Near zero footskills, but tons of athleticism and great at getting a hand on the ball

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Not at all if you have a great keeper the back up doesn't see action outside a blow out.

This is not true. The best keepers in the state are sharing time - this is a fact. I know who these keepers are. I know which teams they play on. And I know they share time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:by U-15 every ECNL/DA/GA team keeps two keepers. You can do that with one keeper on the team and another keeper that is on a lower team and plays part time or even two or three.

This is what my DD’s team does. The rare occasion when she’s not available the next lower team keeper plays. Or the year younger keeper plays up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:by U-15 every ECNL/DA/GA team keeps two keepers. You can do that with one keeper on the team and another keeper that is on a lower team and plays part time or even two or three.

This is what my DD’s team does. The rare occasion when she’s not available the next lower team keeper plays. Or the year younger keeper plays up.

funny, our team loans my DD down a level for tournaments when she's free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Not at all if you have a great keeper the back up doesn't see action outside a blow out.

This is not true. The best keepers in the state are sharing time - this is a fact. I know who these keepers are. I know which teams they play on. And I know they share time.

Im calling CAP . The best in the state are playing every minute of every game. The chances of the top GKs being on the same team is CAP too. Who is the best GK to come out of this area? Its Bill Hamid I know for a fact he never split time.

[Anonymous]

Top Drawer Soccer girls Mid-Atlantic regional rankings:
2021 — no GKs
2022 — two GKs (TSJ FCV and Arlington)
2023 — four GKs (TSJ FCV, Bethesda, VDA, and Alexandria)
2024 — three GKs (TSJ FCV x2, Celtic)

So maybe the 2024 TSJ FCV GKs are splitting time, but are any of the others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Not at all if you have a great keeper the back up doesn't see action outside a blow out.

This is not true. The best keepers in the state are sharing time - this is a fact. I know who these keepers are. I know which teams they play on. And I know they share time.

Im calling CAP . The best in the state are playing every minute of every game. The chances of the top GKs being on the same team is CAP too. Who is the best GK to come out of this area? Its Bill Hamid I know for a fact he never split time.

jeezuz try to pay attention. We're talking about youth girls here. PP is 100% accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Not at all if you have a great keeper the back up doesn't see action outside a blow out.

This is not true. The best keepers in the state are sharing time - this is a fact. I know who these keepers are. I know which teams they play on. And I know they share time.

Im calling CAP . The best in the state are playing every minute of every game. The chances of the top GKs being on the same team is CAP too. Who is the best GK to come out of this area? Its Bill Hamid I know for a fact he never split time.

jeezuz try to pay attention. We're talking about youth girls here. PP is 100% accurate.

It's true for youth boys too.

I don't know whether Bill Hamid split time or not because my kids were in diapers when he was playing youth soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Do tell, what NOVA GKs are getting YNT call ups?

Tryouts - not actual call ups to the team. There's quite a bit of difference - in all about 600 boys or so nationally get invited to the first level of tryout which are held in nine locations - one for each of nine regions. Ours is held in Baltimore for kids from between Philadelphia and Richmond. I'm obviously not going to name names - and it's not necessary to make the argument anyway.

The best clubs in this region - for boys anyway - are DCU, Richmond, Bethesda, Baltimore, Arlington, Pipeline and VDA. You could probably make an argument to add one or two other clubs to that list - but it wouldn't change the result. Every single one of them carries multiple GKs (usually two, but I believe at least one of the DCU age groups carries three) and all of them split time to some degree. Obviously I see more games from some of these clubs than others. Most of them have split every game I have seen 50-50. DCU (again in my experience) typically splits time less - but that may just be the games I have seen - and they still split time.

In every case both keepers on these teams are very good and would likely start for the first team on many other clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Do tell, what NOVA GKs are getting YNT call ups?

Tryouts - not actual call ups to the team. There's quite a bit of difference - in all about 600 boys or so nationally get invited to the first level of tryout which are held in nine locations - one for each of nine regions. Ours is held in Baltimore for kids from between Philadelphia and Richmond. I'm obviously not going to name names - and it's not necessary to make the argument anyway.

The best clubs in this region - for boys anyway - are DCU, Richmond, Bethesda, Baltimore, Arlington, Pipeline and VDA. You could probably make an argument to add one or two other clubs to that list - but it wouldn't change the result. Every single one of them carries multiple GKs (usually two, but I believe at least one of the DCU age groups carries three) and all of them split time to some degree. Obviously I see more games from some of these clubs than others. Most of them have split every game I have seen 50-50. DCU (again in my experience) typically splits time less - but that may just be the games I have seen - and they still split time.

In every case both keepers on these teams are very good and would likely start for the first team on many other clubs.

So in a thread about girl goalkeepers, you are discussing boy goalkeepers splitting time... Boys teams are different and there is much more depth to the GK spot. Also, NTCs end around age 15. Quite honestly, until kids go through puberty nobody puts much stock into their skill. So yes, at 15 and younger (because it doesn’t matter) teams do and should rotate GKs.

The top girl goalkeepers in the region do not split time. The regional girls who have been called to the NTCs do not split time. Time splitting ends at 15U when you are a competitive GK. If you see teams over the age of 15U splitting GK time, something else is going on.

[Anonymous]

My HS team had two GKs that played D1. They split time in HS, and one was the starting sweeper when not in goal. But they played on different travel teams. One didn't split time, the other did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My HS team had two GKs that played D1. They split time in HS, and one was the starting sweeper when not in goal. But they played on different travel teams. One didn't split time, the other did.

Yeah but nobody takes HS soccer seriously. Its your club that colleges care about. HS is to unregulated as far as a controlled correct level of competitive play.

BTW Goalie is by far the most difficult position to learn and be proficient at in soccer. Game time is the most crucial time for a goalie to get better more so then any other position. Shot stopping, reading the field and directing the other 10 players where you want them to be takes more time to learn than ant other position and can only be learned in game minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Through 15U most of the clubs will be splitting GKs (assuming they can roster 2 competitive keepers). By 16U, there is usually a starter and a backup. Strong GKs don’t want to be seen splitting time as they enter the recruiting years. There are some exceptions at regionally dominant clubs, but in the DMV that’s not the case. At the older ages clubs have a difficult time finding GKs that are strong.

This. If your DC has aspirations for playing on they need to be the number one GK on their team who plays against the better teams

Agree. By U16 you need to be able to call yourself the starting keeper in convos with coaches. No one at a top soccer school is looking to recruit the second keeper, especially when the colleges are recruiting possible starters only every 2nd or 3rd year. However, t are plenty of GKs recruited as practice players, but usually it’s quite clear that that’s where they’ll remain. Some of those slots may go to second keepers. If that works for your DD that is an option.

Starting is not the same as the number 1 keeper. The second half keeper in a tournament is the one doing PKs

Splitting time is for an average to below average keeper. A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest.

Sorry - but this is ignorant. The best keepers in northern VA - the ones that are getting invites to YNT tryouts - are splitting time.

Whether that is indeed better for the GK and/or the team is a separate question. My guess is that it is better for the GK not to split time, but better for the team to have two GKs who split time. But to suggest that, if you have two keepers who split time it's because you don't have a great keeper - that's nonsense.

Do tell, what NOVA GKs are getting YNT call ups?

Tryouts - not actual call ups to the team. There's quite a bit of difference - in all about 600 boys or so nationally get invited to the first level of tryout which are held in nine locations - one for each of nine regions. Ours is held in Baltimore for kids from between Philadelphia and Richmond. I'm obviously not going to name names - and it's not necessary to make the argument anyway.

The best clubs in this region - for boys anyway - are DCU, Richmond, Bethesda, Baltimore, Arlington, Pipeline and VDA. You could probably make an argument to add one or two other clubs to that list - but it wouldn't change the result. Every single one of them carries multiple GKs (usually two, but I believe at least one of the DCU age groups carries three) and all of them split time to some degree. Obviously I see more games from some of these clubs than others. Most of them have split every game I have seen 50-50. DCU (again in my experience) typically splits time less - but that may just be the games I have seen - and they still split time.

In every case both keepers on these teams are very good and would likely start for the first team on many other clubs.

So in a thread about girl goalkeepers, you are discussing boy goalkeepers splitting time... Boys teams are different and there is much more depth to the GK spot. Also, NTCs end around age 15. Quite honestly, until kids go through puberty nobody puts much stock into their skill. So yes, at 15 and younger (because it doesn’t matter) teams do and should rotate GKs.

The top girl goalkeepers in the region do not split time. The regional girls who have been called to the NTCs do not split time. Time splitting ends at 15U when you are a competitive GK. If you see teams over the age of 15U splitting GK time, something else is going on.

Two points:

1. I was responding to this comment: "A good keeper should control the field and needs to be on the field. splitting time adds to confusion as to who the leader is. For those who say its normal to split time dont honestly realize that means you dont have a great keeper your blinded by personal interest." That particular comment made general points which are clearly not specific to girls (e.g. confusion about leadership and splitting time implying that the keeper is not great) and therefore it seemd reasonable to me to base a counterargument on boys where I have more recent experience.

2. Do you actually know that the top girls' teams don't carry two GKs who split time? Let's agree that the top girls' teams are FCV, McLean, VDA, Loudoun, Richmond, Arlington, Maryland United and Bethesda. There appear to be several comments on this thread from parents who have kids on some of these teams noting that their team carries two keepers. Are you able to say for certain that these clubs only carry a single keeper on their rosters, or that the backup gets no playing time?