goalkeeping--rookie question

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old's team doesn't have anyone interested in the goalie position, so they are rotating kids in and out. Last weekend was dd's turn and she did pretty well and now seems interested in doing it again (as long as she can still play striker half the game).

But when I look at the position, it seems like the perfect set up for bad injuries-- like being kicked in the head when reaching down to pick up a ball. I did a search to see if there is such a thing as a helmet for a soccer goalie and indeed there is. But I've never seen anyone wear one. Is there a reason they are not common (or required)?

[Anonymous]

Peter Cech the goalie for Arsenal has worn a helmet for years after a nasty collision with a post. It's not that uncommon.

Teams seem to always need goalkeepers, but I'd be worried about getting pigeonholed in that position unless it is something they really want. I'd also ask are you tall? Do you think your DD will grow up to be tall? It's not necessary to be tall to be a good goalie, but it does help.

I'm not sure if goalies suffer < or > risk of concussions vs other players. Anecdotally I'd say no from the teams I've been with, but it also depends on the strength of your defense. A weak defense in front of your goalie can lead to them having to do a lot more work and take a lot more shots vs a team with a solid back line.

[Anonymous]

You see the helmet (there's also a headband style) more at older ages and in competitive leagues, but it is still not used that much because it doesn't prevent the most likely head injury at that age (which is still unlikely) -- a concussion. A concussion happens when your brain moves violently inside your skull. A helmet on the outside cannot prevent your brain from moving on the inside. What a helmet can do is prevent skull and scalp injuries (fractures, cuts, etc.) by protecting and dispersing the impact. At younger ages, it is unlikely that anyone is kicking hard enough in that situation to fracture a skill. There is a question that hasn't really been answered yet about the extent to which the disbursement effect of a helmet can result in the brain moving less inside the skull and thereby reduce the severity of a concussion.

At 9 years old, it is more important for a child playing keeper to start developing the skills and proper technique to protect herself in the way she plays the position. (Eg, reaching down to pick up a ball is a bad idea in many situations.)

My son plays keeper and currently is a U12. I've looked into the helmet extensively and so far have decided to pass, mostly out of concern that it will give my son false confidence and lead him to take chances in the way he plays. I want him to really develop the muscle memory about how uses his body to go for balls in contested situations. I think next year may be the year I require the helmet.

[Anonymous]

I am definitely a neurotic goalie mom, pacing as close to the goal as allowed (by the ref and my child). And, despite my fear of my child being kicked in the head/face (esp right after those $6,000 braces came off), DC now plays on HS and club team, and the worst injury received (only goalie injury actually) came from fracturing a bone in the wrist after punching a padded pole after letting a goal in that child thought should have been saved. Indoor obviously, and we didn't know about the fracture until 2-weeks later when DC said the wrist was still bothering him "s little bit."

[Anonymous]

My DD is a goalie and she got a concussion from being kicked in the head by another kid. The kid who kicked her in the head was tossed out of the game by the ref for rough play.

That was her only concussion. She also had to go to the a doctor to get grit cleaned out of a wound & have it glued closed when she trapped a ball and something tore up her arm. Other than that, normal scrapes and bruises.

Over the years, we've watched other kids in other positions end up with broken bones, torn ACLs, and concussions. I think the head band/helmet things are going to be better protection for kids on the field where you're just protecting from an accidental ball to the head or head-to-head collisions.

[Anonymous]

About the only time my kid *didn't* get injured was playing goalie. And he was a fearsome goalie, never concerned about sacrificing his body to save a goal. I held my breath every time he was in goal (rec and travel).

But playing other positions, he's suffered a concussion, an ACL sprain, countless cuts and deep bruises, and a loose tooth.

[Anonymous]

Concussion can occur at any position. If she intends to play goalkeeper, make sure she gets appropriate technical training, which will reduce the injury risk.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. These were helpful perspectives.

And now I'm nervous about her playing other positions!! Though I guess life is full of risks.

[Anonymous]

My son u11 is a dedicated goalie and I have the same concerns about injuries. I feel better reading the above posts. He started playing goalie at u9 just on occasion but by the end of that year was in about 50%. At u10 he was in 75%. I think some kids just know that’s where they want to be. But my advice is get additional goalie training.

[Anonymous]

I played growing up in Europe and in college in the US, including as backup goalie in my teens. I wouldn't say keeper has an appreciably higher risk of injury (including concussions) than any other position.

I wouldn't have my kid wear a helmet as a keeper. I'm all about helmets in biking and skiing, but I don't think it is necessary on the soccer field.

[Anonymous]

I think a well-coached goalie isn't at higher risk of injuries. The problem at the younger ages is two-fold: 1) the kids playing goalie haven't really been taught to play the position yet; and 2) their opponents aren't totally in control of their bodies. You can't do as much about 2) - kids will develop more control and coordination as they play the sport, but if you want to protect your kid who is playing goalie a lot, I'd make sure they received some basic instruction before I get a helmet. Learning how to push a ball wide, use the leg to protect the body, how to hold the head, etc., there are a several technical points that can make a huge difference in how safe the position is.

If done correctly, the goalie often comes out on the better end of many collisions. My DD has played the position for several years now, and we made sure she had a coach who went over the right way to approach a shooter and take a ball away wide, how to protect the head, etc. As a result, even though my wife and I always cringe when we see a 1v1, I can't tell you how many times our daughter ends up with the ball, wiping the dirt off her uniform, while some hapless striker is being tended to after going heels over head. But if you're not taught the proper technique and just going diving down for balls, there is a good chance you are going to get kicked or hurt yourself some other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9 year old's team doesn't have anyone interested in the goalie position, so they are rotating kids in and out. Last weekend was dd's turn and she did pretty well and now seems interested in doing it again (as long as she can still play striker half the game).

But when I look at the position, it seems like the perfect set up for bad injuries-- like being kicked in the head when reaching down to pick up a ball. I did a search to see if there is such a thing as a helmet for a soccer goalie and indeed there is. But I've never seen anyone wear one. Is there a reason they are not common (or required)?

It's a little early at age 9 to think about this, but I would like to also mention the following. It may seem like a small consideration, but it might be worth also making sure long term your DC will have the height to succeed in the position. I've seen a lot of very talented youth goalies not end up tall enough to make it in a high level college environment. I'd like to pretend that height doesn't matter, but it does. Maybe it doesn't matter for how well the goalie players, but perception is everything. They will struggle to go far as a goalie long term. I've seen it happen a lot to goalies.

I know you said it's just for half of the game, but that's just what I have seen happen. They like it, they get good at it, they end up specializing in it, and then end up too short later on, after they have lost the foot skills of the field. Just keep it in your mind for down the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9 year old's team doesn't have anyone interested in the goalie position, so they are rotating kids in and out. Last weekend was dd's turn and she did pretty well and now seems interested in doing it again (as long as she can still play striker half the game).

But when I look at the position, it seems like the perfect set up for bad injuries-- like being kicked in the head when reaching down to pick up a ball. I did a search to see if there is such a thing as a helmet for a soccer goalie and indeed there is. But I've never seen anyone wear one. Is there a reason they are not common (or required)?

It's a little early at age 9 to think about this, but I would like to also mention the following. It may seem like a small consideration, but it might be worth also making sure long term your DC will have the height to succeed in the position. I've seen a lot of very talented youth goalies not end up tall enough to make it in a high level college environment. I'd like to pretend that height doesn't matter, but it does. Maybe it doesn't matter for how well the goalie players, but perception is everything. They will struggle to go far as a goalie long term. I've seen it happen a lot to goalies.

I know you said it's just for half of the game, but that's just what I have seen happen. They like it, they get good at it, they end up specializing in it, and then end up too short later on, after they have lost the foot skills of the field. Just keep it in your mind for down the road.

I agree with this. at higher levels a female GK needs to be at least 5’8”, for men 6’2”. Make sure your kid doesn’t specialize too early so that she or he can move back to the field if the height isn’t there.