Hey nobody can say how good you will be based on your size. Having height is just a natural advantage. You still must work your tail off to be great. If your shorter you have to work that much harder, But, it can be done. You may have to look for opportunities other than what's right in front of you to find the right fit.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a 5'10" girl make a team who had played field for her previous team get chosen as goalie, and the other two keepers who actually had keeper experience but were average not make it. It happens.

You can coach up a kid to be keeper, you can't coach up a kid to be tall.

And there the OP has it. You are reading the bias your kid will face if he/she isn't projected to be tall enough.

It is bias based on reality. The following are average men's keeper height at the college level broken down by D1, D2, D3 and NAIA (https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer/recruiting-guidelines)


Average height of college goalkeepers by division level
D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

D2 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’1”
6’3” and over: 17.5%
6’ and under: 47.3%

D3 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 17.3%
6’ and under: 57.4%

NAIA goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 15.7%
6’ and under: 59.7%

As was stated earlier, if you are shorter there is a team for you at a "lower" level of soccer. The tallest keepers generally play at the highest levels. The numbers don't lie. If you are not AT least 6' it is going to be a tough row to hoe. There are not many 5'10" Centers in BB either.

How is it that none of those percentages add up to 100%

D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

Umm, because the rest are between 6'1 and 6'2"

Ok, that's an odd way to list it, but that's fine.

I think the overall point was to show where the delineated heights were. Saying the average is 6'2" doesn't provide enough context. But, it is safe to say that 6' is the safest floor walk through the door height to be a keeper at the collegiate level.

Is it a bias based in reality? Or a reality produced by bias?

Either way I guess it doesn't matter. The preference for height is real and it happens at every level. Keylor Navas is a better keeper by a mile than Courtois, but Navas is 6'1 vs Courtois 6'6", so there you have it.

Exactly. If they followed the stats, they would see who are the better keepers, but they don't. However as long as this is how the chips are falling, parents should be wary of letting their kids specialize in gk unless they are sure their kids will make the cut. I've seen great keepers get heartbroken when they get older because of it.

Navas is still 6’1” which is right in line with the D1 average. 2% of the population is taller than 6’4”. The “stats” don’t indicate that players 6’6” are a viable player pool to scout considering that 25% of the worlds 6’6” men ages 25-34 are likely already playing in the NBA.

Six feet is the line. Argue against it all you want it is the reality of the situation.

Casillas is 5'11" and was the best in the world at one time, playing for Real Madrid.

Casillas had a very high ape index where his wingspan was abnormally wide. He can reach balls most people his height cannot.

So it's really reach that is the actually better gauge. Which is what I tell my 6-0 keeper. And BTW, the keepers listed heights are probably fudged at least an inch. So if you kids true height is 5-11, the school is probably going to list them at 6-0 anyways. And 6-1 for a 6-footer, etc.

It is so rare that short keepers make it to the highest level that people actually remember their names decades later and makes lists of them. Good luck trying to make that list.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a 5'10" girl make a team who had played field for her previous team get chosen as goalie, and the other two keepers who actually had keeper experience but were average not make it. It happens.

You can coach up a kid to be keeper, you can't coach up a kid to be tall.

And there the OP has it. You are reading the bias your kid will face if he/she isn't projected to be tall enough.

It is bias based on reality. The following are average men's keeper height at the college level broken down by D1, D2, D3 and NAIA (https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer/recruiting-guidelines)


Average height of college goalkeepers by division level
D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

D2 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’1”
6’3” and over: 17.5%
6’ and under: 47.3%

D3 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 17.3%
6’ and under: 57.4%

NAIA goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 15.7%
6’ and under: 59.7%

As was stated earlier, if you are shorter there is a team for you at a "lower" level of soccer. The tallest keepers generally play at the highest levels. The numbers don't lie. If you are not AT least 6' it is going to be a tough row to hoe. There are not many 5'10" Centers in BB either.

How is it that none of those percentages add up to 100%

D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

Umm, because the rest are between 6'1 and 6'2"

Ok, that's an odd way to list it, but that's fine.

I think the overall point was to show where the delineated heights were. Saying the average is 6'2" doesn't provide enough context. But, it is safe to say that 6' is the safest floor walk through the door height to be a keeper at the collegiate level.

Is it a bias based in reality? Or a reality produced by bias?

Either way I guess it doesn't matter. The preference for height is real and it happens at every level. Keylor Navas is a better keeper by a mile than Courtois, but Navas is 6'1 vs Courtois 6'6", so there you have it.

Exactly. If they followed the stats, they would see who are the better keepers, but they don't. However as long as this is how the chips are falling, parents should be wary of letting their kids specialize in gk unless they are sure their kids will make the cut. I've seen great keepers get heartbroken when they get older because of it.

Navas is still 6’1” which is right in line with the D1 average. 2% of the population is taller than 6’4”. The “stats” don’t indicate that players 6’6” are a viable player pool to scout considering that 25% of the worlds 6’6” men ages 25-34 are likely already playing in the NBA.

Six feet is the line. Argue against it all you want it is the reality of the situation.

Casillas is 5'11" and was the best in the world at one time, playing for Real Madrid.

Casillas had a very high ape index where his wingspan was abnormally wide. He can reach balls most people his height cannot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Which proves the point of bias. A short keeper has to outperform[ taller keepers to be given fair consideration and even then, he or she could get passed over.

And NBA centers are selected based on bias?

It is an 8x24’ area that needs to be covered. Outside of freakish athleticism the best way to ensure the most likely coverage is through pure size. All the technique in the world will not make up for the simple fact of pure range. Are the shorter keepers more athletic? Probably but if they can’t reach the ball it just doesn’t matter. If you are a 5’10” Premier League keeper odds are the best in the world because you have athleticism that can match and achieve what being 3 inches taller can’t match.

I won't cross compare Apple's and oranges.

There are stats, measurables. No keeper is big enough to not need to jump. So it should be based on measurables, but it's not. Taller keepers with poorer stats will get picked with the assumption they can do better, even if it isn't statistically supported.

If the stats back up that 5’11 and 6’ keepers are better then there would be more of them.

Show the stats

1. I didn't say ALL 5'11", etc., any more than ALL 6'6".
2. If I get time to look them up, I will. I've done it in the past. That's how I know. But you have to go league to league and then club to club. It's time consuming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Which proves the point of bias. A short keeper has to outperform[ taller keepers to be given fair consideration and even then, he or she could get passed over.

And NBA centers are selected based on bias?

It is an 8x24’ area that needs to be covered. Outside of freakish athleticism the best way to ensure the most likely coverage is through pure size. All the technique in the world will not make up for the simple fact of pure range. Are the shorter keepers more athletic? Probably but if they can’t reach the ball it just doesn’t matter. If you are a 5’10” Premier League keeper odds are the best in the world because you have athleticism that can match and achieve what being 3 inches taller can’t match.

I won't cross compare Apple's and oranges.

There are stats, measurables. No keeper is big enough to not need to jump. So it should be based on measurables, but it's not. Taller keepers with poorer stats will get picked with the assumption they can do better, even if it isn't statistically supported.

If the stats back up that 5’11 and 6’ keepers are better then there would be more of them.

Show the stats

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Which proves the point of bias. A short keeper has to outperform[ taller keepers to be given fair consideration and even then, he or she could get passed over.

And NBA centers are selected based on bias?

It is an 8x24’ area that needs to be covered. Outside of freakish athleticism the best way to ensure the most likely coverage is through pure size. All the technique in the world will not make up for the simple fact of pure range. Are the shorter keepers more athletic? Probably but if they can’t reach the ball it just doesn’t matter. If you are a 5’10” Premier League keeper odds are the best in the world because you have athleticism that can match and achieve what being 3 inches taller can’t match.

I won't cross compare Apple's and oranges.

There are stats, measurables. No keeper is big enough to not need to jump. So it should be based on measurables, but it's not. Taller keepers with poorer stats will get picked with the assumption they can do better, even if it isn't statistically supported.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Which proves the point of bias. A short keeper has to outperform[ taller keepers to be given fair consideration and even then, he or she could get passed over.

And NBA centers are selected based on bias?

It is an 8x24’ area that needs to be covered. Outside of freakish athleticism the best way to ensure the most likely coverage is through pure size. All the technique in the world will not make up for the simple fact of pure range. Are the shorter keepers more athletic? Probably but if they can’t reach the ball it just doesn’t matter. If you are a 5’10” Premier League keeper odds are the best in the world because you have athleticism that can match and achieve what being 3 inches taller can’t match.

Anonymous wrote:At what point does size matter for a keeper? My kid is on the shorter side, but loves being in goal (and is pretty good at it). He's 11. At what age will he be phased out as a goalie because of his short height?

If your kid has a passion and talent for the position, he will find a team. People are going on and on about college and the pros. The vast majority of kids playing soccer will do neither of these things. If he really wants to play in high school ask around to find out how competitive your high school team is and make sure he is keeping up his technical skills in field positions. Goalies can easily play the entire game, so, if your kid isn't the best goalie, they may not get much playing time.

True story: my daughter was an above average goalie (made varsity her freshman year of high school as the b string goalie and got to play the majority of minutes her sophomore year). Her junior year, a phenom freshman came in, and my daughter only played a handful of minutes for the next two years. Other girl ended up being recruited to a D1 school. There is a real downside to specializing in such a limited position, especially if your aspirations and talent do not reach beyond high school level ball.

Anonymous wrote:^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Which proves the point of bias. A short keeper has to outperform[ taller keepers to be given fair consideration and even then, he or she could get passed over.

^^

It goes to prove that to be a short keeper you’ll have to literally be the best in the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a 5'10" girl make a team who had played field for her previous team get chosen as goalie, and the other two keepers who actually had keeper experience but were average not make it. It happens.

You can coach up a kid to be keeper, you can't coach up a kid to be tall.

And there the OP has it. You are reading the bias your kid will face if he/she isn't projected to be tall enough.

It is bias based on reality. The following are average men's keeper height at the college level broken down by D1, D2, D3 and NAIA (https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer/recruiting-guidelines)


Average height of college goalkeepers by division level
D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

D2 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’1”
6’3” and over: 17.5%
6’ and under: 47.3%

D3 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 17.3%
6’ and under: 57.4%

NAIA goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 15.7%
6’ and under: 59.7%

As was stated earlier, if you are shorter there is a team for you at a "lower" level of soccer. The tallest keepers generally play at the highest levels. The numbers don't lie. If you are not AT least 6' it is going to be a tough row to hoe. There are not many 5'10" Centers in BB either.

How is it that none of those percentages add up to 100%

D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

Umm, because the rest are between 6'1 and 6'2"

Ok, that's an odd way to list it, but that's fine.

I think the overall point was to show where the delineated heights were. Saying the average is 6'2" doesn't provide enough context. But, it is safe to say that 6' is the safest floor walk through the door height to be a keeper at the collegiate level.

Is it a bias based in reality? Or a reality produced by bias?

Either way I guess it doesn't matter. The preference for height is real and it happens at every level. Keylor Navas is a better keeper by a mile than Courtois, but Navas is 6'1 vs Courtois 6'6", so there you have it.

Exactly. If they followed the stats, they would see who are the better keepers, but they don't. However as long as this is how the chips are falling, parents should be wary of letting their kids specialize in gk unless they are sure their kids will make the cut. I've seen great keepers get heartbroken when they get older because of it.

Navas is still 6’1” which is right in line with the D1 average. 2% of the population is taller than 6’4”. The “stats” don’t indicate that players 6’6” are a viable player pool to scout considering that 25% of the worlds 6’6” men ages 25-34 are likely already playing in the NBA.

Six feet is the line. Argue against it all you want it is the reality of the situation.

Casillas is 5'11" and was the best in the world at one time, playing for Real Madrid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a 5'10" girl make a team who had played field for her previous team get chosen as goalie, and the other two keepers who actually had keeper experience but were average not make it. It happens.

You can coach up a kid to be keeper, you can't coach up a kid to be tall.

And there the OP has it. You are reading the bias your kid will face if he/she isn't projected to be tall enough.

It is bias based on reality. The following are average men's keeper height at the college level broken down by D1, D2, D3 and NAIA (https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer/recruiting-guidelines)


Average height of college goalkeepers by division level
D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

D2 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’1”
6’3” and over: 17.5%
6’ and under: 47.3%

D3 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 17.3%
6’ and under: 57.4%

NAIA goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 15.7%
6’ and under: 59.7%

As was stated earlier, if you are shorter there is a team for you at a "lower" level of soccer. The tallest keepers generally play at the highest levels. The numbers don't lie. If you are not AT least 6' it is going to be a tough row to hoe. There are not many 5'10" Centers in BB either.

How is it that none of those percentages add up to 100%

D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

Umm, because the rest are between 6'1 and 6'2"

Ok, that's an odd way to list it, but that's fine.

I think the overall point was to show where the delineated heights were. Saying the average is 6'2" doesn't provide enough context. But, it is safe to say that 6' is the safest floor walk through the door height to be a keeper at the collegiate level.

Is it a bias based in reality? Or a reality produced by bias?

Either way I guess it doesn't matter. The preference for height is real and it happens at every level. Keylor Navas is a better keeper by a mile than Courtois, but Navas is 6'1 vs Courtois 6'6", so there you have it.

Exactly. If they followed the stats, they would see who are the better keepers, but they don't. However as long as this is how the chips are falling, parents should be wary of letting their kids specialize in gk unless they are sure their kids will make the cut. I've seen great keepers get heartbroken when they get older because of it.

Navas is still 6’1” which is right in line with the D1 average. 2% of the population is taller than 6’4”. The “stats” don’t indicate that players 6’6” are a viable player pool to scout considering that 25% of the worlds 6’6” men ages 25-34 are likely already playing in the NBA.

Six feet is the line. Argue against it all you want it is the reality of the situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a youth travel coach, I've seen several short GKs display natural ability and also ENJOYMENT at the position. GK'ing just isn't if they can touch the crossbar, but:
- command of the backline
- restricting angles
- distribution

Now, once you get beyond youth leagues you'll find a more competitive population writ large at every position.

absolutely agree, coach here as well. Command of backline worth its weight in gold. I love kids who I can see growing up to be a future 5th grade teacher, got that big mouth and bossiness about them.

True, and once kids are competing for slots at a high level, both boys and girls, there will be tall kids who also have those attributes competing with short kids with those attributes. if you don’t have the height, you have to be significantly better than the taller kids in all the other attributes to get a look. Which is why the few short pro keepers have exceptional skills.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a 5'10" girl make a team who had played field for her previous team get chosen as goalie, and the other two keepers who actually had keeper experience but were average not make it. It happens.

You can coach up a kid to be keeper, you can't coach up a kid to be tall.

And there the OP has it. You are reading the bias your kid will face if he/she isn't projected to be tall enough.

It is bias based on reality. The following are average men's keeper height at the college level broken down by D1, D2, D3 and NAIA (https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer/recruiting-guidelines)


Average height of college goalkeepers by division level
D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

D2 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’1”
6’3” and over: 17.5%
6’ and under: 47.3%

D3 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 17.3%
6’ and under: 57.4%

NAIA goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’0”
6’3” and over: 15.7%
6’ and under: 59.7%

As was stated earlier, if you are shorter there is a team for you at a "lower" level of soccer. The tallest keepers generally play at the highest levels. The numbers don't lie. If you are not AT least 6' it is going to be a tough row to hoe. There are not many 5'10" Centers in BB either.

How is it that none of those percentages add up to 100%

D1 goalkeeper
Average Height: 6’2”
6’3” and over: 30.5%
6’ and under: 33.1%

Umm, because the rest are between 6'1 and 6'2"

Ok, that's an odd way to list it, but that's fine.

I think the overall point was to show where the delineated heights were. Saying the average is 6'2" doesn't provide enough context. But, it is safe to say that 6' is the safest floor walk through the door height to be a keeper at the collegiate level.

Is it a bias based in reality? Or a reality produced by bias?

Either way I guess it doesn't matter. The preference for height is real and it happens at every level. Keylor Navas is a better keeper by a mile than Courtois, but Navas is 6'1 vs Courtois 6'6", so there you have it.

Exactly. If they followed the stats, they would see who are the better keepers, but they don't. However as long as this is how the chips are falling, parents should be wary of letting their kids specialize in gk unless they are sure their kids will make the cut. I've seen great keepers get heartbroken when they get older because of it.