11 Years of Success...
The GunnCoaching Goalkeeping School has been established for 11 years now and caters for boys and girls of all abilities. Generally, the students that attend are aged between 7 and 16 and are from the local leagues in South London.
Two training sessions are run:
Beginners & Intermediate: 7 - 11 years oldAdvanced & Intermediate: 12 - 16 years old +
Older goalkeepers are welcome, as specialist goalkeeper training can be hard to come by for amateur teams and some non-league clubs. From experience, older goalkeepers have a positive role model effect on the group.
Philosophy of Coaching...
The philosophy of the coaching is very simple; there is a complete focus on educating the athlete through an emphasis on technical coaching with appropriate conditioning training, to help produce players that have good awareness, creativity and excellent technical ability.
The school aims to do this by fostering a professional attitude and focus in the student, but not forgetting that effective learning takes place in an environment of fun, support and expression.
Topics Covered:
- All sessions follow The FA methodology and incorporate the latest ideas and practices in youth and pro football.
- Shot stopping
- Handling & ball familiarity
- Distribution
- Crosses
- Tactical awareness: such as supporting the defence and starting counter attacks.
- Game Related Scenarios: such as 1v1's and the back pass.
- Appropriate fitness training & conditioning: to improve awareness, agility and coordination.
Mental Aspects...
As goalkeeping is such a specialised position it's very hard for onlookers, parents and non-specialised coaches to completely empathise, support and understand what the goalkeeper is trying to achieve in many circumstances. The mental skills needed to cope with this are also incorporated into their training, to help them deal with the inevitable mistakes, criticism and competition.
To help improve the goalkeepers' concentration, confidence and control they use visualisation techniques and goal setting tasks to help them with their game preparation, matches and training.
Going Pro...
This of course can never be guaranteed, but on several occasions players have progressed to train with local professional clubs such as Charlton, Crystal Palace, Millwall and Fulham.
Equipment
The wearing of shinpads is compulsory for all sessions. Please bring training equipment suitable to the weather conditions, such as training bottoms and waterproof top, as all sessions take place outside on a grass surface.
Goalkeeper gloves and equipment can be bought at a discounted rate..... from Goalkeepes Direct.
Session Times
Training takes place on Saturday mornings at the Parkfields Recreation Ground. View Map.
Normally sessions take place on the first 3 Saturdays of each month.
If it happens to be a 5 Saturday month, training will then take place on the first 4 Saturdays.
Each training session costs £6, if you pay the 3 sessions in a month in advance (£18) and £8 for casual trainers.
Group starting times:
Beginners & Intermediate: 9.30-10.30am
Advanced & Intermediate: 10.40 - 12.30pm*
Address:
Park Fields Recreation Ground,
Cheston Avenue
West Wickham
Contact me for more information or directions on sessions.
*The finish time is flexible if trainees want to carry on practising.