How To Help Goalkeepers Move Past Mistakes During the Games

Goalkeepers, coaches, and parents let's be real... No player is perfect. Youth goalies to professional goalkeepers such as the Alisson Becker and the iconic Gianluigi Buffon have given up goals due to mistakes. If the best goalkeepers let mistakes and errors take them out of the game and off their concentration they would not be professionals. Developing a mistake ritual to overcome blunders and refocus is essential for goalkeepers of all ages to perform better, enjoy more, and grow as player. 

What Is Your Mistake Ritual?

• Become aware of your reactions when you make a mistake or have negative self talk.  How is this reaction serving you?  If it is not enhancing your performance it is time to make a change.
• Do a physical action.  Example: open and close your hand or clap your hands. 
• Say your mantra to get you back in the present moment.  Example: "Release, next play, or here!" Something simple and short to bring you current and expel the negativity.

Mistakes and success come hand in hand. Mistakes can come in all forms such as passing the ball out of the back or a lack of concentration during a catch. Every player makes mistakes. Strikers miss shots, midfielders lose possession in the middle third, and defenders miss-clear a ball. Success is also part of the game of soccer; a great breakaway save that bails your defender out; an upper 90 save that keeps the score 0 - 0 after your striker misses an easy goal; passing the ball well out of the back; even consistent catching and handling. In order to have more success and enjoy goalkeeping more it is important to have a short term memory with mistakes. Don’t let that error eat you up for the rest of the game! Your team needs you. YOU Need You! You can't do anything about the past, so focusing on the present is the only way. Let it roll off you like water on a ducks back. After the game, or a day later, assess what went wrong. Train through the error during the week. Build your confidence. Hard work, focus, and belief will help reduce mistakes.

Train the brain and the body will perform better!

For more questions on athletic performance or sports psychology contact:

Ryan Carr
High Performance Coach
[email protected]
609-602-4459
M.A.Sport Psychology, B.S. Exercise Science