SCOUTING — What Coaches Look For (Part 2)
Obviously, a GK has to be skilled, in order to play for college but what personal qualities do you look for in a youth player when recruiting?

SCOUTING — What Coaches Look For (Part 1)
By Chris Ducar, Women's Goalkeeper Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, University of North Carolina

Player evaluation is a critical question in recruiting.  The depth of talent is so much better today than it was twelve years ago when I started recruiting at UNC.  All the aspects of extra physical development done by the players today were just coming into consideration when I started.  With an abundance of quality athletes, the goal for the individual athlete is to separate themselves from the ordinary.

U16 U.S. Girls National Team - January Training Camp

In January I had the opportunity to join the U16 U.S. Girls National Team coaching staff at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. It was my first trip to the U.S. National Teams' training center and I thoroughly enjoyed the week. The training grounds were immaculate and we even had our own locker room for the week! It brought back some great memories of my days as a player on the National Team. Eat, sleep, and play soccer! That is the life of a National Team player and it is wonderful.

Dynasty Goalkeeping: The Collegiate Advantage

If you trust your talent to Tracy Ducar and Dynasty Goalkeeping, you will be getting much more than a week of intense goalkeeper training. You will get an adviser who will help you with your college search when the time comes.

The Importance of Fitness for Goalkeepers

Reprinted from The Vision of a Champion.
When I got to UNC in 1991, I discovered that the weakest dimension of my game was my physical conditioning. I had never done any preparation on the physical side. We were required to do the Cooper test. The goalkeeper standard was 6 3/4 laps, which I made within a step. I wouldn't have a problem with that today, but at that point, I had never done any real running.

Improving Lateral Footwork for Goalkeepers

There is a lot of emphasis these days put on speed, agility, and power, but how does this translate into becoming a better goalkeeper? The speed aspect is apparent in the forward direction as goalkeepers are often required to sprint off their lines to intercept through balls, win breakaways, and pick off crosses. Every second matters when racing to beat a forward to a ball. Agility is critical because there is so much change of direction required of the position. And power is vital for a strong vertical jump and explosion on extension dives.