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Goalkeeper Pigeonholing

Francois Dupont

Hello

I would like your opinion about goalkeepers. We have an under 9 team which has had a GK for most of the season but he has fallen out of love with it lately and wants to be on the pitch again. Everything I have read or heard on FA training warns us against pigeonholing players into one position. The more I think about it the more I feel it would be detrimental to the player to make him play solely in goals. After all GK these days play more with their feet than their hands and it seems a bad idea for a player that age not to experience on filed playing too.

But it feels many teams out there only ever have the same player in GK when we play them. Well during one match anyway. To me it feels we are scarifying a players interest for the team’s interest which goes against anything I believe.

Next season I think I would like us to alternate between 4 players ideally but I would be interested to hear opinions about this.

Thanks

François

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    I dont have a fixed keeper in my u9s but rotate all positions each game. I typically split my team into two and each play a half in attack or defence (i have a squad off 11) which makes it easier to ensure equal game time. My goalies play a half each and then the other half up front. Most teams we play seem to have dedicated keepers. My team and parents seem to be happy with this arrangement and tend to find that a half in goal is enough evwn for my keener keepers...

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  • 0

    I dont have a fixed keeper in my u9s but rotate all positions each game. I typically split my team into two and each play a half in attack or defence (i have a squad off 11) which makes it easier to ensure equal game time. My goalies play a half each and then the other half up front. Most teams we play seem to have dedicated keepers. My team and parents seem to be happy with this arrangement and tend to find that a half in goal is enough evwn for my keener keepers...

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