keeper training programme
SEVENTEEN coaches yesterday successfully completed a three-day goal keeper training programme organised by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
The programme which started on Friday last at the GFC ground and concluded yesterday was coordinated by the GFF’s Technical Development Officer Lyndon France, who said the course was a success.
France told Chronicle Sport that the participants are now more knowledgeable about their role as goal keeper coaches, since according to him, they have assimilated a great amount of knowledge which they promised to pass on to their charges.
The coaches were drawn from seven of the nine GFF’s sub-associations (Georgetown Football Association, Bartica, East Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Coast, Upper Demerara and Berbice)
The two associations that were not represented were Rupununi and Essequibo.
The GFF’s Technical Development Officer said during the three days, the coaches were taught various techniques of goal keeping, such as, technical requirements – goal keepers warm ups, posture, positioning, shuffling and movements; techniques for fielding ground balls and balls below the knees; techniques for fielding head height balls; techniques for fielding and dealing with high balls (catching, punching, deflecting and tipping); techniques for diving below the hips and to the ground; techniques for balls coming above the hips and to the ground; techniques for diving for balls above the shoulder; dealing with one on one situations, restarting play, starting attacks and launching counter-attacks; attributes of a goal keeper (physical, mental and psychological); communication (verbally and non-verbally, dress, stand, walk and speak); physical conditioning and strength training.
According to France, himself and Gavin Browne were trained by FIFA accredited goal keeper coaches and are licensed to conduct similar training programmes.
He added that three other goal keeper coaches attended a similar course in Trinidad and Tobago last year; they are; Joseph Wilson of East Demerara, Phillip Carrington of Berbice and Christopher George.