How To Get Ready For Soccer Tryouts For A Goalie

At the amateur level in soccer, goalkeepers typically face the opposite of a tryout -- decent goalkeepers are in high demand and often are asked to play for multiple teams, sometimes even in the same league. The stakes get higher for travel teams, the Olympic Development Program for skilled youth and, of course, at the professional level. If you are facing a tryout to test your goalkeeper skills, you need to be prepared so you can do your best.

Step 1

Interview the club's director of coaching or goalkeeping technical director in charge of the tryout ahead of time, ideally at the end of the preceding season. Obtain a copy of the coach's recommended offseason conditioning program for goalkeepers, which is likely to include plyometrics exercises for explosiveness.

Step 2

Allow yourself whatever window you have -- as much as two or three months with any luck -- to work on explosiveness drills such as box jumps and running stadium steps and specific skills drills you are likely to see. Sign up friends or recreational teammates to work on drills such as "rapid fire," where you face three central players and additional pairs of players on each wing, who bring the ball down and shoot time after time to test your fitness and range. Play in goal recreationally as much as possible to hone your handwork, footwork and technique.

Step 3

Attend a training camp specifically for goalkeepers, which may run for four weeknights, all weekend or even the night before tryouts. Obtain advanced direction from the team's former or current professional goalkeeper on ways to improve your tactics, techniques, physical gifts, mental game and leadership. If available, work with a nearby college's goalkeeping coach to advance your game. Expect to work on catching technique, distribution, safe diving and using your body to stop the ball, as well as penalty kicks.

Step 4

Get a good night's rest for at least the two nights before the tryout. Avoid fast food as part of a general commitment to nutrition.

Step 5

Launder two or three goalkeeper jerseys of different colors and place them in your equipment bag, along with shorts or warm-up pants, two pairs of socks, shinguards and a match-quality set of goalkeeping gloves and a backup practice set of gloves. Place bottled water in the bag, as well as clean cleats and turf shoes and healthy natural-grain snacks.

Step 6

Eat a full meal three to four hours before the tryout and have a carbohydrate-rich snack about an hour before. Arrive at the tryout location early and introduce yourself to the evaluators. Repeat to yourself affirmations that you are well prepared and plan to enjoy yourself, show your talents, shake off setbacks and display leadership as part of a positive frame of mind. Envision yourself able to stay in the ready position, adjust your angle to deny attackers, instruct your defense clearly and loudly, make saves and distribute well.