Working with shorter goalkeepers

 The approach we took with Sydney, and one I would take with any shorter goalkeeper, had four components: technical, tactical, physical, and psychological.

The technical component was the simplest. Syd arrived at NC State with fine technique - we simply used repetition to ingrain it further and make sure that if she could get a hand to a high shot, or a fist to a cross, she used the proper form and motion to deal with the ball effectively. It’s no good being able to jump a mile high if you then simply palm a cross right to the danger area in front of goal.

One key when dealing with shorter keepers is making sure they understand the need to use the ball’s pace to help guide it over the bar or away from goal.

There is sometimes a panicky reaction to high shots, which manifests in a wild or violent swing at the ball. All too often, this results in poor contact, or, worse, missing the ball completely. When tipping a high shot over the bar, for example, the arm and hand motion must be under control at all times. The idea is not to pummel the ball to safety, but to guide it there.

The second main technical component involves the footwork needed to turn side-on to the ball and use the top hand to guide it over the bar. Some coaches call this footwork a ‘drop step.’ The goalkeeper should be comfortable turning to either side, and dropping with either foot, before saving with the top hand.

The tactical component largely involved starting positions. It stands to reason that the closer a goalkeeper is to their line, the easier it is to get a hand close to the bar, thus preventing high shots from drifting over them and in. Like a lot of young goalkeepers, Sydney had been taught to narrow the angle but had not been given clear guidelines about when this creates more problems than it solves.

For shots from around the edge of the box and further out, a shorter goalkeeper standing four or five steps off her line is asking for trouble. Any high shot is going to present a major risk, especially one hit with some pace, as there will simply not be enough time to retreat close enough to their line.

We worked on making sure Sydney was within a step or two of her line for shots from this range, while being more aggressive when dealing with shots from well inside the box. 

Starting position when dealing with crosses is equally important for shorter goalkeepers, who will often find it more difficult to reach above crowds for a cross. 

We made sure Syd took more aggressive starting positions for outswinging corners and free kicks, or crosses and free kicks from very wide positions, where her goal was under much less direct threat.

This aggressive starting position meant she had less distance to cover to reach the ball, and could time her approach to and attack of the ball more effectively.

The physical component involved improving Sydney’s jumping ability and increasing her foot speed. This task fell largely to our team of sports-science coaches. In addition to strength training with weights, they incorporated plyometrics, stretching and flexibility training, and sprint work.

The psychological component is critical for shorter goalkeepers. My focus for Sydney was making sure she exuded ‘presence’ and outward self confidence at all times. The fact is, a shorter goalkeeper will often be targeted by opposition who may see them as a soft target, and they will have to prove otherwise.

A goalkeeper with ‘presence’ makes a noticeable and positive impact on the game even when they’re not involved in the action. A good start is simply looking the part. Chin up, loud and decisive communication, overall positive body language and energy: all these things send a message to the opposition and your teammates that you are confident, you’re not going to hide, and you’re prepared for whatever the game throws at you.

Sydney Wootten was an unqualified success at NC State. She held down the number one shirt for four seasons, and led the program to unprecedented heights. She was a reliable, consistent, and sometimes spectacular performer, all because she played the game to her strengths, while minimizing any vulnerability her lack of height suggested.

The challenges faced by shorter goalkeepers are very real, but Sydney is proof that with the right approach, they can be overcome.