What is the reason that many goalkeepers constantly play at a high level and others experience each game as a rollercoaster ride?
Why do successful defensive actions appear smooth and harmonious while unsuccessful ones seem jerky and uncoordinated?
What are the critical points which we as mentors should concentrate on during the goalkeeper's training programme?
An optimum mixture of various technical, tactical, motor and personality traits - brought together in "The Seven Principles of the Masters" - form the basis for an optimum goalkeeping performance.
1. Optimal position and distance
2. Balance
3. Ready in time
4. Correct beginning
5. Fast actively to the ball
6. Courage
7. Controlled focus
above: Quality and focus have always been given priority during the training process (private archive)
In the book "The Art of Goalkeeping", all individual principles are initially introduced and are then linked to selected game situations. This is followed by intensive discussions concerning the relationship of the principles to each other, as well as the application to age and ability levels. Through this, the most frequent sources of mistakes in the goalkeeping game are completely explained, and clear solutions are proposed for the removal of weaknesses.
A goalkeeper who can apply the seven principles of the master increases his chances of defending an "unstoppable" ball in apparently hopeless situations.