Soccer roots (part 3)

For the last few games of the season this summer I played keeper because of my pulled hamstring. I played the position pretty well actually. I made several difficult saves and thwarted several possible shots. My teammates were all impressed and complimented my keeper skills. I had to borrow gloves from another player and I didn’t have a goalie jersey, but I looked the part while making plays.

Because I stopped playing keeper at such an early age, I never got much formalized goalie training. I could dive OK and my instincts were sharp, but I never had a real goalie coach work with me – I never did many keeper drills. As such, my one true weak spot is balls on the ground. That’s because I don’t know the proper way to dive for balls. Balls within reach knee-level or higher don’t get by me, but a ball on the ground gives me fits. I find that I’m enjoying the position, but lacking the formalized training. I think I might actually enjoy playing the position I started this sport with, if I can get some of the goalie coaching. I got a few pointers from a guy on the team who played keeper at some point and actually got some of the formalized instruction.

I’m not saying that I’m going to quit being a field player, but I am going to take the opportunity to play keeper every once in a while. I find that I like it now that I’m seeing some action back there. I’m even considering buying a pair of gloves and a shirt to keep in my bag for times when I want to play at that position. One thing though (like when I was a child) I don’t want to get stuck back there all the time. I think I might like playing goalkeeper again so long as I get to come out some. Being trapped in that position might make me run away again.