A goalkeeping coach must often use a psychological approach to improve his goalkeeper’s attitude and mental strength, as the position is one of the most psychologically demanding on the pitch. A young keeper can lose confidence when he makes a mistake, and it must be emphasized that when a goal is scored against him, that the other team has already beaten the ten other men in his team.

The general team training isn’t adequate to help the skills needed for goalkeeping, so goalkeeping coaching is a must to develop young goalkeepers, they need encouragement to take any opportunity available for extra training.

Teach good techniques, and emphasize them with repetition. Immediately correct any poor technique, whether doing practice or playing or even just in a knock about. Repetition is the best way to ingrain good habits, and observation of a good goalkeeper will show him/her doing it right time after time. Good habits become automatic, and with repetition bad habits can be eliminated.

It is not always a mistake by the keeper that allows the opposing team to score. It might be a brilliant shot, so be prepared to give the scorer credit and note the general positioning etc in response to the play and credit the keeper for other than direct saves.

Direct saves are not the only way of achieving a clean sheet. He can force a missed shot, by appearing aggressive he may cause the player with the ball to shoot too soon or miss a pass, in general using a psychological approach to his advantage. Keep a cool head after a save, be calm and assess the field position before putting the ball back into play.

Insist on every shot being attempted, even if it seems impossible. They may surprise themselves and this will help to build confidence. After a time the seemingly impossible shots will often be saved.

When a match is not going well for a goalkeeper, it is a toss up between pulling them and having them think you have lost confidence in them and letting them stay and have a bad day. Stay positive and emphasize that the blame is shared with the team and they should accept that you want to spread the load. Discuss the conceded goals afterwards and work out with them any additional training that might help in such a situation.

There is something very specific to training and a goalkeeper’s demeanor during training.  The training ground is where the goalkeeper becomes hard or soft; it is where the goalkeeper works out problems and imprints habits; and it is where the goalkeeper has the most candid and unrestricted exchange with the coach and other goalkeepers. Ideally, the majority of this attitude toward training is learned holistically through example. 

Hard work, a respect for the work being done, and general common sense will constitute a positive attitude toward training. Efficiency is a critical element for a goalkeeper’s approach to training.  Nothing should be wasted and everything should be maximized.  That is to say, the goalkeeper moves quickly from one activity to the next whether that be in between repetitions or simply jogging back onto the field after breaking for water.  They always return the ball back to the server quickly and accurately and begin to focus on the next ball before the server has played it.  There is very little “down time.” Likewise, the goalkeeper shows up to training early and prepared.  They are fully and properly dressed and prepped in terms of initial stretching etc. before the session is scheduled to begin.  They work attentively until the session is through, and are proactive in offering assistance in gathering up the training equipment being used on the field. They take the time to stretch afterwards as well as care to properly pack their own equipment.  Everything about the goalkeeper’s effort, work rate, and attention should say, “I am here to train hard because I recognize it is important and I am happy to put the work in.” 

When a group of goalkeepers are training together, there is a very special camaraderie that is unique to this type of group.  It is different from a team’s camaraderie because, in the end, each goalkeeper is concerned mostly with improving their own game; however, there is a certain spirit of collectivity and support for the fellow goalkeeper that should be apparent in the way that they relate to each other.  Hard work and big time saves should be acknowledged both when carried out by the players or, when applicable, demonstrated by the staff coach.  This creates a very positive atmosphere: spirits are high and goalkeepers are compelled toward excellence in performance both by their own internal motivation and by the appreciation and praise expressed by their peers.