LAHORE – The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will organise the first-ever AFC Level 1 Goalkeeping Coaching Course from March 10 at Lahore, under directives of President Faisal Saleh Hayat. Coaches will be trained in skills pertinent to goalkeeping. This course covers a more specialised aspect of football, as goalkeepers are of great importance for the outcome of the game. Coaches for this specialist course must have at least the AFC C-Coaching Certificate, and have to continue their work at this chosen field.
The course is designed to deliver theoretical and practical modules in order to improve the overall standards of the game. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Level 1 Goalkeeper Coaching Course will be another landmark under the present PFF setup. It is the first of its kind to be organised by PFF in collaboration with the AFC and with the support of FIFA.
“Goalkeepers are always the forgotten group. It’s only after the goals are conceded that the goalkeeper is remembered. But goalkeepers are one of the most important players on the field and they are the last line of defense and the first line of attack. To play the position well requires special skills and training. I am really thrilled with several keepers who made spectacular saves in the Pakistan Premier League and PFF League. But they need more attention from qualified GK Coaches” said Faisal.
He added: “The goalkeeper is a special player, greatly responsible for the morale of his team, especially the defenders. If the defenders know that a reliable keeper is behind them, then they can concentrate on their game. Otherwise, the central defenders and wing full backs will have a tough time, because they need to worry about their keeper making mistakes as well as dealing with oncoming opponents.”
Nearly twenty participants have to complete a six-day course to obtain the coaching qualification. In these six days, participants will have attend theory lessons on different aspects of coaching goalkeepers, and also gain practical coaching experience by working on selected aspects of the goalkeeper’s game during the practical sessions.
The theory component of the course will teach aspiring goalkeeper coaches how to plan for training, how to set specific objectives during goalkeeper training, and how to achieve these objectives, among other things. The practical sessions reinforce what has been taught in the theory classes, and participants will be taught specific aspects of the goalkeeper’s game, such as dealing with crosses to the far post, and will have to demonstrate their understanding of what has been taught.
