To be honest, I've never really had any aspirations to be a coach and I certainly don't profess to be an expert on the strategies of the game despite playing soccer all my life. But if there's one thing I'm sure of when it comes to coaching soccer it's the importance of recognizing the training needs of the goalkeeper.

If that sounds a bit biased coming from a goalkeeper it's probably because it is. But the importance of goalkeeper specific training and the inclusion of goalkeeper training within the framework of a normal practice session cannot be stressed enough in my opinion. Nothing is worse as a goalkeeper than being told by the coach to "go warm up on you own", or "we'll need you in 20 minutes."

Unfortunately, not many youth teams have the luxury of having a goalkeeper coach. However, even to have the assistant coach spend a few minutes to focus on the needs of the goalkeeper goes a long way towards establishing sound basics and a trust of interest in the keeper's needs. If a coach isn't able work specifically with the keeper, then have him join in with the outfield players in whatever drills you have planned. Even if your lesson plans don't include a goalkeeper in his goal, with today's back pass rules a keeper, just like the players around him, can never get enough touches on the ball with his feet. The key is interaction with the coaches and the players. Just like every other player, the goalkeeper is motivated by impressing his coach and teammates and playing in game-like situations. For me nothing is more boring and unmotivating than going through drills on your own or with the other goalkeeper.

Any goalkeeping drills you introduce to the practice should be game-related and again should include the coach and players to bring the most out of the goalkeeper.

We were lucky enough with the Canadian National team to have a Goalkeeper Coach in Kevin Muldoon. He put the keepers through a series of game related drills to solidify the basics and get us sharp for the Team Coach's sessions with the players. There is no better goalkeeping training than playing small-sided games or shooting and crossing sessions with the players you'll be playing with and against in games.

To summarize, GET THE KEEPER INVOLVED!

Tailor your sessions if need be to include the goalkeeper in whatever practices you have planned. An involved goalkeeper is a more motivated keeper. And a motivated goalkeeper can go a long way towards helping any team.

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Paul Dolan hung up his gloves last season after a wonderfully experienced goalkeeping career. He was Canada's goalkeeper against France in the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico (1986) and became the youngest keeper to play in a World Cup final. He had spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County in England, where he ran into visa problems. The majority of his playing career was with the Vancouver 86ers (now the Whitecaps) and the Canadian national team. He is the marketing director for Umbro Canada.