Little passing on his goalkeeping wisdom
WHY?
Why would you want to stand between two posts and be hit by a thunderous shot? Spend most of the game alone in a team sport?
There are a few reasons, it seems. And noone probably knows more about being a goalkeeper than Liam Little.
Now the city’s youngsters are getting the opportunity to learn from him.
Little is heading Football South’s goalkeeping academy this term.
The longtime keeper for the club’s national premiership team had been keen to get into coaching, and has more time on his hands given the team is not entering this year’s league.
There are 14 keepers who have taken up the opportunity the academy presents, the young ones being 913 years old and the older group being 1318.
Little is enjoying passing on some of the key points.
‘‘The younger kids [are learning] just basic fundamentals — diving, footwork and getting in their set positions for the shot. Just basic sort of stuff,’’ he said.
‘‘For the older kids it’s a bit more intense — just trying to increase the intensity of the training.
‘‘Things happen a bit quicker, so our drills are more designed for that age group.
‘‘New Zealand goalkeepers struggle with distribution and dealing with crosses.
‘‘It’s something in the UK goalkeepers are really big on — dealing with crosses. I think in New Zealand we’re not too good at it.
‘‘So I have a look at that with the older kids.’’
Physically, Little said having fast footwork, being quick off the mark and being able to dive and get back up were keys.
However, he said much of becoming a good keeper came from simply playing more and that was why they tended to get better with age.
While most kids grew up wanting to be outfield players, there came a point where some would make the move into the goal box.
For Little that came around the age of 14, after a few injuries slowed him down in the outfield.
‘‘I’d imagine around about 1213 [most keepers] start to see themselves better as a goalkeeper than they do as an outfield player,’’ he said.
‘‘For me I was always going to be quite tall, so that helps as well.
‘‘As a goalkeeper you’ve got to be a bit crazy, but you’ve got to enjoy diving and throwing yourself around, things like that.
‘‘Outfield players don’t do all that, so I guess you’ve got to be a bit nuts.’’
Coping with pressure was a big thing too, and being able to let go of mistakes was key.
Communicating was also a big part of the position and that was a good way to stay involved when you had not had to make a save for an extended time.
Coaching was something Little hoped to do more of longterm.
The 34yearold was not playing national premiership football this year, unable to travel due to his job at children’s sports and movement programme provider Playball.