My Top 5 Tips for Parents of Goalkeepers
If you’re the parent of a goalkeeper, you already know this isn’t your typical football experience. You’re raising someone who willingly throws themselves into danger, stands alone as the last line of defence, and is often in the spotlight for better or worse. Being a goalkeeper is hard – but being the parent of one? That’s a whole different ball game.
Here’s the thing: goalkeeping isn’t just about shot-stopping. It’s a mental game as much as a physical one. Your child will experience highs and lows, sometimes in the same match. They’ll concede goals, make brilliant saves, and face criticism from teammates and fans. That’s why your role as a supportive parent is vital. To help you navigate this unique journey, we’ve put together five top tips for parents of goalkeepers.
1. Support Without Pressure
Goalkeeping can be a lonely position. One mistake, and it feels like the whole team – or even the whole game – has been let down. As a parent, it’s important to be a source of support rather than additional pressure.
Instead of asking, “Why did you let that in?”, try asking, “Did you enjoy playing today?” This shifts the focus from results to experience, helping them process the game without feeling judged. Let your child lead the conversation about what went right or wrong. They’re likely already replaying every moment in their head – they don’t need more scrutiny from the sidelines!
A supportive parent creates a safe space where the child feels valued no matter the outcome. Remember, no goalkeeper goes through their career without making mistakes. It’s how they handle those moments that defines their growth.
2. Help Them Build Resilience
Mistakes will happen. They’ll let in goals, sometimes soft ones, and that’s part of the game. Your job isn’t to prevent mistakes but to help your child learn from them and move forward.
A great way to help your young goalkeeper develop resilience is to remind them that even the best keepers in the world concede goals. It’s how they recover from those moments that counts. Encourage them to have a short memory for mistakes – reset quickly and focus on the next play.
My Advice: “Help them reframe mistakes. Instead of seeing them as failures, they should view them as learning opportunities. If they can do that, they’ll become mentally stronger and more confident.”
3. Focus on Effort, Not Perfection
Goalkeeping is incredibly complex. It’s not just about saving shots – it’s about positioning, decision-making, distribution, and communication. Expecting perfection, especially at a young age, is unfair and counterproductive.
Instead of critiquing what they didn’t do, focus on their effort and bravery. Praise specific actions, like coming off the line to collect a cross or attempting a difficult save, even if it didn’t work out.For example, instead of saying, “Why didn’t you save that?”, try “I loved how brave you were on that 1v1” or “You made a great effort to get across for that shot”.
When you highlight effort over outcomes, your child will stay motivated and focused on improving rather than fearing mistakes.
4. Be Patient with Their Development
Goalkeepers often take longer to develop than outfield players. While other kids may dominate their positions early on, keepers typically peak later due to the unique physical and mental demands of the role. Don’t be discouraged if your child isn’t the standout keeper at 10 or 12 – they’re on a different timeline.
Patience is key here. Keep trusting the process, and avoid comparing your child to other players. They’ll get there in their own time.
My Advice: “Goalkeeping development is a long-term game. What they’re learning now might not fully show in their performances for years. Stay patient, and don’t rush their development.”
5. Let the Coaches Coach
It’s natural to want to give tactical advice, especially when you’re emotionally invested in their performance. However, goalkeeping is a highly technical role, and their coach is best placed to handle that side of things. Your job is to be their biggest fan, not their coach.
Instead of offering post-game analysis, focus on providing emotional support. Say things like “I loved watching you play”, regardless of how the game went. This helps your child separate their self-worth from their performance and reminds them that your love and support aren’t tied to results.
By letting the coaches do their job, you allow your child to develop trust in their training while keeping your relationship free from unnecessary tension.
Final Word: Enjoy the Ride!
Goalkeeping is a rollercoaster – one moment they’re a hero, the next they’re picking the ball out of the net. Your role as a parent is to help them navigate this journey with resilience, confidence, and a love for the game. Stay patient, stay positive, and remind them that it’s okay to make mistakes. After all, it’s just a game – and it should always be fun.
Whether they become the next big thing or simply enjoy playing at grassroots level, what matters most is that they love what they do. And with your support, they’ll have every chance to thrive, both on and off the pitch.
Keeping the Edge Programme
I know from lived experience just how challenging the journey of a goalkeeper can be. There is limited support and constant judgement which causes us to seek perfection every time we step onto the pitch.
After failing to secure a contract in the professional game, I have now made it my life's mission to support goalkeepers at all levels thrive; giving them the tools to become fearless, focused, confident and unstoppable between the sticks.
If you are ready to take your son or daughter's goalkeeping to the next level, Join The Keeper’s Edge Programme, where you get access to elite psychology coaching, professional goalkeeper insight, Q&A sessions, Premier League Analysis and Masterclasses!
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