The Coaches' Room
5v5U8Player Development

Rotating goalkeepers when one child clearly loves it

Asked by BexL
1034 views 2 replies
We have one U8 who would happily play in goal every week and is genuinely interested in it. We still rotate others through because I want everyone to experience the position, but I am starting to wonder whether we are taking useful minutes away from the child who actually wants to develop there. How are others balancing this?

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VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA C Coach

Grassroots session design

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I would not rotate goalkeepers just to make a spreadsheet look equal. At U8 I still want players to experience different parts of the game, and I would give others chances in goal if they are happy to try it. But if one child genuinely enjoys the position, it is reasonable for them to get more goalkeeper minutes than somebody who dreads it. The balance is making sure that keen goalkeeper still gets outfield experiences as well. They are eight, so I would not lock them into one position yet. I’d think in terms of opportunity rather than identical minutes: everybody can experience goalkeeping, nobody is forced to spend huge chunks there, and the child who loves it gets enough time to actually develop that interest.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 2 replies

D

DevonCharlie

Club Volunteer / Official

If one child loves it I would give them more time there. We still let everyone try goal in training, but I dont see the value in forcing half a match on a child who hates it just so the rota is perfectly even.
M

Mark17

Assistant Coach

Exactly. Opportunity for everyone, identical minutes for nobody.