The Goalkeeper Position

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GOAL KEEPER POSITION

The goalkeeper position is a major position of football. The goalkeeper area is rectangular and extends sixteen point five meters on each side of the goalposts and sixteen point five meters to the front forming a rectangle colloquially known as the 18-yard box. It is the most dangerous area in the field since any handballs and fouls normally lead to straight red cards and penalties.

Being a goalkeeper demands a lot of responsibility, as it is a thrilling moment each time the opponents come attacking. It calls for quick reflexes since each mistake is equal to a score. I find it being the hardest position to play in the field and also as the most interesting position too. Each time I direct the ball away from the goal I feel very proud of myself. It is also a frustrating position since the biggest blame is on me each time the opponents score. I have learned skills from great legendary goalkeepers like Messing who confirms that goalkeeping is intensely psychological.

“For ninety minutes, you are on the precipice of anger and tranquility,” he says. “You have to be coiled and ready to strike, and at the same time have the serenity of a yogi.” He says that juxtaposition is the greatest mental challenge of every game (Schaap, 2010, p22)

With this mind, I always know that before each game I have a responsibility and role to achieve in the field

Playing in this position requires a flexible person not only physically but also mentally. I have learned many virtues that have made me be successful in the playground. First is co-ordination with the fellow teammates. Success in a team cannot be achieved on solo basis and therefore working together in the field is mandatory. Every sports-person has to be responsible. This sense of responsibility makes me work hard and give the team my best always. Playing with the other twenty-one players’ demands that you respect one another and by this harmony is achieved in the playground. Appreciating the fact that we are all different and with diverse capabilities has helped move along well with other players. I have my strategy of play always, and using this strategy, I have perfected my skills very well and earned consistency in the field. I have also learnt to be able to analyze situations very fast. Normally the goalie is always under pressure and the decision I make is always based in quickly analyzing the situation before deciding on how well to move the ball from the vicinity of the goal.

Being a goalkeeper has been my passion and ambition since childhood and playing in this position means a lot to me. When I wear my jersey and move to the field, I feel a winner for I have achieved part of dreams. I feel happy each time we play and emerge as winners. Nevertheless, winning and losing is part of football. I feel okay even after a loss but I train harder for the next game. Playing in this position has helped me cope with life situations. Football runs in my blood and I feel connected to the game when I play. Am always enthusiastic in my role of play and I feel responsible for the team’s success or failure. This has extended to my life out of the field and I have grown to be more responsible for everything am involved in.

Being a goalkeeper is interesting and it’s the place to be for me. It has been fantastic and I feel my qualities are utilized and I have proved the worth of being in that position over time.

References

Schaap, Rosie. (2010), Playing On the Edge: The Psychology of a Goalkeeper, New York. Riverhead Books.