It’s easy for myths and misinformation to spread in the sporting world. Especially these days, when there’s so much media scrutiny. Unfortunately, football falsehoods and completely untrue ideas are widely accepted as fact in the modern game. This is particularly true regarding goalkeepers, who are often judged, criticised, or viewed according to inaccurate or outdated standards.
Let’s bust a few of those myths today.
Goalkeepers Have to Be Tall
It’s easy to see how this myth came about. Naturally, being taller and broader is an advantage when you play in goal. It makes it easier to leap high in the air and make those game-saving dives across the goal. But height is not the be-all and end-all. You can succeed if you’re under six foot, and a whole lot of legends have proven that over the years.
Jorge Campos, 5’7”. René Higuita, 5’9”. They were both incredibly successful, pioneering talents. They didn’t only excel in their own careers, but influenced the next generation of goalies. Then, there are all the amazing keepers around the six foot mark. Like Iker Casillas, a crucial member of the iconic 2008-2012 Spain side, and World Cup and six-time Serie A winner Dino Zoff.
Goalies Don’t Need to Be Fit
Again, it’s not hard to see how this myth spread. People tend to think that, since goalies don’t run around as much as outfield players, they don’t need to be fit. This stereotype has been reinforced in the past by a few famous keepers who were clearly “stockier” than their colleagues. However, in the modern game, it’s an absolute fallacy to suggest that fitness doesn’t matter for goalies.
Keepers have to leap and dive. To sprint and burst into action at a moment’s notice. To stay strong and steady while being jostled in the box. They’re often called on to run out of their area and chase down loose balls ahead of onrushing strikers. They also have to be ready to act for the full 90 minutes, almost never being subbed. In short, they definitely need to be fit and athletic, just like their teammates.
Goalkeeping Is Boring
This one will certainly sound strange to those who love playing in goal. However, there are some people out there who feel that keeping net is dull. They argue that goalies aren’t as involved in the action as other players. That they spend large amounts of time simply spectating on the action while everyone else is involved at the other end.
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. But almost every keeper will agree that the goalie’s role is far from dull. It can be a thrilling experience. There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of a 1v1 situation. Or the triumph of a big save in a penalty shoot-out. Plus, even when it seems like goalies aren’t “involved” in the game, they’re still usually 100% concentrated, reading the play and anticipating their next moves.
Goalies Should Always Come Off Their Line and Close the Angle
Here’s a myth that has become particularly popular in recent years, partly thanks to football commentators and pundits. When a goalie concedes, you often hear remarks like “The goalie needed to come off his line there,” or “The keeper has to close down the angle better than that.” In reality, this is a shallow assessment of the goalkeeping art and, while sometimes partly true, rarely tells the whole story.
Every goalkeeping situation is different. Yes, there are times to come off your line and close down the angle on a striker to make it harder for them to score. But that’s not always the case. There are also situations where it pays to stay back, so you have more time to react and stop a shot. It’s all about using your instincts and experience to make the right call, rather than blindly rushing out every single time.
Goalkeepers Should Never Be Beat at the Near Post
Here’s another one you might have heard a lot in TV commentary. If a goalie lets in a shot at their near post, it’s common to hear pundits say that they “shouldn’t be getting beat” there. The truth is that goalies don’t want to be beat absolutely anywhere. That includes near post, far post, and in the centre. There isn’t one part of the goal that should be seen as less or more defendable than the rest.
This myth is dangerous, as it may encourage younger keepers to focus on guarding the near post. That could open them up to far post shots and make them concede more than they should. Instead, keepers should be encouraged to adapt their positioning to guard the entire goal as well as they can, all of the time. Plus, there are sometimes situations when near post shots are very good and just as hard to save than far post ones.
Don’t Let Myths Influence Your Game
These are just some of the many myths and misconceptions associated with goalkeeping. As this guide has shown, myths aren’t just annoying. They can be harmful, discouraging players from taking on a goalkeeping role or negatively impacting the way they perform. Try not to pay too much attention to them. Focus on your game, believe in yourself, and don’t let myths dictate your playing career.