I'd posted this originaly as a comment in another post which was possibly too old to reach its audience. Advice very much appreciated with my below question. As a grassroots coach we only have 1 GK and I'm toying with the idea of inviting another to join our club. Not to increase competition for places but to share the love of playing sport at this young age. Currently our GK gets a full 40 mins (U8's) the vast majority of the time stood lonely deep in their own thoughts of am I in the correct position, am I in my set stance, what if I dive wrong, what if I let a goal in, what's for dinner and which Italian brainrot would beat superman😁. I believe this could improve training and game experience as they can both help eachother with a full understanding of their unique position while being able to watch and learn from the good and the areas that need improvement in each other's game's. I would obviously speak with the current GK's parents 1st. Thoughts please as keepers, coaches and parents?

Guys, i was concerned when i read the below post by @Rachael Holmes - so i thought i would do a short video to not only help Rachael, and Jaxon, but as i know sadly most of you in this community will go through a similar experience - thought i would record to help you. IF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR - WHAT DID YOU DO ? PLEASE COMMENT BELOW 👇 I am beyond angry. I am devastated! I’m shaking as I write this because I cannot understand how ONE person - one adult - can inflict so much emotional damage on an 11-year-old boy. My son used to be full of light. He lived and breathed goalkeeping. He had passion, hope, fire - this beautiful spark that made him feel unstoppable. And now? Now he’s a shattered version of himself. He’s drowning in self-doubt, questioning everything he used to love. He genuinely believes he’s not good enough to be a goalkeeper anymore. An eleven-year-old child should never feel that way. And what breaks me the most is that the very people who were supposed to protect him, guide him, nurture him, DEVELOP him - the ones he trusted - are the same ones who tore him apart. His so-called coach, the one who promised him the world, who stood in front of him telling him how “amazing” he was… that same man turned around and ripped him to pieces that no one else saw. How can someone build up a child with one breath and destroy him with the next? Does he even realise what he’s done to my son? No. He doesn’t. And he carries on with his life as if nothing happened. As if he hasn’t left an 11-year-old boy picking up the broken pieces of his confidence. The damage is done, and he doesn’t give a damn. And everyone around him still supports him and praises him and we are classed as pests, a nuisance and causing trouble! Meanwhile, I’m left watching my son crumble. My heart aches - physically aches - for my boy. And I don’t know how to bring his spark back. 😭 For the first time in over two years, he refused to go to goalkeeper training. He said, “I can’t dive… I’m not good enough… the other boys are better, so what’s the point?” Hearing those words from a child who used to throw himself around the pitch with joy and bravery tore something inside me.

I wanted to take a moment to personally thank every single goalkeeper and parent in this community. In over 40 years around goalkeepers — including 10 years as a professional goalkeeper and nearly 25 plus years running Just4Keepers — I can genuinely say this community is one of the best things I have ever done. I’ve been involved in other businesses over the years, but Just4Keepers has always been a passion project for me. What has kept that passion alive is you — the goalkeepers sharing your stories, your setbacks, your wins, and your dreams… and the parents who care so deeply and contribute so thoughtfully. Your input, honesty, and support have inspired me to continue pushing J4K forward. Over the past 25+ years, we have helped more goalkeepers and parents than any other goalkeeper organisation in history — and this community has reminded me that there is still so much more we can do. If I’m being honest, this group has lit a fire under me again. It has motivated me to bring even more support, guidance, and services to goalkeepers and parents throughout 2026 and beyond. To every goalkeeper reading this: 🧤Chase your dreams 🧤Do not listen to negative voices. 🧤Get your inspiration from this community. I have helped hundreds of goalkeepers achieve things they never believed were possible. Many thought they weren’t good enough. My message to them was always simple — and it’s the same message I’m giving you now: 👉 Just chase your dreams.Because you never know… you just could be the next J4K success story. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. 🎅 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎉Please drop your Christmas wishes in the comments — I’d love to read every one of them. PS: Keep an eye out for my next post… I’ll be asking you to share your Christmas Day photos wearing your J4K gloves and gear 🎁🧤

Guys, I received a DM from a parent this week and, with their permission, wanted to share it here 👇 Their son has played for the same team for three years. Never missed games. Turned up every week. Fully committed. 💙⚽ A few weeks ago, he picked up an injury and had to miss a handful of matches 🤕 During that time, the coach put an outfield player in goal. When the young keeper returned to training, fit and ready to play, the coach told him he would only get half a game, because he now had to “fight for his place”. This really upset both the parent and the goalkeeper (who is still very young). After three years of loyalty, it felt unfair and confusing 😔 The parent spoke to the coach to explain how much this had knocked her son’s confidence — to the point where he started saying he didn’t want to play in goal anymore 💔🧤 The coach’s response?“What would you do if your head was on my shoulders?” Now, I know some grassroots coaches — especially at kids’ level — look in the mirror and see Pep Guardiola staring back at them 😅 But parents and goalkeepers…What would you do in this situation? UPDATE: Just found out that the stand in goalkeeper does not want to stay in goal - Was only playing to help out.

Re the behind the scene competition that I did with alot of the community - check out the two designs that have come back so far from the J4K suppliers - just waiting on one more colour design to come through.