I am looking at new gloves for next season and I don’t know what is better.

Morning all, after almost a year out after a knee reconstruction today is my first game back, excited & nervous to say the least, had to back home forgot me gloves

A while ago I completed my advanced scouting qualification. I still remember one really important question “what does good look like?”. Keeping it GK related....... Easy question to answer …........ or is it? There are several common things that people look at when making a judgement on a goalkeeper, particularly in youth and grass-roots football. Most opinions aren't from a lack of footballing knowledge, they come from how the goalkeeper role is understood and coached within the game. Fan based opinions of whether or not a GK is good usually start very young, around 8yrs old. Most see the obvious: shot stopping kicking catching not rooted to line If a keeper at young age does all of these, apparently they’re good or better than someone who cant. Fundamentally, yes but realistically this is just a good start. When looking at a GK these obvious indicators are some of the last things we look for as scouts. Ill give you an example..... a young goalkeeper in U12s match makes a diving save from a shot outside the area. Crowd cheers and praises the save. And quite rightly so......what I saw was the keeper retreat from a dominating box position to allow the striker time to get the shot away. Gk back peddled and fell away from the ball which was just inside arms length but got hand to it. Ball goes out of play for corner. The corner gets played in over the GK who stood on near post facing target. ball bounces off far post and into the GK hands. GK runs to edge of box and drop kicks ball long into opposition half. Coach praises long kick. So what does good look like in this situation??? As a GK coach this question should really must be understood. Otherwise what is the end product your aiming for? This is not meant to be a negative post, more fuel for thought. Please feel free to add your own perspective on this and what “good” looks like for you! Michael

The best thing someone has said to me is that don’t put yourself down keep your head up and don’t doubt what you done just look what you need to improve on and be ready. Doesn’t matter if you don’t achieve at first but keep trying as that’s all that is asked.

My team's this season are... Sherburn White Rose Rhinos Swillington Saints Welfare Blues