Mental Health Matters! · Total Goalkeeping

Mental Health Matters!

Hi guys First of all I wanted to send our sincere apologies we have not been as active on here over the last couple of weeks like we usually are.

Hope you’re all well and doing good! 👍

Unfortunately, Ryder had to make the toughest decision so far in his goalkeeping journey last couple of weeks.

After just under 2 seasons with his grassroots team he has decided to leave to focus on his individual goalkeeping training now.

Ryder was unfortunately put in a position to choose one or the other as it seemed his team grassroots coaches were no longer happy he was attending goalkeeper coaching and developing his skills for his team and wanted him back basically full time with them.

I was so sad he had been put in such a position and giving pretty much an ultimatum by his grassroots coaches at just 10 years old.

However, after several conversations I had with Ryder about it all he was extremely upset and it unfortunately all came to light that things were not how they used to be.

Ryder unfortunately, in team chats (that parents were never near by for) was dealing with coaches that had a sole focus on winning, favouritism had became apparent and negative comments were allowed to be made by team players and spectators too which the coaches often laughed off as ‘just banter.’

Worse thing was some of the negative comments were also coming from coaches too on game days -

Comments such as you guys are playing 💩 don’t you dare cry, you’re embarrassing to me and the team were actually made. Worse of it was months earlier I had decided to confide in his coaches on how Ryder was struggling with his mental health to see if this would help Ryders anxiety.

(So after knowing this comments such as the above was still allowed to be made.)

He was often excluded as a goalkeeper and now looking back at game days the above picture says it all. (Backs turned to the goalkeeeper)

It explains now why Ryder struggled so much with his ongoing anxiety in the last season more than ever, especially on game days but since joining a Goalkeeper training academy has become his happy self again and improving and developing considerably.

Ryder has now left with his head held high for his next chapter in his goalkeeping journey.

I just wanted to post this on here in the hope it helps others in similar situations please know you’re not on your own and Mental Health really does matters! Please speak out if you ever need.

Ryder is looking forward to his next chapter of his goalkeeping journey now but we know after what seems to have happened it will take time for him to get his confidence back but it’s ok and Im sure he will 💪

We would like to thank

@Ray Newland

& this community too as knowing he has had this support network and can continue being a J4K ambassador has meant the absoloute world to him 🌍

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