Shut down the opponent and stop every shot. Only The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper will show you how to combine awareness, technique, and physical conditioning to anticipate the opponent’s every move.
In The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper, renowned goalkeeping coach Tim Mulqueen shares his secrets and provides unparalleled instruction for developing the skills, techniques, and mental mind-set for mastering the game’s toughest position:
Stance, positioning, and footwork
Leaping, diving, and saving shots at various heights
Orchestrating the defense and distributing the ball
Reading the game, including shooters, angles, and set plays
Penalty kicks and situation-specific tactics
Specific conditioning exercises to develop explosive power, sharpen eye–hand coordination, and improve reaction time
The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper also includes advice from leading goalkeepers, analysis of many of the game’s stellar saves, and exclusive insights from today’s top attackers on the defensive weaknesses they try to exploit.
From tactics to strategies, The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper is simply the most complete guide available for players and coaches of the game’s most challenging position.
Chapter 1. Is That a Keeper? Assessing and Selecting Goalkeepers
Chapter 2. Hero to Zero to Hero: Goalkeeping’s Mental Challenges
Chapter 3. Coach and Keeper: Building a Unique Partnership
Chapter 4. The Save Starts Before the Shot
Chapter 5. Diving Saves: To Fly and Land Safely
Chapter 6. Distribution: The Keeper as Orchestrator
Chapter 7. Expect the Unexpected: Reading the Game
Chapter 8. Catch Them if You Can: Handling Crosses
Chapter 9. Ready? Set Play!
Chapter 10. In the Spotlight: Penalty Kicks
Chapter 11. Practice, Practice, Practice
Chapter 12. Hitting the Peak: Physical Conditioning
Tim Mulqueen has been coaching goalkeepers at all levels since 1990 and is currently the goalkeeper coach with the United States national teams. He is also the goalkeeper instructor for the U.S. Soccer Federation A, B, and C licenses and has helped in the establishment and curriculum for the newly formed U.S. Soccer Federation goalkeeping license.
Mulqueen was an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has coached athletes who have gone on to achieve worldwide recognition, including England Premier League players Tim Howard, Kasey Keller, Marcus Hahnemann, and Brad Guzan. Before joining U.S. Soccer, Mulqueen coached in the MLS where he won the 2000 MLS Cup and Supporters Shield. While in the MLS, Tim coached Zach Thornton, who went on to win the 1998 Goalkeeper of the Year award. Tim also coached U.S. international goalkeeper Tony Meola when, in 2000, he became the only goalkeeper to win the MLS MVP Award, in addition to being named Goalkeeper of the Year. Mulqueen has coached in four Youth World Cups, two at the U-20 level and two at the U-17 level. He resides in Bradenton, Florida, with his wife, Kathleen, his son, Trevor, and daughter, Cate.
Mike Woitalla is the executive editor of Soccer America, where he has worked since 1985. He has covered four World Cups for the magazine and has reported on soccer from 17 nations. His freelance articles have appeared in more than 30 media outlets in eight countries.
Woitalla is a regular contributor to the British soccer monthly When Saturday Comes and has won six NSCAA Writing Contest awards as well as two Professional Soccer Reporters of America awards. He is the coauthor of former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna's book More Than Goals.
Woitalla is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a member of the Golden Bears varsity soccer team. He currently coaches youth soccer and is married to Holly Kernan, a public radio producer, host, and reporter. They live in Oakland, California, with their daughter.