The Canadian Men's national team suffered a humiliating loss to Honduras last week in the final game of the CONCACAF preliminary round, eliminating them from a World Cup '14 berth. I know our fans here in Vancouver are disappointed and it has been very interesting to watch coverage from the media in placing blame.
Already head coach Stephen Hart has fallen on the sword and can be seen as the scapegoat. However, after talking to players from the team and others surrounding the situation, Hart is merely a pawn in the larger reason why Canada's soccer team wasn't able to make it to the next round.
I think we all have to acknowledge the uphill battle the CSA has in front of them. There is no recent history of soccer achievement on the men's side which could help motivate and drive the younger soccer players of today. Some will argue that the women's side has been so instrumental in driving the sport, why can't the men do the same? Well this is definitely comparing apples to oranges.
The Canadian women's soccer team has been helped more by Title IX than by any CSA developmental program or curriculum. By my recent count, all but two players on the Olympic roster have played for, or are still playing at American Universities. A third, Diana Matheson, plays at Princeton where no athletic scholarships are given (Ivy league), so she could also be exempt somewhat. These universities are the same places where American stars Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan all applied their trade. Canadian women have been getting to compete and play with the best in the world for the last couple of decades. In the future, this will change with the rest of the world putting more emphasis into the women's game.
Where does that leave the men? The American Universities have manifested themselves to be a deterrent to professional growth rather than a benefit. Unlike the women, Canadian men are more at a disadvantage when they go off to college. The limited training schedule and priority to school rather than sport leaves college players way behind when compared to players in other parts of our region. Even though many former USA players have used the school system (Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Cobi Jones, John Harkes, etc), the recent trend suggests North American players are foregoing their University experience to play MLS and professional club soccer. (Brek Shea, Omar Salgado, Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, etc)
Where then should a young Canadian play?? The CSA has yet to come up with a system that develops the best players in Canada and puts them in competitive environments year-round. Is this really their fault?? Yes and no. The weather, lack of facilities, money, and the large geographical make up of Canada makes it difficult to put together a year-round program which can truly identify and train today's talented youth. On top of this, the priorities of MLS clubs in Canada are not always aligned with Canadian soccer's. What's a country to do??
Canada at some point will have their moment. When Paul Caligiuri scored for the Americans in Trinidad to put them into the World Cup, it did a lot for men's soccer in the USA. Without knowing it, the 1990 Men's World Cup team gave tons of young American boys ,like myself, the dream of playing in a World Cup. We knew it was possible because it was done before. On top of this, the momentum created along with hosting the 1994 World Cup, gave the USA it's newest professional soccer league: MLS.
Canada needs this moment now more than ever. This is why this latest loss was so devastating and painful. It has literally put Canadian soccer on pause in the public and media's eye. However, we cannot look back, but to the future. From my end, here are just a few suggestions to help Canada create the moment it needs to bring this country back onto the World Stage.
1) Get a coach who is motivated by the challenge - Listen, we all know Canada won't be producing droves of talented players like Brazil anytime soon, but they do have some very capable players who can help make a possible breakthrough. CSA has done a great job in hiring John Herdman for the women's team. They need to do the same on the men's side. Someone who is great with the media, positive with their team, and also very enthusiastic about the job. It could be a former Canadian player or even a young ambitious coach. Thankfully, this is not my job.
2) Start developing a long term plan between CSA & Canadian MLS teams - With players from all over the world living in Canada to play soccer, new possibilities for players have opened up. The CSA and the teams should try to pinpoint younger and/or talented MLS players who have no chance to play with their home countries, or could get a jump on their "caps". Lots of pros just want to get "caps" to be able to qualify for a English FA work permit. They know that there is more money to be found overseas, but without a parent/grandparent from Europe, you only have a few options. One of them is playing for your national team a high percentage of the time. (or marry a British girl) Find ambitious players who want this option and try to exploit it. Think Camilo, Stefan Frei, or even a player like Eric Hassli.
3) Make Edmonton FC or create an NASL team, the lone destination for all Canadian reserves - Russell Teibert, Bryce Alderson, Ben Fisk, and Caleb Clarke can all benefit from playing twenty something games in the NASL. Add players from TFC and Montreal and you get a young Canadian team playing week in or week out. I really don't know if the rules will allow this, but something to this effect should be done.
4) Turn the page......slowly - The next World Cup is not for six years as far as Canada is concerned. It would be foolish to simply force everyone 27 and older out of the equation because of their age. Every tournament and international game now becomes a stepping stone. It is going to take awhile but now you really need to start ushering in a new era and a new attitude. Of course a lot of this will come down to suggestion 1.
5) Play ugly - Learn from the Americans. At home, we play exciting and attacking soccer. However, away, we simply just try to dig in and get results. One of the things CONCACAF teams struggle with the US is our athleticism. I would like to see the Canadians exploit this as well. Use size and strength to plug up the middle and force teams to cross from wide positions and deal with your height accordingly. Of course, this will all come down to the coach as well.
Canada as a sporting nation is just coming into its own as far as our sport is concerned. As a soccer nation in CONCACAF, the history of Canada is relatively short and spotty. There will be that moment propelling the country to the next level. Until then, enjoy being a loyal fan who was there before they made it big. Of course the recent loss was painful, but used in the right way, this loss can be used as a catalyst to bigger and better things.....
Best of Luck CSA!
Monday 22 October 2012
Wednesday 5 September 2012
The Morning after....
OMG! I can't believe that just happened.....
Yeah, that's probably the first thought that crossed my mind. I do not like talking or dwelling on my mistakes, but my younger brother convinced me to go ahead and write. After giving up a bad goal, so many thoughts come into your head....
"What just happened?", "Why me?", "I can't believe this", and even the old "please get me out of here" all crosses your mind.
However, there is still a game going on and the last thing you want to do is let your thoughts cost your team another goal. The initial thing is to stay focused until the game is over. Only then, is it a time to reflect....
I can only imagine how difficult it is for goalkeepers to go through this a first time in their young careers. For someone, like me, it is a tad easier, but in all honesty, nothing in life can prepare you for the isolated feeling in front of thousands of fans.
It even gets worse when family, close friends, and thousands of supporters have spent tons of time and money to come and watch a game. All these things come into play after making a mistake, but then you really have two choices.
Do you let this mistake get the best of you? Or do you make this another learning experience to grow and become a better person?
After making a big mistake, it is human to want to runaway and hide in a hole, pretend you don't care, or just start making excuses.
You can choose to do this, but a better way out, in my opinion, is to simply raise your hand and say "it was a mistake, and I will learn from this". There is a tendency to want to do more than you have been merely to "make up" for your mistake. STOP!
You don't have to do MORE. You just have to be YOU! Hopefully this means going back to being the hard working player you have been and concentrate on the only thing you can: this moment, the next play, your day to day habits as well as your attitude.
Do I have the mental capacity to come back and be better? Or will I sit and dwell about the past??
I think we all know which one is the correct answer.
For the young players out there, it's important to know that no matter who you are, you are going to make mistakes. However, it is your response to these mistakes that show the world who you are.
The most successful people in the world say that the biggest problems present the biggest opportunities. Well that's exactly what I'm doing. Bad goals are part of the position. Accept this and move on.
If you have a story you'd like to share or just want some encouraging words, please email me at GKUnion101@gmail.com
The advice I give to all younger goalkeepers is to go out and make mistakes. They are the best learning teachers and as Billy Joel says, they are truly the only things you can call your own. haha.
may the posts be with you....
Joe Cannon
GKUnion101@gmail.com
Yeah, that's probably the first thought that crossed my mind. I do not like talking or dwelling on my mistakes, but my younger brother convinced me to go ahead and write. After giving up a bad goal, so many thoughts come into your head....
"What just happened?", "Why me?", "I can't believe this", and even the old "please get me out of here" all crosses your mind.
However, there is still a game going on and the last thing you want to do is let your thoughts cost your team another goal. The initial thing is to stay focused until the game is over. Only then, is it a time to reflect....
I can only imagine how difficult it is for goalkeepers to go through this a first time in their young careers. For someone, like me, it is a tad easier, but in all honesty, nothing in life can prepare you for the isolated feeling in front of thousands of fans.
It even gets worse when family, close friends, and thousands of supporters have spent tons of time and money to come and watch a game. All these things come into play after making a mistake, but then you really have two choices.
Do you let this mistake get the best of you? Or do you make this another learning experience to grow and become a better person?
After making a big mistake, it is human to want to runaway and hide in a hole, pretend you don't care, or just start making excuses.
You can choose to do this, but a better way out, in my opinion, is to simply raise your hand and say "it was a mistake, and I will learn from this". There is a tendency to want to do more than you have been merely to "make up" for your mistake. STOP!
You don't have to do MORE. You just have to be YOU! Hopefully this means going back to being the hard working player you have been and concentrate on the only thing you can: this moment, the next play, your day to day habits as well as your attitude.
Do I have the mental capacity to come back and be better? Or will I sit and dwell about the past??
I think we all know which one is the correct answer.
For the young players out there, it's important to know that no matter who you are, you are going to make mistakes. However, it is your response to these mistakes that show the world who you are.
The most successful people in the world say that the biggest problems present the biggest opportunities. Well that's exactly what I'm doing. Bad goals are part of the position. Accept this and move on.
If you have a story you'd like to share or just want some encouraging words, please email me at GKUnion101@gmail.com
The advice I give to all younger goalkeepers is to go out and make mistakes. They are the best learning teachers and as Billy Joel says, they are truly the only things you can call your own. haha.
may the posts be with you....
Joe Cannon
GKUnion101@gmail.com
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Summertime Blues...
So the off-season has begun for so many goalkeepers out there. College, youth, and many competitive players find themselves with so much free time during the summer season. Well there's a quote I'd like to try and reiterate which I read in High School:
"When you're not training, there is someone, somewhere, out there who is. And when you meet th
Now I could of hacked this up a little bit, but you all get the point. Right now if you're not doing the best you can to improve your game, someone out there is. When you go back to practice or tryouts or whatever, you want to make sure you worked harder than the other guy or girl. This is your new summer mission.
I have always thought that it is hard to really improve throughout a season. Of course you can make small gains week in and week out (both skill and confidence wise) but the off season is where you set the base.
This summer try to work on things you normally can't. If you need to improve your strength in jumping, then do some plyometric exercises to get your spring a little bit better. If your footwork needs some work, then get out and do some footwork drills. If you simply need to get better, call some older players who need a goalkeeper to shoot on and let them know you're available.
It is not the time to play Call of Duty and socialize with friends online. Trust me, I have enough 20 and 30 year old friends who do that to this day. It is time to set your goals and go after them.
"If not now, then when? If not you, then who?"
Take responsibility for your goals and dreams and get out there to make them happen. Summer is a great excuse for your competitors to relax and get comfortable in their free time. For the ones who are serious about achieving their goals, the time is NOW.
While other people are daydreaming, let's be proactive in trying to make ours come true.
May the posts be with you.....
Joe Cannon
GKUnion101@gmail.com
"When you're not training, there is someone, somewhere, out there who is. And when you meet th
Now I could of hacked this up a little bit, but you all get the point. Right now if you're not doing the best you can to improve your game, someone out there is. When you go back to practice or tryouts or whatever, you want to make sure you worked harder than the other guy or girl. This is your new summer mission.
I have always thought that it is hard to really improve throughout a season. Of course you can make small gains week in and week out (both skill and confidence wise) but the off season is where you set the base.
This summer try to work on things you normally can't. If you need to improve your strength in jumping, then do some plyometric exercises to get your spring a little bit better. If your footwork needs some work, then get out and do some footwork drills. If you simply need to get better, call some older players who need a goalkeeper to shoot on and let them know you're available.
It is not the time to play Call of Duty and socialize with friends online. Trust me, I have enough 20 and 30 year old friends who do that to this day. It is time to set your goals and go after them.
"If not now, then when? If not you, then who?"
Take responsibility for your goals and dreams and get out there to make them happen. Summer is a great excuse for your competitors to relax and get comfortable in their free time. For the ones who are serious about achieving their goals, the time is NOW.
While other people are daydreaming, let's be proactive in trying to make ours come true.
May the posts be with you.....
Joe Cannon
GKUnion101@gmail.com
Friday 8 June 2012
Euro 12 Goalkeeper Watch....
So I chose my top 3 on Twitter last night, and I just wanted to give my insight.
Iker Casillas- Big game player. Has the experience and the athleticism to win any game. Already has a Euro and a World Cup to his credit. Has the fortunate pleasure of playing behind the world's best team.
Joe Hart- Playing in England is no easy task. Playing for Manchester City and leading them to the EPL title is even harder. He has proved he has got the mentality and pedigree to win big games. The only question is can he do the same for England. I think he can.
Manuel Neuer- a tough pick over Buffon and Cech, however he has a certain confidence about him that makes him seem older. Germans are very mechanical and methodic and Neuer fits this bill. The same questions come up with him as they do Hart. Can his International game live up to his club performances. Once again, I believe it can.
Others to watch: Buffon, and let's be honest, I'm writing this after the displays of Cech and Szczesny, so I don't have to include them now.
Enjoy!!
Iker Casillas- Big game player. Has the experience and the athleticism to win any game. Already has a Euro and a World Cup to his credit. Has the fortunate pleasure of playing behind the world's best team.
Joe Hart- Playing in England is no easy task. Playing for Manchester City and leading them to the EPL title is even harder. He has proved he has got the mentality and pedigree to win big games. The only question is can he do the same for England. I think he can.
Manuel Neuer- a tough pick over Buffon and Cech, however he has a certain confidence about him that makes him seem older. Germans are very mechanical and methodic and Neuer fits this bill. The same questions come up with him as they do Hart. Can his International game live up to his club performances. Once again, I believe it can.
Others to watch: Buffon, and let's be honest, I'm writing this after the displays of Cech and Szczesny, so I don't have to include them now.
Enjoy!!
Tuesday 5 June 2012
The Mental Save
I think we can all see where this is going. At some point, we either become the greatest person the history of the world, or we beat ourselves up for not acheiving that incredible title. Whether it's work, relationships, or the sport we love, our ego guides us down this never-ending path to perfection. It never ends because in our minds, we are never perfect.
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Building your brand....the non social network way!
As a player, and sometimes a coach, it is very obvious what you want from the goalkeeper. Let's be honest here, there are going to be some ups and there are going to be some downs. However, the challenge is to stay consistent in this entire process. I don't mean consistent as far as letting in goals, or results. I mean consistent as far as your attitude and training habits.
My career has been blessed with so many great memories. I have played with some incredible players and been on some great teams. For most of my career, I've been a starter in MLS rather than a backup goalkeeper. However, a few times in the past few years, I have found myself on the outside looking in.
"Cream rises to the top", my former goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley would tell me. Keep doing the right things and in time, all will develop as it should.
My biggest learning experience with this came from my recent days with the San Jose Earthquakes. I started out the season in great form and then in a matter of three games, we had let in six or seven goals. We had a break, and the next game I found myself on the bench.
Why? Who? What happened? I was so bitter and I wanted to blame so many people. The next four weeks that followed were probably the lowest of my career. I was so focused on being bitter and thinking I was wronged, that I stopped focusing on what was important: my passion, my job, my position, my team, being a goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, I made it difficult for the other goalkeeper. The natural tension that arises between two goalkeepers will always be there, but I was not a good teammate. In practice, I would be ultra competitive and not do the things I should to help the other guy. I was so focused on being angry that I was hurting my team by focusing on myself.
After a few games, I got the job back, and then played a good game on my return. I was still bitter and I didn't care. I didn't care about my teammates as much as I should, my organization, or even the coaches. I was too good to fail now and I had proved all these people wrong.
Well what happened next is a true event of karma, or maybe even chance, but provided the lesson. Being bitter and now the starter, I was over it. I was better than this and that, and I came to training with a chip on my shoulder. Why should I care about people who treated me so "bad"?? As fate had it, a freak broken ankle is what happened next. I couldn't believe it, I was devastated.
With a broken limb healing and traded to a new team, I had months and months to reflect about what happened.
The first reflection, is that I tarnished my brand, and who I was and what I was about. Rather than focusing on my passion for my team, I was focusing on myself. It was wrong. I had falsely imagined obstacles and wrong-doings. In my pride, I was convinced by the story I had created. I was too focused on trying to find blame for my situation. The lesson was simple: there was no one to blame but myself......NOBODY.
The same scenario came again last year and I used my experience to cope with the challenge. I made a love for my new team, new city and new country a top priority. Although not content with being a back-up again, I had enough faith to know that my chance would come.
I was blessed to come to a team with an amazing medical staff that could get me back to my best. I worked to get fit, trained on my reactions, and became a vocal cheerleader for the team. I supported and worked with the other goalies, stayed after practice to refine my own game, and did everything I could to be ready for that next opportunity.
The result has not only been better play, but a stronger determination and dedication to training that I hadn't had in years.
By focusing my energies on things that I could control, I got back to the things which have helped me maintain my decade and a half career in MLS: passion, desire, committment, and team before individual.
For players of all ages, I hope you can learn from this lesson. There will be times when you are faced with "politics", injury, or just plain bad luck. However, your response to these situations will define you as a player and a person, even more so than your abilities on the field.
It's important to focus on everything that YOU can control. Your attitude about yourself and the team, habits on and off the field, work ethic, working on the weaknesses in your game, rehabbing, whatever it takes to bring your passion to the next level. These moments and personal decisions will carry you to lofty heights.
In the end, every athlete knows that it is not just the battle with opponents that make us proud and overjoyed. It is the challenges we face inside our own heads and the challenges that we have personally overcome which makes the reward that much sweeter.
These lessons apply no matter where you are in life. A soccer field, work, school, or even at home. Improve your brand through your positive attitude and unrivaled will and dedication to your cause. When this happens, no matter what the world says, you are a true winner.
May the posts be with you.......
Joe Cannon
MVLAGK@gmail.com
My career has been blessed with so many great memories. I have played with some incredible players and been on some great teams. For most of my career, I've been a starter in MLS rather than a backup goalkeeper. However, a few times in the past few years, I have found myself on the outside looking in.
"Cream rises to the top", my former goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley would tell me. Keep doing the right things and in time, all will develop as it should.
My biggest learning experience with this came from my recent days with the San Jose Earthquakes. I started out the season in great form and then in a matter of three games, we had let in six or seven goals. We had a break, and the next game I found myself on the bench.
Why? Who? What happened? I was so bitter and I wanted to blame so many people. The next four weeks that followed were probably the lowest of my career. I was so focused on being bitter and thinking I was wronged, that I stopped focusing on what was important: my passion, my job, my position, my team, being a goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, I made it difficult for the other goalkeeper. The natural tension that arises between two goalkeepers will always be there, but I was not a good teammate. In practice, I would be ultra competitive and not do the things I should to help the other guy. I was so focused on being angry that I was hurting my team by focusing on myself.
After a few games, I got the job back, and then played a good game on my return. I was still bitter and I didn't care. I didn't care about my teammates as much as I should, my organization, or even the coaches. I was too good to fail now and I had proved all these people wrong.
Well what happened next is a true event of karma, or maybe even chance, but provided the lesson. Being bitter and now the starter, I was over it. I was better than this and that, and I came to training with a chip on my shoulder. Why should I care about people who treated me so "bad"?? As fate had it, a freak broken ankle is what happened next. I couldn't believe it, I was devastated.
With a broken limb healing and traded to a new team, I had months and months to reflect about what happened.
The first reflection, is that I tarnished my brand, and who I was and what I was about. Rather than focusing on my passion for my team, I was focusing on myself. It was wrong. I had falsely imagined obstacles and wrong-doings. In my pride, I was convinced by the story I had created. I was too focused on trying to find blame for my situation. The lesson was simple: there was no one to blame but myself......NOBODY.
The same scenario came again last year and I used my experience to cope with the challenge. I made a love for my new team, new city and new country a top priority. Although not content with being a back-up again, I had enough faith to know that my chance would come.
I was blessed to come to a team with an amazing medical staff that could get me back to my best. I worked to get fit, trained on my reactions, and became a vocal cheerleader for the team. I supported and worked with the other goalies, stayed after practice to refine my own game, and did everything I could to be ready for that next opportunity.
The result has not only been better play, but a stronger determination and dedication to training that I hadn't had in years.
By focusing my energies on things that I could control, I got back to the things which have helped me maintain my decade and a half career in MLS: passion, desire, committment, and team before individual.
For players of all ages, I hope you can learn from this lesson. There will be times when you are faced with "politics", injury, or just plain bad luck. However, your response to these situations will define you as a player and a person, even more so than your abilities on the field.
It's important to focus on everything that YOU can control. Your attitude about yourself and the team, habits on and off the field, work ethic, working on the weaknesses in your game, rehabbing, whatever it takes to bring your passion to the next level. These moments and personal decisions will carry you to lofty heights.
In the end, every athlete knows that it is not just the battle with opponents that make us proud and overjoyed. It is the challenges we face inside our own heads and the challenges that we have personally overcome which makes the reward that much sweeter.
These lessons apply no matter where you are in life. A soccer field, work, school, or even at home. Improve your brand through your positive attitude and unrivaled will and dedication to your cause. When this happens, no matter what the world says, you are a true winner.
May the posts be with you.......
Joe Cannon
MVLAGK@gmail.com
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Looking in the mirror.....the right way.
As a teenager and young adult, I was frequently called out for looking at myself in almost every reflection possible. People would often criticize me in mid conversation for not paying them the appropriate eye contact and most would assume I was just staring to admire myself. Although at times this could be the case, I was really looking at myself for the wrong reasons: trying to find flaws. I would see what my hair, skin, clothes looked like. I would wrongly judge myself before others could say a word. I noticed this trend but never thought anything of it until I became a little bit older, and some might even say wiser.
As a goalkeeper (or really anyone with a passion), it is important to look at yourself in terms of getting better. It is important to self-reflect and self-critique in order to move on and improve. However, the danger comes when one judges themselves too harshly for mistakes without giving enough credit when they do the right things. Too many times in my career I have become a victim of this destructive thinking. I would blame myself for losses and goals, human mistakes and common errors. I never understood that I was preparing myself for more failure with this way of thinking and not success.
It was all too simple. I was punishing myself before anyone had a chance to. Like the young man in the mirror seeing flaws in himself and not realizing the things which I had going for me. I was blaming myself for everything before my coaches and teammates could. In time, I've learned that sometimes you need to turn off the self-judgement and become your own biggest cheerleader. If you don't believe that you can turn it around, then why should anyone else??
I really wish I would have come to this conclusion at a younger age. I cannot tell you how many times I suffered a lack of confidence for being overly self-critical. So many games and goals were lost because I wasn't able to deal with situations correctly and confidently. Even today, I wage war against who I naturally want to be at times. Blaming others, depression, time lost with loved ones, fights started because of my bad mood are all symptoms of being too much of a perfectionist.
Enough about me, and onto the future.....
For younger soccer players, it is very important to assess your game. Depending on your goals, you have to do this properly. Be objective. Take time to really figure out what went wrong and what you can do better. I certainly feel that the off season is where a lot of players make their careers. The work put in away from the crowds and coaches can take players careers farther and higher than they ever thought possible.
After games, I sit and think about every goal scored. What could have I done differently? Communication? Footwork? Concentration? Positioning? It all pours into my head. There are times I sat up all night blaming myself for so many things. However, the difference now is that I refuse to take these mistakes into my next game. I realize that life is a series of ups and downs. That success can be defined simply as getting up just one more time than you've fallen.
It's my hope that you as a reader will not fall into the pitfalls that have haunted me. To look at your game in a more scholarly and healthy approach. What follows is merely my advice for how to assess and evaluate your game.
The pursuit of greatness starts with looking at everything. I can promise that your game or the game of your goalkeeper will improve if you can look at every game with these things in mind:
Analyze the game as a whole- So many times we tend to focus on what went wrong. This is OK as long as you can acknowledge what went right. Be open and brutally honest with yourself. Talk yourself through every situation. Were you in the right spot to prevent the goal? Did you decide to distribute a little too hastily? Could I have punched the ball there instead of trying to catch??
These are all questions I ask myself after a game. I think about all my mistakes and make a note of whether it was a simple human error or something that I can control in the future.
Start with perfection- It will not do you any good to sit there and say "well there wasn't anything I could have done" or "it wasn't my fault". As a youth player, I took the attitude that there was always something I could have done. "Did I guess?" "Can I come out to take the angle more?" "Could I have used my other hand to tip the ball?" These scenarios all run through my head. I then go through the game and think about every goal and play where I felt I might have been able to do something differently.
Visualize the right outcome- So maybe you lost by 4 goals and your team gave up a few breakaways and they scored on a penalty kick. Maybe you come to the conclusion that there was nothing you could have done. STOP!! This will do you no good as you move on. The better play is to visualize yourself making the save utilizing a different process. Maybe you visualize doing the footwork before you tip the ball around the top corner. Maybe you see yourself yelling at your defenders about the open forward who scored the easy tap in. Do everything in your power to turn this negative thought (the goal) into a more positive one, and a learning experience for the future.
Talk to your coaches and your teammates (even your opponents)- Many times talking to coaches and your teammates helps you figure out how everything went down. Most people do not have the benefit of playing on TV every week and will not be able to get different angles of each play. Talk to your defenders, head coach, gk coach if you have one and get to the bottom of each scenario. This will help you figure out what you parts of your game you might need to work on. Also, take time to seek out the other teams goal scorers and try to figure out what they saw and how they came to the conclusion. Many of us play games against people we know, go to school with or live in the community. Ask your forwards what they saw when they were shooting on you in training. Are you giving them too much near post? Were you too far off your line? Were you leaning a certain way? These little tidbits could be the difference between letting in a goal the following week or making that big save.
Practice and put it to rest- All you can do is all you can do. Figure out what you need to work on, and do just that: work on it. If it's kicking the ball, kick the ball. If it's shot-stopping, then practice taking shots. If you need to work on crosses, take crosses. There are drills for every skill. If you need some, there are great videos out there for free. If you want a personal touch, get a coach to train you. Figure out what exactly you need to work on and put in the work. Practice each skill until you are comfortable with it. Even then, keep working on it. As you approach the next game, rely on the knowledge that you have trained hard and deserve the best from your next appearance.
Learn from your mistakes- I've posted about this before, so I will keep this brief. Every mistake is a game or a practice is an opportunity to figure out what you need to work on. Be grateful and passionate about this opportunity. If you approach it the right way, you can take your game to a whole new level.
Give yourself credit- I recently read that holding a low opinion of yourself is not a virtue but a vice. It's okay to feel good about....well...doing a good job. One of the best things about coaching young kids is watching their esteem improve through working hard. They get better at goalkeeping and see how hard work pays off. This give them the confidence to apply this well known lesson to other things in their life. Don't be afraid to say, "YES, I'm AWESOME". The fact of the matter is: YOU ARE AWESOME. Let this new found love for yourself and your goalkeeping skills flourish and flow through your veins when you play. Goalkeeping is an art, and you are the painter, sculptor, or whatever you prefer!
Forgive and Forget- So of course you want to save everything. Now that you've visualized the right play and gave yourself the right amount of credit for things done right, it's time to move on. Forgive yourself for being human and just like every goalkeeper who's played the game. From Peter Schmeichel to Iker Casillas to your favorite goalkeeper, just know they've all experienced what you are going through.
Forget the errors and mistakes. Using the visualization noted earlier, these mistakes are now great plays. Move on to your next game. When you walk places, you don't recall all the times you've slipped in the past. You don't think about slipping or falling down because of the slippery patch or uneven ground you walked on yesterday. Do the same with your goalkeeping. Forgiving and forgetting means starting anew and being excited to take on the challenge of your next game.
Quantify your game play- So how should one look at their own game? Here is a list of things to analyze after your games to help you get started:
1) Distribution- starting the attack is the goalkeeper's job here. Are your clearances high enough? Are you getting enough distance with your throws? Goal kicks? Punts? Are you accurate enough? As a young goalkeeper, I was allowed to pick up the ball during any point in the game. My coach forced me to pass the ball sideways on goal kicks to defenders so that they could pass the ball right back. I would pick up the ball and punt it away - you can see how they would make that illegal by today's rules. As a result, my kicks from the ground have been the most inconsistent part in my game. Even now I constantly work on my technique.
2) Shot stopping- are you in the right position? Are you aggressive enough cutting down the angles? Did you catch everything you could? Did you give away corners? Run down the situations in your head. Could footwork help you make a save? Did you give up a bad rebound? For me, this is a very important part in your game. Players score goals from shots. It's your job to stop them. Figure out the best ways to do this for your game. If you're shorter, come off your line a bit more. If you're taller, then stay back a bit. Are you diving backwards or to the side? Did you guess the wrong way? All these things I have done wrong in the past, and even today, still do them.
3) Communication- Can you prevent goals from happening by just opening your mouth? Can you tell your defenders where to take the forward? Where they are running to? Can we let them know which foot to push the forward on to? Who to mark during set pieces? Breaking up plays before they develop is a great way to help you and your team.
4) Reading the game- Can you cut out that cross? That through ball? Can you start higher up the field to prevent certain situations? Did you come out for things that weren't yours? Did you come out when the forward had a defender with them? You can get better in your game by asking yourself "what happened?"and then addressing that with what should happen.
This is a great place to start for all goalkeepers after their games. However it is not only a good thing to look at your own game, but use this criteria to assess every game you watch. Critically watch every goalkeeper (even me) to this high standard of perfection. You can learn so much from other goalkeepers if you just know what to look for. Become a student of the game and taking a more philosophical approach will help you in your quest to become better.
Smile- I once read a proverb that said, "Smile, it's later than you think". What it's trying to say is enjoy the process, the journey, the challenge, life. Becoming better at anything requires failure and persistence. Enjoy trying to improve your game. Wherever you are in your career, there is always room for improvement. Mistakes, great games, criticism, praise, take it all in stride and remember, "it's later than you think".
Thanks for reading
May the posts be with you!!
Joe Cannon
As a goalkeeper (or really anyone with a passion), it is important to look at yourself in terms of getting better. It is important to self-reflect and self-critique in order to move on and improve. However, the danger comes when one judges themselves too harshly for mistakes without giving enough credit when they do the right things. Too many times in my career I have become a victim of this destructive thinking. I would blame myself for losses and goals, human mistakes and common errors. I never understood that I was preparing myself for more failure with this way of thinking and not success.
It was all too simple. I was punishing myself before anyone had a chance to. Like the young man in the mirror seeing flaws in himself and not realizing the things which I had going for me. I was blaming myself for everything before my coaches and teammates could. In time, I've learned that sometimes you need to turn off the self-judgement and become your own biggest cheerleader. If you don't believe that you can turn it around, then why should anyone else??
I really wish I would have come to this conclusion at a younger age. I cannot tell you how many times I suffered a lack of confidence for being overly self-critical. So many games and goals were lost because I wasn't able to deal with situations correctly and confidently. Even today, I wage war against who I naturally want to be at times. Blaming others, depression, time lost with loved ones, fights started because of my bad mood are all symptoms of being too much of a perfectionist.
Enough about me, and onto the future.....
For younger soccer players, it is very important to assess your game. Depending on your goals, you have to do this properly. Be objective. Take time to really figure out what went wrong and what you can do better. I certainly feel that the off season is where a lot of players make their careers. The work put in away from the crowds and coaches can take players careers farther and higher than they ever thought possible.
After games, I sit and think about every goal scored. What could have I done differently? Communication? Footwork? Concentration? Positioning? It all pours into my head. There are times I sat up all night blaming myself for so many things. However, the difference now is that I refuse to take these mistakes into my next game. I realize that life is a series of ups and downs. That success can be defined simply as getting up just one more time than you've fallen.
It's my hope that you as a reader will not fall into the pitfalls that have haunted me. To look at your game in a more scholarly and healthy approach. What follows is merely my advice for how to assess and evaluate your game.
The pursuit of greatness starts with looking at everything. I can promise that your game or the game of your goalkeeper will improve if you can look at every game with these things in mind:
Analyze the game as a whole- So many times we tend to focus on what went wrong. This is OK as long as you can acknowledge what went right. Be open and brutally honest with yourself. Talk yourself through every situation. Were you in the right spot to prevent the goal? Did you decide to distribute a little too hastily? Could I have punched the ball there instead of trying to catch??
These are all questions I ask myself after a game. I think about all my mistakes and make a note of whether it was a simple human error or something that I can control in the future.
Start with perfection- It will not do you any good to sit there and say "well there wasn't anything I could have done" or "it wasn't my fault". As a youth player, I took the attitude that there was always something I could have done. "Did I guess?" "Can I come out to take the angle more?" "Could I have used my other hand to tip the ball?" These scenarios all run through my head. I then go through the game and think about every goal and play where I felt I might have been able to do something differently.
Visualize the right outcome- So maybe you lost by 4 goals and your team gave up a few breakaways and they scored on a penalty kick. Maybe you come to the conclusion that there was nothing you could have done. STOP!! This will do you no good as you move on. The better play is to visualize yourself making the save utilizing a different process. Maybe you visualize doing the footwork before you tip the ball around the top corner. Maybe you see yourself yelling at your defenders about the open forward who scored the easy tap in. Do everything in your power to turn this negative thought (the goal) into a more positive one, and a learning experience for the future.
Talk to your coaches and your teammates (even your opponents)- Many times talking to coaches and your teammates helps you figure out how everything went down. Most people do not have the benefit of playing on TV every week and will not be able to get different angles of each play. Talk to your defenders, head coach, gk coach if you have one and get to the bottom of each scenario. This will help you figure out what you parts of your game you might need to work on. Also, take time to seek out the other teams goal scorers and try to figure out what they saw and how they came to the conclusion. Many of us play games against people we know, go to school with or live in the community. Ask your forwards what they saw when they were shooting on you in training. Are you giving them too much near post? Were you too far off your line? Were you leaning a certain way? These little tidbits could be the difference between letting in a goal the following week or making that big save.
Practice and put it to rest- All you can do is all you can do. Figure out what you need to work on, and do just that: work on it. If it's kicking the ball, kick the ball. If it's shot-stopping, then practice taking shots. If you need to work on crosses, take crosses. There are drills for every skill. If you need some, there are great videos out there for free. If you want a personal touch, get a coach to train you. Figure out what exactly you need to work on and put in the work. Practice each skill until you are comfortable with it. Even then, keep working on it. As you approach the next game, rely on the knowledge that you have trained hard and deserve the best from your next appearance.
Learn from your mistakes- I've posted about this before, so I will keep this brief. Every mistake is a game or a practice is an opportunity to figure out what you need to work on. Be grateful and passionate about this opportunity. If you approach it the right way, you can take your game to a whole new level.
Give yourself credit- I recently read that holding a low opinion of yourself is not a virtue but a vice. It's okay to feel good about....well...doing a good job. One of the best things about coaching young kids is watching their esteem improve through working hard. They get better at goalkeeping and see how hard work pays off. This give them the confidence to apply this well known lesson to other things in their life. Don't be afraid to say, "YES, I'm AWESOME". The fact of the matter is: YOU ARE AWESOME. Let this new found love for yourself and your goalkeeping skills flourish and flow through your veins when you play. Goalkeeping is an art, and you are the painter, sculptor, or whatever you prefer!
Forgive and Forget- So of course you want to save everything. Now that you've visualized the right play and gave yourself the right amount of credit for things done right, it's time to move on. Forgive yourself for being human and just like every goalkeeper who's played the game. From Peter Schmeichel to Iker Casillas to your favorite goalkeeper, just know they've all experienced what you are going through.
Forget the errors and mistakes. Using the visualization noted earlier, these mistakes are now great plays. Move on to your next game. When you walk places, you don't recall all the times you've slipped in the past. You don't think about slipping or falling down because of the slippery patch or uneven ground you walked on yesterday. Do the same with your goalkeeping. Forgiving and forgetting means starting anew and being excited to take on the challenge of your next game.
Quantify your game play- So how should one look at their own game? Here is a list of things to analyze after your games to help you get started:
1) Distribution- starting the attack is the goalkeeper's job here. Are your clearances high enough? Are you getting enough distance with your throws? Goal kicks? Punts? Are you accurate enough? As a young goalkeeper, I was allowed to pick up the ball during any point in the game. My coach forced me to pass the ball sideways on goal kicks to defenders so that they could pass the ball right back. I would pick up the ball and punt it away - you can see how they would make that illegal by today's rules. As a result, my kicks from the ground have been the most inconsistent part in my game. Even now I constantly work on my technique.
2) Shot stopping- are you in the right position? Are you aggressive enough cutting down the angles? Did you catch everything you could? Did you give away corners? Run down the situations in your head. Could footwork help you make a save? Did you give up a bad rebound? For me, this is a very important part in your game. Players score goals from shots. It's your job to stop them. Figure out the best ways to do this for your game. If you're shorter, come off your line a bit more. If you're taller, then stay back a bit. Are you diving backwards or to the side? Did you guess the wrong way? All these things I have done wrong in the past, and even today, still do them.
3) Communication- Can you prevent goals from happening by just opening your mouth? Can you tell your defenders where to take the forward? Where they are running to? Can we let them know which foot to push the forward on to? Who to mark during set pieces? Breaking up plays before they develop is a great way to help you and your team.
4) Reading the game- Can you cut out that cross? That through ball? Can you start higher up the field to prevent certain situations? Did you come out for things that weren't yours? Did you come out when the forward had a defender with them? You can get better in your game by asking yourself "what happened?"and then addressing that with what should happen.
This is a great place to start for all goalkeepers after their games. However it is not only a good thing to look at your own game, but use this criteria to assess every game you watch. Critically watch every goalkeeper (even me) to this high standard of perfection. You can learn so much from other goalkeepers if you just know what to look for. Become a student of the game and taking a more philosophical approach will help you in your quest to become better.
Smile- I once read a proverb that said, "Smile, it's later than you think". What it's trying to say is enjoy the process, the journey, the challenge, life. Becoming better at anything requires failure and persistence. Enjoy trying to improve your game. Wherever you are in your career, there is always room for improvement. Mistakes, great games, criticism, praise, take it all in stride and remember, "it's later than you think".
Thanks for reading
May the posts be with you!!
Joe Cannon
Thursday 12 April 2012
Who and how much??
There are so many things to consider about the next step. Time, money, and the motivation factor of the player at hand are all just a few things that come to mind. To be honest, the location of each person has a lot to do with the expense factor as well as the supply of quality coaches. I can write for days on what makes a good coach, but the scope of this blog is about how to find them, and how much you should pay.
If you are fortunate enough to live in an MLS market, please know that one of the great benefits of MLS coaches and players is there accessibility. I cannot speak for all players but a majority of my friends and myself would try to pursue other revenue streams (ie coaching) to help supplement our income. (My game with the ladies was limited since I lived with my mom so money to pay for dinner was always a necessity during this time of my life).
Parents and coaches looking for quality team training or personal training should always look to their local MLS or any professional team first. The reasons are endless. Their experience, exposure to advanced coaching methods, objective approach to players and their passion are all things which make this an advantageous choice. The price per session can be anywhere between 100 -200 dollars per session depending on location and individual. A simple email or approach at practice to any given player is always the best way. More than likely it will be the younger players who are more enthusiastic about this, and for the sake of saving your own reputation, do not ask any Designated Players to coach your son's team. You see where i'm going with this.
If you do not live in an MLS market, search out the closest professional team. If this is not an option find your nearest University with a soccer team. The higher the division, the most likely the better, but this is not always the case. Most of the coaches at top colleges will charge the same as MLS players if they have been around or about 25% less if not. Also, depending on the price of living, some markets will dictate higher financial demands.
If there is not a college or pro team, try to find the best club team. You can easily find this out by asking around and getting a general consensus. Most club teams have goalkeeper coaches, and most of these coaches will want to do private lessons. Now if you are asked to pay 100 dollars an hour for a private, then you know you are dealing with either a good GK coach, or just some clown who thinks that he is that smart. I would say anywhere between 50-75 dollars a session is a decent wage and don't be afraid to offer this right off the bat.
Group sessions from my experience offer the best bang for your buck as well as the coach's. Rather than have your GK or player pay top notch money for one session, its almost just as useful to grab a couple of other players who are also interested in improving and paying less. Most of the time, I do sessions for 4 GK's at 50-60 bucks per kid, which means i'm making more money than a private lesson at 150-200 dollars a session. It's better for my pocket, and the parents.
These group lessons is how I learned when I was a kid, and for players who are highly motivated, they are the best tool. Motivated players will absorb the words spoken by the coach, not only to themselves but to the other players as well. For a visual learner like myself, it was also good to see how things are done the right, and the wrong way.
Before I sign off, I'd like to give you the qualities of coaches to stay away from. First, any coach who does not want his/her "player-student" working with other coaches because it might affect their technique is full of BS. I don't care if any of the kids I work with go see other coaches. Why?? Because I know i'm the best coach there is, bar none. If a young GK goes somewhere else, it is because they have found someone they enjoy working with more and that is fine also. The game of soccer wins either way because they have continued playing. Second, avoid coaches who seem overly biased about their own players they teach. Nothing is more annoying than hearing a guy talk about all the great players he coaches and bad mouths other players. Soccer is a game, an art , and a passion. There are so many avenues to success, and never think that a certain coach is the only answer. Thus, avoid negative coaches in general. 99% of kids won't be pros. However, with the right coach, 99% of these kids can enjoy the benefits of improved self-esteem, lessons in improvement through hard work, goal-setting and many more attributes a great coach brings. Finally, any coach who seems to be driven more by money than a passion for the kids needs to be ignored. I understand that coaching is a big business, but there is no place for these clowns. You can usually spot these guys a mile away and use your best judgement like you would when making other financial decisions for your children.
So I'm sorry that this went long, but it's a topic which could easily be a whole book. Please don't hesitate to email me at GKUNION101@gmail.com if you have any questions about the coaches and situations you encounter. It might take a little while to get back to you, but i promise to do so.
Well hope this finds everyone well. Thanks for reading and until next time.....
may the posts be with you!!!
Joe Cannon
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Improve Your Game
Over the years, in almost every kind of form, I've been asked what is the best thing a young goalkeeper can do? Should they take private lessons from a GK coach? Should they find a better club team? Do I have time to tell their kid some advice as I give them an autograph? Better schools? Better coaches? Less politics? I've heard all the justifications why a kid has not reached MLS yet.
I feel bad for the parent who has entered into an unknown realm which they have no knowledge of. I feel bad because I remember this feeling when I would try to date girls in college. A helpless, second guessing, collection of curiousity and ignorance all bundled up in a baseless confident facade which perpetuates the problem. I will address all of these concerns in the future, but right now, I want to address the young goalkeeper. (the concerns of parents and not my dating!! haha)
Without changing anything else in their routinue, all the young GK has to do to improve his/her game is to play with older children. The faster, stronger athletes who shoot the ball harder will help the younger goalkeeper improve reaction time, speed, hand eye coordination and their confidence, especially when they go back to playing with kids their own age. I think of my own experience, and I was lucky to find a group of European adults playing soccer at the same park I praciticed at. Each day after training I would sit in goal and get scored off of time and time again. After a few weeks, the goals were less and less, and after months, my game and expectations were increasing with every shot these guys were taking. On top of this, I would go out and try to find where the best players my age would practice. Every group of players needs goalkeepers and you will find a lot of goalkeepers will even want to play in the field when left to their own devices.
It is here that the young GK has to be proactive in reaching out to his teammates. Asking to be a part of something and inviting yourself to a training is always scary in some senses. (i'm talking about casual get together practices, and not team trainings) However, remember that most young players who go to practice on their own probably just want to shoot on goal. Having a goalkeeper there will help improve their game as much as it will yours.
If you are fortunate enough to find older players to play with, then keep in mind not to get too discouraged if success eludes you in the first few sessions. Remember the big picture. At every level, I have ever played at, there is always a period of adjustment. I have struggled to be as consistent as I want the first time I am introduced to a high level of soccer. It's OK. Even today, I still struggle the first few days of pre-season after a lenghty lay off. The key is to not be too hard on yourself and to stay motivated.
With this is mind, there does need to be a basic understanding of goalkeeping technique. Who should you trust to do this? Well stay tuned for my next blog and I'll let you know how to find the best goalkeeper coaches in your given area.
Until then, may the posts be with you!!!
I feel bad for the parent who has entered into an unknown realm which they have no knowledge of. I feel bad because I remember this feeling when I would try to date girls in college. A helpless, second guessing, collection of curiousity and ignorance all bundled up in a baseless confident facade which perpetuates the problem. I will address all of these concerns in the future, but right now, I want to address the young goalkeeper. (the concerns of parents and not my dating!! haha)
Without changing anything else in their routinue, all the young GK has to do to improve his/her game is to play with older children. The faster, stronger athletes who shoot the ball harder will help the younger goalkeeper improve reaction time, speed, hand eye coordination and their confidence, especially when they go back to playing with kids their own age. I think of my own experience, and I was lucky to find a group of European adults playing soccer at the same park I praciticed at. Each day after training I would sit in goal and get scored off of time and time again. After a few weeks, the goals were less and less, and after months, my game and expectations were increasing with every shot these guys were taking. On top of this, I would go out and try to find where the best players my age would practice. Every group of players needs goalkeepers and you will find a lot of goalkeepers will even want to play in the field when left to their own devices.
It is here that the young GK has to be proactive in reaching out to his teammates. Asking to be a part of something and inviting yourself to a training is always scary in some senses. (i'm talking about casual get together practices, and not team trainings) However, remember that most young players who go to practice on their own probably just want to shoot on goal. Having a goalkeeper there will help improve their game as much as it will yours.
If you are fortunate enough to find older players to play with, then keep in mind not to get too discouraged if success eludes you in the first few sessions. Remember the big picture. At every level, I have ever played at, there is always a period of adjustment. I have struggled to be as consistent as I want the first time I am introduced to a high level of soccer. It's OK. Even today, I still struggle the first few days of pre-season after a lenghty lay off. The key is to not be too hard on yourself and to stay motivated.
With this is mind, there does need to be a basic understanding of goalkeeping technique. Who should you trust to do this? Well stay tuned for my next blog and I'll let you know how to find the best goalkeeper coaches in your given area.
Until then, may the posts be with you!!!
Tuesday 3 April 2012
Introduction
Hello my name is Joe Cannon and I am here to write about the soccer
goalkeeper. After playing goalie for over 25 years, I wanted to give
back to the community and the "union" which has given me so many great
memories and experiences in my life.
So many people have asked me over the years the best ways to improve their skills as a goalkeeper. Obviously, most of these questions have come from the younger members of our goalkeeping community and many of these future blog posts will be addressed to their needs. I am open to all questions and comments and can be reached at GKUnion101@gmail.com.
My first advice to the younger goalkeeper is to not fear mistakes. When you are new to anything in life, the way you learn is to try and fail. These failures are necessary in your quest for success. This blog could not fit all the characters it would take to let you know about all the "bad" goals I have given up in my career. Even at my age, I can learn from all of them, and for the most part, I have.
Whether it's practice or games, the goalkeeper cannot become victim of fear. In order to prevent the anxiety and circumstance of game play, each goalie must be the individual to put themselves in pressure situations. This "self-pressure" must be dedicated to getting the most out of your practices. Not in the sense of results, but rather the dedication to perfection in your effort, attention to detail, as well as an enthusiastic attitude to constantly learn from your coaches, fellow players, and of course, your mistakes.
In the next coming posts, I will give you some specific ways to start working on your game. Until then, go out and make some mistakes. From my experience, it's the best, and really, the most productive way to learn.
May the posts be with you!
Joe Cannon
So many people have asked me over the years the best ways to improve their skills as a goalkeeper. Obviously, most of these questions have come from the younger members of our goalkeeping community and many of these future blog posts will be addressed to their needs. I am open to all questions and comments and can be reached at GKUnion101@gmail.com.
My first advice to the younger goalkeeper is to not fear mistakes. When you are new to anything in life, the way you learn is to try and fail. These failures are necessary in your quest for success. This blog could not fit all the characters it would take to let you know about all the "bad" goals I have given up in my career. Even at my age, I can learn from all of them, and for the most part, I have.
Whether it's practice or games, the goalkeeper cannot become victim of fear. In order to prevent the anxiety and circumstance of game play, each goalie must be the individual to put themselves in pressure situations. This "self-pressure" must be dedicated to getting the most out of your practices. Not in the sense of results, but rather the dedication to perfection in your effort, attention to detail, as well as an enthusiastic attitude to constantly learn from your coaches, fellow players, and of course, your mistakes.
In the next coming posts, I will give you some specific ways to start working on your game. Until then, go out and make some mistakes. From my experience, it's the best, and really, the most productive way to learn.
May the posts be with you!
Joe Cannon
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