Goalkeeping Program
The strong culture of goalkeeping at Eastside FC
With a supportive, engaging and competitive culture, our goalkeepers are developed in an environment that sets them up for success on and off the field.
Key areas of emphasis include footwork, shot-stopping, crosses, distribution, communication & organizing, positioning and tactical awareness. Sessions place an emphasis on technique, high repetition, application of technique in live scenarios and feedback.
What truly sets the EFC goalkeeper program apart is the investment in coaching. Our program includes five goalkeeper coaches, all of whom are former EFC players with a range of experience at the highest levels of youth and collegiate soccer, so that each player can receive highly individualized feedback.
In addition to four, hour-long training sessions per week, our EFC GK programming includes two supplemental sessions per week, a weekly session for the youngest players at the club, a weekly film analysis program, in-person game assessment on weekends, and mentoring initiatives between age groups.
Training sessions are co-ed. The groups are broken up by age, with the opportunity for our top goalkeepers in the younger age group to progress to the older training session ahead of schedule if they maintain a growth mindset and consistently demonstrate proficiency in the seven key areas of emphasis.
Goalkeeping Training Schedule
Mondays
The Monday sessions outlined below will rotate every other week. Full schedule available on TeamSnap. To be added to TeamSnap, please email the club’s Goalkeeping Director: joe.mondello@eastsidefc.org
Weeks 1 and 3
Topic Sessions: Working on areas of goalkeeping like distribution, defending set pieces, communication, organization, etc. All goalkeepers in the age groups outlined below are eligible but must attend Tuesday and Wednesday sessions on a regular basis. Signups available on TeamSnap via SharePoint forms. Attendance capped at 16 players per session.
Session 1 (2008-10): 6-7 PM at Preston Park, Field 2
Session 2 (2005-07): 7-8 PM at Preston Park, Field 2
Weeks 2 and 4
Advanced Sessions: Available for all ECNL goalkeepers at the club. Select players from lower teams or younger teams can be invited by Goalkeeping Director on a one-off or regular basis. Must attend Tuesday and Wednesday sessions on a regular basis to be eligible.
Session 1 (2008-10): 6-7 PM at Preston Park, Field 2
Session 2 (2005-07): 7-8 PM at Preston Park, Field 2
Film Analysis & Feedback
Players who attend more than 50% of goalkeeper training sessions in a given month can opt into a film analysis program. They can send up to five Trace clips per week to the Goalkeeping Director for evaluation and will receive written feedback on each play.
Additionally, there will be Goalkeeper Office Hours every Monday from 4:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. at the EFC office for players and parents to stop by and go over game film. They should come prepared with a match or matches they want to discuss. Signups will be conducted through the google link in TeamSnap.
Free Zone 1 sessions*
Whether you’re new to the position, a part-time goalkeeper or just want extra practice, EFC’s Zone 1 introductory goalkeeper sessions are an exciting new layer to our programming. These sessions will run every Friday (see the schedule below) and focus on foundational techniques for goalkeepers. Sessions are designed for players from the 2011 through the 2015 birth years. They will be run by EFC Goalkeeping Director and staffed by our top U-17 to U-19 EFC goalkeepers. Only current Eastside FC players are eligible to participate in Zone 1 sessions. Players can progress from these Friday sessions to the weekly younger practices.
*Available only to current Eastside FC players
Zone 1 Schedule
Sessions: Every Friday from 5:00-6:00PM through December 2022.
Location: Preston Park, Mod Field 2
Get in Touch
Want to learn more about the EFC Goalkeeping program? Contact Joe, our Goalkeeping Director.
Joe Mondello
Goalkeeping Director
Joe.Mondello@EastsideFC.org
