SWINDON Town Centre of Excellence goalkeeping coach and UEFA B badge-holder Steve Hale believes the nurturing of young keepers is often overlooked in favour of outfield players, and he is doing something about it.

Hale thinks the instruction of goalkeepers in their formative years lacks the intensity of all other positions, and insists adults must be trained in the art of tutoring our future shot-stoppers.

“Often the goalkeeper will get overlooked when it comes to training sessions with their team, having to join in as an outfield player and not getting the chance to practise their techniques for a pretty specialised position,” he said.

“Any manager or coach, or even a parent involved with the training session needs to get an insight into helping those goalkeepers develop properly.”

Hale has come up with his latest course - ‘Coach the Coaches’ - as a tonic for what he sees as an intrinsic problem within the coaching of the grass roots game.

The two-day programmes, aimed at any adult associated in a coaching capacity with a junior side, will be given lessons in the best way to help the star glovemen of tomorrow bring their game along at a pace which matches their outfield counterparts.

“The course offers to teach techniques that coaches need to work on with their goalkeepers and drills to help them do this,” said Hale.

“During or after the session anyone on the course will be able to ask questions or seek advice in a bid to help our young goalkeepers succeed.”

The course takes place at Ruskin Junior School on Monday, May 17 between 7.30 and 8.30pm.

Any interested parties should call 07711275526 or email steve@stevehalegoalkeeping.co.uk for more information.