Local goalkeepers, coaches, exposed to expert knowledge

A combination of active goalkeepers and practising coaches was recently exposed to four days of training in the art of goal keeping.

Dispensing his knowledge to the 25 participants was Costa Rican-born Claine Plummer.

During the period, the participants were exposed to video analyses, ball handling, footwork, training methodology, training session models, positioning, communication, crosses, distribution and set plays.

Reviewing his second visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), having administered a similar course in September 2016, Plummer told SEARCHLIGHT: “It is very difficult at this time to find self-made goalkeepers… A lot of the goalkeepers have to be engineered from the ground up, especially what the game of today is demanding, so it is important to come out to these courses and provide the guide to give them the tools to improve.”

Plummer said the presence of the active goalkeepers during the four days of the course helped his facilitating, as they were the “models” of to do the demonstrations.

He noted that both the coaches and the goalkeepers would have improved their knowledge and know-how over the duration of the course.

Looking to the immediate future, Plummer projected, “What I would like to see is that they would use the tips gained and put them into practice, especially when it is fresh in their heads.”

Plummer, whose mother is Costa Rican and father, Jamaican, has played for the Costa Rica junior and Olympic teams.

He then headed to California, USA, where he competed at the Collegiate level, then a pre-season with LA Galaxy, alongside SVG captain Ezra Hendrickson.

Plummer also coached at the USLA, the now defunct Chivas USA in major league soccer and the Real Salt Lake Academy.(RT)