052: Managing Club GK Development with Tim Kelly

As the Head of Academy Goalkeeping for St. Louis FC and the Director of Goalkeeping for St. Louis – Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, Tim Kelly manages a significant staff of goalie coaches and nearly 150 individual keepers. As he explains in today’s episode, coordinating such an operation – and properly developing each of those goalkeepers – provides its share of challenges and opportunities.

After a professional career that took him all the way to the Kansas City Wizards of MLS, Tim returned to his hometown club and has been training and educating goalkeepers ever since. He discusses his curriculum as well as the key principles he emphasizes across the club and at each level.

Among many important factors in each player’s development, Tim talks about the significant – and often-overlooked – role that peer and training groups can play. He describes his process for grouping keepers based on age and skill level, and describes the common traits he finds in those keepers who progress to the college and professional ranks.

And if that’s not enough, there’s even an Outtakes segment (below) with more information about Tim’s playing days, about the value to goalkeepers in playing other positions, and the times when individualized training is most important.

Special thanks to Tim Kelly for joining me!