00:00Goalkeepers have been an official part of football since 1871, and no starting eleven
00:05is complete without one in the modern game as well.
00:08But new changes to the Football Association's guidelines means that keepers won't be introduced
00:13until under eight's football.
00:15This comes as part of the FA's Future Fit guidelines to make youth football more efficient
00:20training by giving players more touches on the ball.
00:23And here in Kent, one goalkeeping coach who holds sessions across the county believes
00:27it could add to the development of young people who only want to stop shots, but that it
00:32has its downsides as well.
00:34I think the new 3v3 system will actually benefit those goalkeepers who are not necessarily using
00:42their feet a lot at that age to encourage them to improve their footwork.
00:50However, on the other side of things, from having coached dozens of, you know, goalkeepers
00:57at five to six, you know, who we have in our academies and schools at the moment, it's tough
01:02to tell them that, you know, they're essentially not going to be able to play in goal next season.
01:07Goalkeepers wear the number one shirt for a reason.
01:10They're one out of eleven.
01:11It's the most specialised position in football.
01:14And whether you're a traditional shot stopper or more of a modern keeper, there's plenty
01:19to learn.
01:20So for under sevens who aren't able to play goalkeeper anymore as of the 2026-27 season,
01:26how much is it taking away not only from their training, but from their enjoyment of the game?
01:30Kids under seven won't be able to play as goalkeepers in training.
01:34How would you feel if you wouldn't be able to play goalkeeper?
01:37Very sad. I'd feel frustrated because that's my role, football. And if I had to change,
01:45that would just be bad.
01:47I don't think it'd be great, really. I'm not great when it comes to my footwork. So
01:52I think I'd struggle quite a bit. I love playing in goal. So it's sort of, I've been raised
01:57as a goalkeeper and nothing else, really.
01:59It's not the only difference from playing adult football, with under sevens playing three
02:04a side games without substitutes or league tables, putting the focus entirely on player
02:08improvement.
02:09The changes mean that younger goalkeepers might have the incentive to change position early
02:14on. Ultimately, it's down to how the young players take the change. And if it makes them
02:18better with the ball at their feet, then the future of goalkeeping might be in a safer pair
02:22of hands.
02:23Finn McDermid for Game TV in Moncton.
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