Developing an Intensive Football Goalkeeper Training Camp Program for Secondary School Students

Background and Aim: Football goalkeepers in China require specific skills and characteristics to excel in their positions. They need to have good aerobic endurance and anaerobic endurance to perform well in the competition. Overall, a combination of physical endurance, technical skills, and mental fitness is essential for football goalkeepers in China to succeed in the position. Therefore, this research objective was to develop and evaluate an intensive football goalkeeper training camp program for secondary school students. The research provides a valuable framework for designing effective training programs to enhance the performance of young goalkeepers. Materials and Methods: This research was a mixed-methods research that involved a four-phase process: 1) Literature review and research to gather existing knowledge on training adolescent goalkeepers. 2) Deep interviews with 5 experts to identify key factors for program design. 3) Focus group discussions with 9 experts to develop the training camp program, incorporating technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, mental fortitude, and recovery strategies. 4) Connoisseurship evaluation by 7 experts to assess the program's suitability and feasibility. Data analysis was computed with the mean and standard deviation. Results: The results found that: 1) The intensive football goalkeeper training camp program, a 14-day duration training, encompassed a holistic approach to goalkeeper development, progressing from foundational techniques to advanced skills, and integrating tactical awareness, physical conditioning, and mental training. 2) Experts rated the program highly, particularly commending its focus on tactical understanding and well-rounded physical conditioning. Conclusion: The intensive football goalkeeper training camp program represents a well-structured and evidence-based approach to goalkeeper development. By integrating technical, tactical, physical, and mental training components, it addresses the multifaceted demands of the position.