About Us
Why Elite Keeper Academy?
Philosophy
In the modern game the goalkeeper plays a major role on the team. For this reason, this position requires particular care and attention. At Elite Keeper Academy we believe in combining actual game situations with individual technical training to create the key environment to further develop your skills. Our activities are selected very carefully so the first activities isolate a technique to give the goalkeeper maximum reps while giving the staff teaching opportunities then progressing into functional activities that relate directly to the game. Our curriculum is designed to improve the overall technical and tactical skills of the beginning as well as the advanced goalkeeper.
Education
I have obtained the highest goalkeeper licenses of both licensing organizations available in the United States, USSF National Goalkeeping License and United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. This enables me to teach other coaches on how to develop goalkeepers by being on the United Soccer Coaches Education Staff. It also allows me create the most appropriate goalkeeper development curriculum for Elite Keeper Academy. Not only do I value the goalkeeper specific education, but to develop successful goalkeepers you also need to be able to teach the game and replicate game situations in training. Which is why my education also includes completing full team license/diplomas.
- USSF National B License
- United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma
- USSF National Goalkeeping License
- United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma
- Scottish FA Goalkeeper Coaching Award
- Ontario Soccer Goalkeeper Certificate
- Football Association of Wales Goalkeepers Award
- United Soccer Coaches Special Topics Diploma - Sports Psychology and Individual Mental Skills
- Developing the 7 C's
- The FA - Goalkeeper Practices in Restricted Areas
- Technical Practices for Young Goalkeepers
-Professional Football Scouts Association
- Opposition Analysis in Football Level 1
- Performance Analysis in Football Level 1
- Talent Identification in Football Level 1
- Technical Scouting in Football Level 1
International Professional Scouting Organization
- The Goalkeeper Analysis
Experience
Being a current coach involved in the Division 1 men's college game along with my past roles at previous schools both men's and women's and at various levels in the college game. I bring to the youth athlete what works at the higher levels and we teach to that standard. We don't allow the athletes train habits that they can get away with at the youth level but won't and don't at the higher levels.
- Former University of Detroit Mercy Men's and Women's Assistant Coach
- Former Men's Assistant Coach at Marygrove College - NAIA
- Former Men's and Women's Assistant Coach at the University of Michigan - Division 1
- Former Men's and Women's Assistant Coach at Rochester College - NAIA
- United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Educational Staff
- US Soccer Central Region Scout
This also included continuing education to develop as a goalkeeper coach
- International Goalkeeper Coaching Conference
- United Soccer Coaches Convention
- MLS visits - Columbus, Sporting KC, San Jose
Curriculum and Programming
We have a proven curriculum that teaches and develops goalkeepers to play at the highest level that their physical abilities, soccer IQ, and commitment allows.
- See alumni page
Environment and Culture
We bring together competitive goalkeepers from various local clubs that have the same goals. This creates a healthy competitive training environment where they can bond with like minded kids. We also have enough goalkeepers where we can put them in age appropriate groups so we can teach the proper techniques and tactics at the appropriate ages.
Because we are not in the club environment or have to compete in games. We create an environment where goalkeepers aren't afraid to make mistake and challenge themselves to get better. We use a variety of teaching methods including guided discovery which engages the goalkeepers to find the answers themselves either technically or tactically.
Because we are not in the club environment or have to compete in games. We create an environment where goalkeepers aren't afraid to make mistake and challenge themselves to get better. We use a variety of teaching methods including guided discovery which engages the goalkeepers to find the answers themselves either technically or tactically.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Keith at the University of Michigan. He has a great eye for identifying key technical and tactical needs for our goalkeeper’s development. He has a strong background in goalkeeper training and puts together training sessions that will maximize a player’s development. Keith is not a screamer, rather, he is an educator. It is easy for players to take constructive criticism and receive positive comments from Keith because of his genuine and easy-going personality.”
Greg Ryan, Former Head Women’s Coach at U of M and former Head Coach for the US Women’s National Team
We create an environment that builds confidence in the goalkeeper. Because of our teaching methods, the curriculum, the selection of the activities, and the coaching points they receive the goalkeepers will become more competent and confident.