Mili Arrotea wil host a series of 3 masterclasses for GK training. The first one was live on November 10, 2023 with a focus on junior goalkeeper development.
Junior goalkeeper development
The focus for this first of 3 masterclasses will be on junior GK development at club level. So of course we’ll touch on topics like how to plan your team session and some best practices on how to include your goalies in these. Including several examples of drills to use in your training session and an interactive discussion with those who can join us live about progression and variations on these drills.
Mili Arrotea
Born in Argentina, Mili Arrotea moved to Melbourne. Today she is a GK coach and the Education and Pathways coordinator for Hockey Victoria in Australia. While also on the coaching staff of several state youth development teams and club teams in Victoria.
If there’s one principle every coach should embed from this masterclass, it is the necessity of deliberately integrating goalkeepers into team training sessions. While this might sound simplistic, it’s a deep and under-leveraged pillar of field hockey coaching. Too often, goalkeepers are treated like bystanders at training, left in their own bubble until “shooting time.” This masterclass challenges that norm and offers coaches across all levels tools for embedding the keeper as a fundamental part of every session.
Why is this so crucial? Because the decision-making, involvement, and skill requirements of a goalkeeper are tightly interwoven with those of the field players. Sessions that neglect this reality do little for the keeper’s learning or for the field players’ understanding of the game as a unit. When your training reflects real match situations—where the keeper is actively part of transitions, communication, defensive and attacking plays—all players, not just the goalie, progress much faster.
Mili Arrotea summarized this shift in philosophy perfectly:
“Plan the session. So take your time to plan a session properly. What does the team need to work on? … I do understand that you are looking after in this case 16 field players. But just, there’s nothing wrong with adding that extra goalkeeper in that.”
How to Apply This, Day-to-Day
Session Design:
When designing your weekly practice, don’t think of “goalkeeper drills” as a stand-alone slot. Instead, adapt team tactical and technical elements—such as overload situations, outlets, and defensive scenarios—so your goalkeeper is involved and learning alongside the team.Varied Roles for Keepers:
Take keepers out of the goal at times. Challenge them in possession, decision-making, communication, and even leadership. Add them to warmup games, integrate them in small-sided games, and use them to start attacks—just as you would expect in a match.Clear Objectives:
Give your goalkeepers session-specific personal objectives. For example: “Today, every third ball you play must aim for a wide outlet,” or, “Focus on communication between phases.” This helps them develop match-critical skills and makes their development process ongoing and measurable.Feedback and Accountability:
Treat the goalkeeper like any field player in terms of review and feedback. Include them in debriefs. Ask, “What worked for you today? Where did you struggle?” Not only are you raising their game, but you are fostering leadership and self-awareness.
As Mili Arrotea puts it, “The goalkeeper doesn’t have to be in goals all the time at training. You can utilize that goalkeeper in so many other situations.”
Why Watch the Whole Masterclass (and Read On)?
The best content in this masterclass goes beyond just session structure. You’ll get in-depth examples of training activities tailored for different age groups, insight into the balance of mental, physical, tactical, and technical development, and practical answers to common dilemmas field hockey coaches face at all levels. If you want to see how these principles translate into real drills, detailed training plans, and expert troubleshooting (with plenty of “change-up” ideas for your sessions), then you’ll want to watch the full session—and read what follows. The practical explanations and Q&A make it an invaluable reference for any coach serious about upskilling both themselves and their team.
