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We see so many elite athletes these days, talking about the mental side of sports. All over social media people say their mentality is just different.But what does that actually mean?I’ll admit that I am a little biased, but a soccer goalkeeper to me is by far the most mental position in sports.<h3>The Unique Mental Demands of Goalkeeping</h3>I can’t think of many other positions where you could go an entire game without meaningful participation and be called upon in the final minute of stoppage time to make a game defining play.We have little, if no margin for error.We must be excellent communicators, have a commanding presence, and make tactical and technical decisions in less than a second. All with the understanding that your mistakes will always make the highlight reel.I could write an entire separate blog on the physical demands of goalkeeping and during those physically grueling moments our concentration and focus must always be at a high level.We truly suffer for the sport we love, and in a weird way we all love it. At least from my perspective I love to suffer because in the suffering is growth and self discovery.<figure id="figure-3eg75tke2lmu4fn7xz"><img id="3eg75tke2lmu4fn7xz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/caAwP60mnodTYGpaZPydEGYePgBNJ7A6dtijOfFCLHQBCQRd04rZGFlXFFwpqM4C.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/caAwP60mnodTYGpaZPydEGYePgBNJ7A6dtijOfFCLHQBCQRd04rZGFlXFFwpqM4C.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>My Path to Professional Soccer</h3>My path to professional soccer was anything but conventional.I played 4 years of division 1 soccer at the University of New Hampshire, and at the end of my college career was encouraged by coaches to go overseas to play professionally.However at the time due to a difficult personal and financial situation, I made the choice to accept a public accounting job and support my family rather than chase my dreams.My accounting career has served me well. It helped me develop an understanding of what it means to be a professional, brought financial stability to myself and my family, and introduced me to life long friends, but I always felt unsatisfied.While I continued to play semi-professionally, the dream of playing pro never really left me.I finally made the decision to commit to pursuing the dream fully during COVID when I was 29 years old. I dropped 50 lbs, became fully plant-based, and left the US to begin my professional soccer journey.It was the most difficult decision I ever made and by far the most rewarding.<h3>Self-Belief Through Rejection</h3>During my soccer career, the majority of the mentality coaching I received had been mostly focused on playing tough, being fearless, fighting through our perceived limitations, and recovering from mistakes.Only one coach leading up to my professional career highlighted to me that the position would demand so much more of me than that.I listened to his advice and genuinely tried to take it all in, but only when you live it for yourself do you finally understand.Professional goalkeeping demands unrelenting self belief.Before even stepping out on the field, hundreds of teams, agents, and coaches will tell you “no”, but the beauty of it is, all you need is one “yes”.I spent years speaking to agents before someone believed in me enough to place me with my first club. I spent a year and a half as a training player before that contract finally came.I had many tell me I was too old, that I might as well retire.I’m now 33 years old, currently playing Primera Division in Argentina, and have played in 4 different countries.When you are signed coaches, teammates, and fans will all criticize you. They have opinions on how you play and even the person that you are.<figure id="figure-qhwr0sb89pmu4fo3bg"><img id="qhwr0sb89pmu4fo3bg" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/35rIeAv4mGaMS4uRinFP6VXp7JFDSRPmrQHonB8xh7MMiLzzQbTmYyC5CUkPXLoG.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/35rIeAv4mGaMS4uRinFP6VXp7JFDSRPmrQHonB8xh7MMiLzzQbTmYyC5CUkPXLoG.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Goalkeeping requires you to define your identity, prove it to yourself every day, and believe in it when your name gets called on game day.It will require you to reevaluate how you determine your self-worth. If your self-worth is defined by the number of shut outs in a season, you will very quickly be exposed.It is a never ending pursuit.You will never just arrive one day and be confident forever after. It is not just a trait some are innately born with. It is a conscious mental muscle you must train.Your habits provide the evidence of your capabilities every day, and you show it both in the good moments and especially the difficult ones.Do one thing that absolutely sucks every week, just to remind yourself you can. You’ll be surprised how quickly your confidence builds.<h3>Staying Present and Controlling the Controllables</h3>Goalkeeping demands that you stay present always.We have a certain amount of impact on games, but very rarely do we win games for our team. Results are defined by a culmination of factors, many of which are out of our direct control.If you play in a foreign country, you may be benched due to a limit of the number of foreign players that can be on the field at any given time. A team may not sign you because they may not want to invest money in a foreign goalkeeper.You could play the game of your life and still somehow lose.Goalkeeping requires us to focus on the process not just the result and will change your definition of success.When we focus on what is in our control: our attitude, our effort, and getting 1% better every day, I have found that the results often times follow.But even if they don’t, if I have done absolutely everything in my power to put myself in a position to succeed and the results don’t go my way, in a small way I can be at peace with that.I will never be “happy” because I am insanely competitive (like will fight for every point in soccer tennis competitive), but I know I’ve done my part.<figure id="figure-k3cwql0rvlmu4fongo"><img id="k3cwql0rvlmu4fongo" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10Q4fs9lj7qz0396YLMxOHx4dlqFultMp7Aocg38uS3de1GTcUftnIuMg0T9jHMc.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 30%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="30%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10Q4fs9lj7qz0396YLMxOHx4dlqFultMp7Aocg38uS3de1GTcUftnIuMg0T9jHMc.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 30%;"></figure><h3>Learning to Stand Alone</h3>Goalkeeping will teach you that it is okay to be alone.Playing abroad is an incredibly rewarding experience. Its helped me polish up my Spanish and become bilingual, its given me the opportunity to travel to new places, meet new people, and experience a number of different cultures.But it can be a profoundly lonely experience.It will require you to adapt to different languages, cultural and social norms, playing styles, and living situations.You will often be misunderstood. You will definitely make mistakes. You might even be blamed when results don’t go your way.You will be far from your friends and family, and unless they’ve played high level sports themselves they often won’t or won’t know how to support you.You will miss important events.You will often times feel frustrated attempting to make connections with people who were never meant to have a permanent place in your life.Teammates will come and go. Coaches will change. And that is all part of it.It teaches a different type of resilience and the capacity to be at home within yourself, because through the continuous uncertainty and change you are your only constant.<h3>Using Perspective to Transform Difficult Moments</h3>And lastly goalkeeping has taught me that perspective is everything.A”no” from a coach is now motivation to prove them wrong, intelligent criticism shows me where I can sharpen up my game, errors are an opportunity to grow technically, and moments of deep loneliness are an opportunity to know and care for myself rather than depend upon external validation from others.I actively work on these mental elements of the game every single day.The position and the lifestyle demand it, and it has gifted me a life I wouldn’t change for anything.<figure id="figure-v8lhbvxi6mmu4fpai0"><img id="v8lhbvxi6mmu4fpai0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/profile/21TKbZzf8BfY5wdZLHq1TEQp2dPHBoR6PIJo5rGLlIuNldX7Yt6lp1m01QrMolEf.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h3>Practical Ways to Train the Mind</h3>Begin training your brain, as early and as often as possible.These days I train mentally as much as physically.The younger you start, the greater the opportunity with neuroplasticity to rewire your thought patterns and build the qualities that define elite goalkeepers and exceptional people.To the extent you have the resources, work with a sports psychologist. Having an outside perspective and someone who can support you with tools to use on the field and challenge your negative thought loops off it is invaluable in professional sports.To the extent you don’t, journaling is an great tool to help declutter your mind and reflect.Whenever you can, surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow and support you.<blockquote>Understand that the learning and mental training never stops no matter what level you get to, and I have found when you choose to lead with gratitude, empathy, and hard work one way or another you will always succeed.</blockquote>

What Does an Elite Mentality Actually Mean?

I’ve broken fingers, had bruises up and down my arms, legs, hips, and even my face. I’ve had a busted lip, cleat prints left on my skin, and grass, turf, and mud shoved into my eyes. But I won’t change what I do for anything. The absolute thrill of it just makes the whole thing worth it.When you live between the posts, putting your body on the line just comes with the territory. Over time, you build a survival routine just to get through the season. My essentials? Loads of tape to wrap fingers, wrists, and elbows. Constant trips to c<figure id="figure-m19mvwyg4lmtsuzwmn"><img id="m19mvwyg4lmtsuzwmn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2am6nT7WSMpCAbB83jtz4WJhCUivCaU0Ji5mCCXqFKV9LzK07qM9JWw9oTOZPtep.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2am6nT7WSMpCAbB83jtz4WJhCUivCaU0Ji5mCCXqFKV9LzK07qM9JWw9oTOZPtep.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>ryotherapy, ice baths, lidocaine patches, and endless tubes of Biofreeze.But there’s one thing I don’t think a lot of people outside the position really get, is how brutal it is for a goalkeeper to actually admit they’re hurt during a match and walk off. The pressure we put on ourselves to see it through to the final whistle, for the team, the program, our coaches, it can be heavy. I always feel like a bit of a hypocrite when I talk about putting the person first over the athlete, because when it comes to my own physical injuries, I rarely follow my own advice.I still remember an ECNL showcase where I broke two fingers because an opponent bent them straight backward on an aerial challenge. It was toward the end of the match, and my brain instantly started calculating how to compensate. Fine, I’ll just punch the ball instead of catching it. Use my feet more. Just do enough to survive the match. But at what point do we stop and say, “Okay, I’ve got to go out and let the backup take over”?To break this mindset, I know I have to completely rewrite what it means to actually help the team. I remember listening to an interview with a pro goalkeeper who played in the Premier League. They talked about this "80% Rule." Basically, if an injury drops your capacity to protect the net below 80%, you aren't doing anyone any favors by staying in the game. You’re a liability. A healthy backup is going to be better than a 50% functional starter, no matter how much heart you think you're playing with.<figure id="figure-z7bo75zxb1mtsv0946"><img id="z7bo75zxb1mtsv0946" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/146XzqsZcwdTR9OR3Z6qjj0tFIbzAcjqmgjKNSEYD4DiBRMOTHZuJDnw5HcweBwa.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/146XzqsZcwdTR9OR3Z6qjj0tFIbzAcjqmgjKNSEYD4DiBRMOTHZuJDnw5HcweBwa.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>But man, admitting you need to sit out is tough. I have to change my own narrative here. Walking off isn’t quitting. It takes real courage to look at the bench, signal for a sub, and actually trust your teammate to finish the job.And sure, I can’t control a forward sliding into me at full speed. But I can control how prepared my body is for that impact. Lately, I've been focusing more on proactive injury prevention. &nbsp;For me, this means mastering structural finger and wrist taping to prevent hyperextension before trainings and games. My gloves always have removable finger spines built into them for training or high-traffic matches. I've also spent a lot of time tightening up my diving, focusing on dynamic rolling finishes to disperse the impact across my lat and thigh, rather than taking the brunt of the ground directly on my joints, hips, and elbows.Look the bottom line is that we play a position that requires us to be a little bit crazy. We throw ourselves at cleats, posts, and hard ground because absolutely nothing beats the feeling of a clean sheet, a fingertip save, or plucking a ball out of the upper ninety.But if I want to keep doing what I love, I have to stop treating my body like disposable armor. I need to be more honest with myself when I get hurt. It's time to actually follow my own advice, take care of the person so the athlete can keep flying.

The Thrill, the Pain, and the Keeper’s Dilemma

If there's one word that describes my story over my footballing career, its resilience. It’s shaped who I am as a goalkeeper, and as a person. Heading into my third season at Cal, it would be easy for someone who doesn’t know me to assume I’ve had it easy or that it was just pure ability that got me to where I am. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Three schools in five years, horrendous battles with mental health. Problems off the field. Kicked out of high school. I should have never made it here. Even how I ended up at Cal was pure luck. But, sometimes all you need is a foot in the door and a relentless work ethic.&nbsp;&nbsp;I started playing soccer in fifth grade, pretty late compared to most. I had played tennis mostly before that, some baseball as well. I had really good hand-eye coordination, so I naturally gravitated towards the goalkeeping position. I was hooked immediately. There was something so primal about wanting to be the last line of defense and ruin striker’s days. However, although I was pretty skilled for someone just starting out, mentally I was so weak. I’d cry every time I’d concede a goal, and it affected how well I could make the next play, or the next play after that. That became a theme as I grew older. Throughout middle school, I started to be able to do things other kids couldn’t do. I knew I was more skilled, but mentally, I was fragile, and I had a quick fuse. I’d lash out, on and off the field. It killed my game. No matter how skilled I was, my value instantly went to zero because of how little control over my emotions I had. It was a hard lesson that took me years to figure out.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-u2ml05ij7mta8v51t"><img id="u2ml05ij7mta8v51t" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/14aP4F1UgtcatR73yT1MhCynSZu7olJgRmcIlUnI0rWNHVAQsBvngrN7eqegSXt0.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined% 0%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined%" data-positiony="0%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/14aP4F1UgtcatR73yT1MhCynSZu7olJgRmcIlUnI0rWNHVAQsBvngrN7eqegSXt0.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined% 0%;"></figure>&nbsp;Throughout high school, it continued, but even worse. I left my local high school after my freshman year as my parents wanted me to attend a private school with my twin brother. I hated the new school so much that I actively tried to get myself kicked out until I actually succeeded, getting kicked out of school halfway through my junior year. I was a highly anxious, depressed individual who couldn't sit still in a classroom to save my life. I had abysmal grades, I lost almost all of my friends. My life was going down an extremely dark path that to this day haunts me. So how did an extremely troubled child, who was kicked out of one of the most prestigious private schools in the country, end up at the number one public university in the entire world? I’ll tell you how. Pure resilience.I poured my heart into the game. To me, when I strapped on those gloves, I could be whoever I wanted to be, and do whatever I wanted to do. I was my escape. Those gloves to me were the equivalent of Batman's mask. It was my way of expressing myself through all of the pain and trauma I’d caused myself and others. It was like I was living two separate lives, the life where I was a loser and had no future, and the life where I was the absolute man, the life where I could make any and every save there was to make. Those became the two voices in my head, the voice that told me I’d never amount to anything, the voice that kept telling me I wasn’t enough and that there were thousands of keepers my age better than me, and the voice that would reassure me that when I was out there on that field with my gloves on, that I was the best in the world and that when I was in the zone I could do absolutely anything and everything that I wanted to. We all have these voices in our heads, but understand that each day when you wake up, YOU have to choose which voice to listen to. It's a choice.Unfortunately, throughout the recruiting process, the first voice was the voice predominantly speaking to me. I was lazy, I didn’t email any schools, and I didn’t put any effort into attending camps. To be honest, I started training lazier, I told myself that I’d just enjoy club until it ended, and then figure out the rest of my life from there. I remember getting a phone call from a guy named Kevin Hudson, the head coach at SMU, and thinking that this was going to be the easiest thing ever. If I wasn’t even trying, and a head coach of a massive school was reaching out to me, surely I’d be fine right? No, I wouldn’t be. I didn’t follow up, I let it die out, and I ended up committing to a small D3 college in the middle of nowhere Ohio called Wilmington. I put on close to 30 lbs that spring/summer, and showed up to camp 225 lbs looking like a marshmallow.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-o9zlt8ol5pmta8w6ft"><img id="o9zlt8ol5pmta8w6ft" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/avwXoq5JusFAJ3KwH3XKdZTKIHqSmNJWtW78kKhOY930oLJffogE2Mz5xKGIik1M.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/avwXoq5JusFAJ3KwH3XKdZTKIHqSmNJWtW78kKhOY930oLJffogE2Mz5xKGIik1M.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>For whatever reason, I somehow fluked success. I walked into a weird situation where all the other keepers just weren’t that good. Even as the most out of shape mentally fragile keeper at the school, technically I was running circles around those kids and that alone was enough to get me onto the field. And that when the second voice started to ring loud. I was a gamer, for some reason when I stepped onto the collegiate field, I just kept putting in performance, after performance, after performance. I earned the respect of the older players. I shedded weight like it was nothing. I helped lead one of the projected worst teams in the conference to a conference championship game. I can’t logically explain why. It was a complete fluke. I wasn’t training crazy hard, I wasn’t eating great, I wasn’t sleeping well. I just kept showing up and willing myself to play lights out.After two seasons at Wilmington, I decided I had enough after the Fall of 2023. I felt like I was ready for a new challenge, and I thought that since I was a two time all conference player, I’d automatically have D1 schools crawling over me. I was so wrong. The only teams who reached out were the powerhouse schools in my conference, as they were the ones who knew how capable I was the most. I made the mistake of leaving Wilmington for another school in the same conference, purely chasing a trophy. Looking back on it, it was a mistake. I moved for all the wrong reasons, and I hated where I ended up. The spring there was terrible, and I was dreading going back for the fall of 2024.&nbsp;I came home that summer and started playing with my local semi-pro team to stay in shape. I started working so hard, I never missed a day. This was the turnaround, I told myself. By pure chance, one of the unpaid assistants at Cal Men’s Soccer was the head women’s coach at that same club. He saw me play, and mentioned that Cal was in desperate need of a goalkeeper due to an injury crisis. As I was already in the portal, two weeks later I was signed as a bear. It happened that fast. It was all a blur. I showed up every single day, working as hard as I possibly could. So when my lucky day arrived, I was there to claim it. If I’d have been half assing my life like I was beforehand, he would have seen me and not have mentioned anything. This is proof that If you show up and put in good, honest work every day, you’ll never miss your lucky day, when it comes around, because there’s always luck involved in this game, no matter what anyone says.However, to be honest, I was not the most deserving of the move, ability wise. I was a good D3 goalkeeper, sure. I’d won many accolades and All-Conference awards and golden gloves and all that. But I wasn’t even close to ready for the ACC.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the difference was, this time I knew I couldn’t mess up this opportunity. This is when I showed the most resilience. Sure, I’d been through some rough things and came out on the other side of it with relative success. But I had never felt the feeling of pure failure on the pitch before. And once I got to Cal, I learned how important failure was. I was so behind, I struggled to keep up. I made so many embarrassing mistakes. I wanted the world to swallow me whole. The first voice came back. Those first few months were some of the hardest months of my life. But I kept going.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-2faprknh2mta8wtna"><img id="2faprknh2mta8wtna" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2bKz37EDBJ4lKKjv0zL7iJZwcz096N1UwzhfTsJxA7I5FOFG8cxRDuFAwrX4Tkjk.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2bKz37EDBJ4lKKjv0zL7iJZwcz096N1UwzhfTsJxA7I5FOFG8cxRDuFAwrX4Tkjk.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>&nbsp;And let me tell you, the best thing that has ever happened to me was those horrible mistakes and moments. And in the bigger picture, the best things that have ever happened to me were all the mistakes and bad things I did off the field. All the trauma and hurt I’ve been through in my life are hands down the best things that have ever happened to me. As an athlete, especially a goalkeeper, if you’ve not had a difficult time, you can’t truly become a top goalkeeper.&nbsp;Being a good goalkeeper and being good at being a goalkeeper are two slightly different things. But to be a good goalkeeper you have to suffer and go through miserable patches in training, you have to make mistakes in games, the whole thing. Because when people try to drag you down, when outside powers are trying to rattle you or a new guy is trying to take your spot, you can sit there and be stoic enough to be calculated and plan through it. It’s easy to coast and go through the motions. I started to push myself harder, knowing that I was inevitably going to fail. Failure is a privilege. And the initial failure made me hate the game. But what I realized was, In order to truly love the game, you have to hate it, and if you don't hate it, good luck trying to love it.&nbsp;&nbsp;I started to improve massively. I made my Cal debut. I established myself as a valuable member of the team. Each time I was given an opportunity, I chose to listen to that second voice. I played lights out all spring. I trained lights out all year. I got so lost in the daily grind that I didn’t even realize when things just started to click, they just did one day. These past couple of years have given me amazing opportunities. I’ve been able to train with top professional clubs in England, I’ve been able to travel all over the country to new places. I’ve had the privilege of pursuing a degree that will set me up for the rest of my life. Just a few years ago I sat on zoom during Covid with the dean of my school, listening to him expel me. Now, I used my athletic ability to get into and succeed at a school that a lot of my perfectly behaved peers with perfect academics couldn’t even get into. I didn’t give up on myself, even when I knew I’d let myself and those around me down.&nbsp;<blockquote>What I discovered through all of this is that there is quite literally always a glimmer of hope in the distance for those who choose to never give up on themselves. I’ve made some huge mistakes in my life, massive public mistakes that have put a question mark over my character to this day. I’ve treated people so poorly in the past and it ruined meaningful relationships that I had. I used those mistakes as fuel to make much more resilient choices. In my opinion, resilience is a choice. Everyday when I wake up, to this day, I have to make the choice of which voice I’m going to listen to. And even now, I have terrible days where I let the self-sabotaging voice take over. Recently, I’ve been struggling big time. Nothing in this game is ever smooth sailing, always perfect. We have to go through rough patches here and there to progress. The difference is now, I know how to manage it. I know how to get what I need to get done, done.&nbsp;</blockquote>&nbsp;And all the outside noise that used to absolutely wreck me emotionally became muted. I used to care so much about what people thought about me, my game or whatever. Of course there were people that were saying I didn’t deserve to go to Cal, and all of that. People close to me even, saying how happy they were for me to my face, and then turning around behind my back and saying how much I didn’t deserve it. Everyone wants to see you succeed, but not more than them. So it's important to stay in your own lane and enjoy the isolation of success.&nbsp;And it will get lonely. When you truly dedicate your life to something, you’ll slowly lose relationships and friendships here and there that you’ll look back on and realize that it never meant much anyways. Keep your circle small. Embrace some of the loneliness that occurs when you chase a wild dream. The path to being the best version of yourself should be lonely. The loneliness you feel is nothing to be sad about, but instead an indicator that you’re probably on the right path. Everything in life has a true opportunity cost to it. Cutting people off, cutting things off, cutting habits off, it's all uncomfortable. You can't care. You have to realize that every time you cut something negative off, something incredible will usually fill that gap.<figure id="figure-2fglpmr0dbmta8xhgv"><img id="2fglpmr0dbmta8xhgv" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ePWuCtsdzykqRbvv3zr8zFqNVDHHQ6bnVAsm5wtAkL4TqfBKKWH5IfhGE2FUyDBo.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ePWuCtsdzykqRbvv3zr8zFqNVDHHQ6bnVAsm5wtAkL4TqfBKKWH5IfhGE2FUyDBo.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The biggest takeaway from all of this is that nobody cares about you. It's only a small small crowd of people like your direct family or extremely close friends that truly care about your every move. So when you make a mistake and you think the world is going to swallow you whole, understand that nobody cares. You zig when you should have zagged, you dropped a ball, so what? NOBODY CARES. The people you seek approval from and are scared to make mistakes in front of are people who in ten, fifteen years, will barely remember who you are. You shouldn't be focused on others, you should be focused on yourself and what you should be doing. That lonely, isolating feeling is something you are going to have to push through. Be resilient. Understand that when you’re pouring your heart and soul into something, you can’t really tell when it clicks, it just eventually does. One day you’ll wake up and realize it was all worth it.&nbsp;&nbsp;The last thought I want to leave any aspiring goalkeeper with is this. Be grateful. Gratitude is one of the strongest forms of power in attracting good things. If you truly feel grateful for the things in your life, good things will continue to happen. I always felt grateful for the small things, and I always used to celebrate those smallest victoties and it shifted my perspective. Now I might be celebrating bigger things but I always celebrate every little good thing that happens to me and I was doing the same before I had any success and accomplishments in the game. I would acknowledge the wins and feel truly grateful for them, and it just gave me more, and more. I still remain grateful through the good and the bad and more comes.&nbsp;Nowadays, we all take materialistic things and performance expectations to the extreme, when we all should just be grateful that we wake up in the morning. It's a blessing to have a functioning, healthy body able to compete and work hard. Be appreciative of EVERYTHING. Not only the good, but as I mentioned before, be appreciative of the bad. Because you get to do what you love in the first place! You see people go through their lives, and it's boring, it sucks. Everyday they wake up in the same routine, they go to their same boring jobs, they go home and grab a beer or whatever and they're just waiting to die. Be grateful for what we get to do, it's hard, it's physically taxing, a lot of the time it sucks but you're in the goal and it's meaningful and there's a sense of true purpose in being the last line of defense. Some will never get to experience the emotions, both good and bad, that we routinely feel as goalkeepers. Be grateful that it spins your head. Be grateful for the overwhelming responsibility. Know that not anyone can just do this, it takes a special individual.&nbsp;Enjoy the process of making a name for yourself. If you want to stand on top from day one, there's nothing to look forward to. I always had the goal of going D1 and having success at that level but what I realized once I achieved those things was that the whole time, the journey and the people along the way were the reward. Use all the resources you can, take advantage of being young and naive. If I can do it, anyone can ;)

Resilience is a choice

Hello, my name is Javier Valdez-Raya. I was born in Mexico City, where I spent the first eight years of my life. Until one day, my mom, being a single mother, decided it was best for us to move to the United States in search of a better life.So, I pretty much grew up here—Oakland, California, to be exact—where I continued playing soccer. I played with various local clubs growing up, and one that might sound familiar to some is Bay Oaks. That was actually where I had my first-ever goalkeeper-specific practice. From what I remember, that was probably only once a week.This was leading into my last days of club soccer and eventually into playing college soccer. I spent my college and college soccer days at City College of San Francisco, where I was exposed to a lot of lessons that I still carry with me to this day. Whether those were lessons on the field, outside of it, or my favorite ones—the lessons that you can apply to both soccer and life.During those college years, I would go back to one of my childhood clubs, known today as Oakland Soccer Club, and help coach and run goalkeeper sessions. Looking back at it now, I was really just teaching what I had been taught. I knew the position from playing it, but I didn’t have much guidance or structure when it came to actually coaching it. And as I’ve gotten older, that’s something I’ve learned to appreciate more: knowing how to play goalkeeper and knowing how to teach the position are two completely different things.<figure id="figure-75gzd30y1smt3gz54a"><img id="75gzd30y1smt3gz54a" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/23tTD1LBqm5M4sHFJwz69KP3GnMVLkcCVOTVvkvJTgMNQmKT9Hhn2x1QSehLwIhB.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/23tTD1LBqm5M4sHFJwz69KP3GnMVLkcCVOTVvkvJTgMNQmKT9Hhn2x1QSehLwIhB.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Playing gives you experiences. You feel the pressure, you make the decisions, you make mistakes, and you learn from being in those situations yourself. Coaching requires you to take those experiences, understand why something happened, and then find a way to communicate and teach it to someone else. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been fortunate enough to gain more experience from both sides of the position. I have years of past playing experience, but I’m also still playing today with Napa Valley 1839. Continuing to play has been important for me because I’m still experiencing the position firsthand. I’m still training, competing, making mistakes, dealing with pressure, making decisions, and most importantly, still learning. At the same time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have two good friends who are also goalkeeper coaches and have been doing this for longer than I have—Kevin Esquivel and Jesus Rangel. Being around them and learning from them has given me something I didn’t really have when I first started coaching: guidance and structure. They’ve helped me understand that coaching goalkeepers isn’t just about putting together drills or repeating something because that’s how you were taught. There should be a purpose behind what you’re doing. Why are we working on this? What are we trying to improve? When does this situation actually happen in a game? And how is this work preparing the goalkeeper for that moment? Combining that guidance with my own experiences as a goalkeeper has changed the way I look at the position. I’m still playing, still making mistakes, still learning, while at the same time taking those experiences and trying to become a better coach. And the more I’ve played, coached, watched and learned about goalkeeping, the more I’ve come to appreciate just how demanding this position really is. We all know goalkeeping is a difficult position. From your experience, what makes the position so challenging? For starters, goalkeeping can be a very lonely position.No one other than another goalkeeper truly knows the emotions and thoughts that can go through your head in moments of both defeat and success. It’s not a position for everyone. Not everybody can do it, and those who do choose to step into goal are asked to deal with a lot. There are the physical demands—the wear and tear the position puts on your body. You might have to make a save, hit the ground, get back up and immediately be ready for a second action, a third action, or even a fourth action, all within seconds of when the ball was first kicked. And while your body is being asked to do all of that, your brain is working at full speed too. You’re constantly making decisions before the action, during the action and after the action. You’re reading what’s in front of you, deciding whether to come or stay, where to position yourself, how to react and what your next action needs to be—all while the game continues moving around you. Through all of this, there’s one reality every goalkeeper understands: a mistake can cost you a goal, and sometimes it can cost your team the game. That’s just part of the position.So when you really break it down, we’re asking goalkeepers to handle the physical demands of the position, process information and make decisions within seconds, manage the emotions and pressure that come with being the last line of defense, and then be ready to do it all over again on the very next play. If we already know how demanding the position is, why do you think goalkeepers sometimes don’t prepare with the same level of detail that is expected from them in competition?This actually takes me back to something I mentioned when introducing myself. Growing up, it wasn’t until my later club years at Bay Oaks that I really remember having goalkeeper-specific training, and even then, it was probably only once a week. Shortly after that, I was heading into college soccer. I mentioned that intentionally because I think it’s still one of the problems we see today.From my experience as both a goalkeeper and now a goalkeeper coach, goalkeepers can sometimes get the short end of the stick. Some don’t receive goalkeeper-specific training at all, and for those who do, sometimes the amount of time dedicated to the position simply isn’t enough compared to everything we’re expected to do once the game starts.<figure id="figure-vdn26z7ghmt3h0hh8"><img id="vdn26z7ghmt3h0hh8" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3anDntIZoM6Ypvf6OTSkVEDp6KH7eDbockvRYZkW2k4JY1l3Ni3WNU4im26OzG57.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3anDntIZoM6Ypvf6OTSkVEDp6KH7eDbockvRYZkW2k4JY1l3Ni3WNU4im26OzG57.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> But I also don’t think we can put all of that responsibility on the coach or the environment we’re in.There comes a point where we, as goalkeepers, have to take some ownership too. What does “working to do it well” actually mean to you? Is it simply about training more, or is it also about how we train, how we think, and how well we understand the position? To me, working to do it well isn’t simply about training more. It’s about having purpose behind the training you’re already doing. Goalkeepers should be asking questions. They should be looking at moments in training and trying to understand them. How does this exercise connect to something I’m going to see in a game? Why am I being asked to use this technique? What information should I be looking for before the action even happens? And when you don’t understand something, that’s when the questions should start. Another part of working to do it well is the intensity and intention behind your training. Too often, goalkeepers can go through the motions. We perform the exercise, finish the session, leave practice, and then wonder why something doesn’t show up naturally when we’re put into that situation in a game. Training has to stick. The more we perform something correctly and with intention, the more it can become a habit. A habit is something we repeat so often that eventually it becomes almost automatic. That’s why I believe good habits are so important for a goalkeeper. The game moves too quickly for us to consciously think through every little detail once the action starts. A situation can develop in an instant. But through repetitive, purposeful work, that instant can become a situation you’ve already seen before. Your body recognizes it. Your mind recognizes it . You’re responding to something you’ve prepared for.<figure id="figure-k25ug8dufjmt3gy901"><img id="k25ug8dufjmt3gy901" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/243o890zyEFwXtTzXqriNxByEwilapb6pLaEhTeBVlPxha6PCTMz3eNDPnNukXQt.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/243o890zyEFwXtTzXqriNxByEwilapb6pLaEhTeBVlPxha6PCTMz3eNDPnNukXQt.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Where does the coach’s responsibility end and the goalkeeper’s responsibility begin? What should a goalkeeper be doing on their own to truly prepare for the demands of the game? I think there has to be responsibility on both sides. As a goalkeeper, you should be willing to ask questions and even challenge your coach—not in a disrespectful way, but in a way that creates conversation. Ask how the training connects to game situations. Give feedback about what you’re seeing and feeling. Try to understand the purpose behind what you’re doing instead of simply doing it because the coach told you to. As a coach, I also have to understand that I won’t always have every answer. My answer to a situation might work for one goalkeeper and not necessarily work for another. I can give my opinion, provide guidance and suggest a solution based on what I know, but the goalkeeper also has to analyze whether that solution works for them. And if it doesn’t, that’s where I think coaching becomes really valuable. Now the conversation becomes: How can we work together to find the solution? Maybe it’s a technique that needs adjusting. Maybe it’s the goalkeeper’s decision-making. Maybe it’s how they’re reading a certain situation. Or maybe we need to recreate that moment in training and continue working through it together. To me, that’s where the relationship between goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach becomes more than just one person running a drill and the other person doing it. The coach has a responsibility to teach, challenge, explain and create an environment where the goalkeeper can learn. But the goalkeeper has a responsibility to think, ask, question, apply and ultimately take ownership of their own development. And taking ownership means understanding that preparation doesn’t start and end when you step onto the field. Showing up ready to perform—whether that’s for a practice or a game—is part of the work too.Did you eat well? Did you get enough sleep? Have you taken care of your body? Did you do what you could to put yourself in the best possible position to perform in that moment?Those things might not feel like goalkeeper training, but they’re part of being a goalkeeper. Then there’s the work you can do without even stepping onto the field. Watch film. Watch your own film, but also watch other goalkeepers. And don’t just watch to see the saves they make. Try to understand what you’re actually looking at. Look at their positioning. Look at the decisions they make before the ball arrives. Look at what happens during the action and what they do immediately after it. Then take those things and apply them to yourself. Maybe you see another goalkeeper handle a situation differently than you would. Try to understand why. Maybe it’s something you can apply to your own game. Maybe you try it and realize it doesn’t work for you.That’s okay too. Not every answer or solution is going to work for every goalkeeper. The important part is that you’re thinking about the position instead of just playing it. And I think this connects back to something I mentioned when talking about my college soccer days. I said there were lessons from that time that I still carry with me today—lessons that applied not only to soccer, but to life as well.<blockquote> One of those lessons was: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”</blockquote> That has stuck with me ever since. And the older I’ve gotten, both as a goalkeeper and as a coach, the more I’ve understood what it actually means. If we already know how difficult and unforgiving this position can be, then preparation can’t be something we take lightly or do halfway. The more intentional and complete our preparation is—on and off the field—the more ready we are for the moments the game will inevitably demand from us.<figure id="figure-dihp7vcehkmt3h4nxn"><img id="dihp7vcehkmt3h4nxn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/26zJxAWiJsexpWfhpscGJelUxDDOjc6tSpQjOPsFhSru4TenOqrdecfWpf8mD8JG.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/26zJxAWiJsexpWfhpscGJelUxDDOjc6tSpQjOPsFhSru4TenOqrdecfWpf8mD8JG.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Even with great preparation, mistakes are part of being a goalkeeper. How should knowing that affect the way we train? Should we only prepare to prevent mistakes, or also prepare ourselves to respond when they happen?We’ve all heard the saying: “Practice makes perfect.” I’ve never completely believed in that. Goalkeeping itself shows us why. You can train, prepare, study the game, take care of your body and build good habits—and you’re still going to make mistakes. There is no perfect goalkeeper. So for me, it’s not practice makes perfect. It’s: Practice makes improvement. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to continue getting better. You can always better your best. And I think that’s an important distinction because if perfection is the expectation, then every mistake feels like failure. But if improvement is the expectation, a mistake becomes something you can learn from. That doesn’t mean we become comfortable with mistakes or stop holding ourselves accountable for them. We still prepare to prevent them. We still analyze what went wrong. We still work to make sure that when we’re put into that situation again, we’re better prepared for it.<figure id="figure-5dqvh1k3jmt3h6lzu"><img id="5dqvh1k3jmt3h6lzu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2eDZYaaBFYGtujTTPP4v10wOSBUN3nPLKwGzPWmHDEIc7M1ggEosQGWZLiCtvPGw.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="35%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2eDZYaaBFYGtujTTPP4v10wOSBUN3nPLKwGzPWmHDEIc7M1ggEosQGWZLiCtvPGw.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 35%;"></figure> But we also have to prepare for the reality that mistakes will happen. Because you are always bigger than what you do. One mistake doesn’t define you as a goalkeeper, just like one great save doesn’t make you a great goalkeeper. What matters is what you do consistently, how you respond to those moments and whether you’re willing to keep learning from them. And I think this brings everything back to the original question: If we know how difficult this position is, why not work to do it well? Doing the work isn’t about guaranteeing success. There are no guarantees in goalkeeping. You can prepare the right way, make the right decision and still get scored on. It’s about giving yourself the best possible chance to succeed when the game asks something from you. We know the position is difficult. We know what it demands physically, mentally, technically and emotionally. We know mistakes are going to happen. So the goal was never to become perfect. The goal is to prepare. To understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. To build good habits. To ask questions. To take care of your body. To learn from the people around you. To study the game. To take ownership when nobody is telling you to. And when mistakes happen, learn from them and keep going.

If We Know How Difficult It Is, Why Not Work to Do It Well?

People often ask me where the name Psico comes from.It's actually a nickname I've had since I was around ten years old.Growing up, people started calling me "Psico" because of the way I approached both soccer (fútbol) and life. I was always drawn to challenges, competition, and a little bit of adrenaline. Whether I was making fearless saves, trying something new, or chasing my next adventure through extreme sports, I was known for bringing passion, intensity, and what some people called a little bit of craziness. Over time, that nickname became part of who I am, and eventually it became the identity of this program.For me, that "craziness" doesn't mean losing control. It means having the courage to dive at someone's feet, getting back up after making a mistake, embracing pressure, and continuing to fight when others would hesitate. It's the mindset of embracing challenges instead of avoiding them. You have to be willing to put your body on the line, take responsibility for the team's biggest moments, and have the confidence to move forward even when things don't go your way.That's what Psico represents.I grew up in Chile dreaming of becoming a professional goalkeeper, later played professionally, moved to the United States as an international student-athlete, became a coach, and eventually returned to competing after years away from the game to the Kings League.<blockquote>One of the biggest decisions of my life came while I was playing professionally in Chile.After competing in both the first and second divisions, where I became the starting goalkeeper, I realized my journey wasn't over. I wanted to continue growing—not only as a goalkeeper, but also as a person. That ambition led me to leave my home country and move to the United States to pursue new opportunities as an international student-athlete.Starting over wasn't easy. I had to adapt to a new language, a new culture, and a completely different environment. Along the way, I experienced both success and setbacks, but every challenge helped shape the goalkeeper and coach I am today.Years later, after focusing on my education and coaching, I had the opportunity to return to competition through the Kings League. I came back with a different perspective—more experienced, mentally stronger, and with a much deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a goalkeeper.Today, I still carry the same ambition that pushed me to leave Chile: to keep learning, keep growing, and become the best version of myself. That's the same mindset I hope to pass on to every goalkeeper who becomes part of this program.</blockquote>Looking back, every stage of my journey reinforced the same belief: being a goalkeeper is about much more than making saves. It's about learning to deal with pressure, frustration, failure, responsibility, and confidence. That's why, as a coach, I emphasize both the technical and mental sides of the game. I believe every goalkeeper should build a strong technical foundation, understand different movement patterns and techniques, and develop the confidence to solve problems in any situation. The more solutions a goalkeeper has, the more naturally they can react under pressure. <strong style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1;" data-mce-style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1;">Understanding body positioning, footwork, movement patterns, decision-making, and having a wide variety of techniques gives goalkeepers the tools they need to solve different situations during a game. There is no single save for every shot. The more solutions a goalkeeper has, the more confidently they can react under pressure.But technique alone isn't enough.When I was younger, frustration was one of my biggest opponents. I often let mistakes affect my confidence more than they should have. Over time, I realize nobody ever taught me how to deal with that side of the game. That's one of the biggest reasons I coach the way I do today.I want my goalkeepers to understand that mistakes are not failures—they are opportunities to learn. I want them to challenge themselves with purpose, stay curious, remain humble, and continue growing no matter where they are in their journey. Some goals seem impossible when you first imagine them. I've learned that there will always be obstacles, setbacks, and moments when you question yourself. But if you continue working, learning, staying humble, and believing in the process, you'll either find a path toward your goals or create one yourself.That belief is at the heart of this program.<blockquote>My goal isn't simply to help goalkeepers make more saves. My goal is to help them understand that goalkeeping is an entire craft.</blockquote><ul><li>It's technique.</li><li>It's movement.</li><li>It's decision-making.</li><li>It's communication.</li><li>It's leadership.</li><li>It's resilience.</li><li>It's mental strength.</li></ul>Every session is designed to build a solid foundation that allows goalkeepers to understand why they move the way they do, how to apply different techniques in different situations, and how to solve problems on the field with confidence instead of hesitation.<blockquote>If one day a goalkeeper leaves this program saying they became more confident because they understood the game better, learned multiple ways to solve problems, and developed both technically and mentally, then I've accomplished my mission.</blockquote>Because in the end, the best goalkeepers aren't remembered only for the saves they make. They're remembered for the confidence, resilience, and leadership they bring every time they step onto the field.Welcome to Psico Goalkeeper Training. <figure id="figure-tze7h4l5zlmrb891uk"><img id="tze7h4l5zlmrb891uk" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24B966YaAtGcV8L3dSDcWFuviBxlx68QxeAqmzrYEqE4i5Es4Y9Kc5VC5XBqsorx.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>

The Story Behind Psico Goalkeeper Training

My name is Connor Decatur, and I am a goalkeeper from Menlo Park, California. I am committed to Amherst College, where I will continue both my academic and athletic career starting in Fall 2026. I am currently finishing my youth career with the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and De Anza Force.<figure id="figure-y967613dusmqv5d9s6"><img id="y967613dusmqv5d9s6" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1bmz0RPaFPDnGAJtAY1Y8biPWtWUsWhKgk7SzC0JA3ZMm9mpDCKQeJklPypVp7Vd.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1bmz0RPaFPDnGAJtAY1Y8biPWtWUsWhKgk7SzC0JA3ZMm9mpDCKQeJklPypVp7Vd.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>A typical week for me during the school year and MLS NEXT season requires balancing academics, training, recovery, and personal responsibilities. Depending on the day, my classes run either from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition to school, I complete strength and conditioning sessions three times per week with my coach, Mitch Taylor, and attend team training every evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. After training, I usually dedicate time to studying, completing assignments, and helping with household responsibilities before winding down for the night. Matches are typically played on Saturdays, while Sundays are reserved for recovery and rest before the next week begins.During the offseason, my schedule shifts to focus more heavily on athletic development. I often complete double training sessions and spend additional time in the weight room, while continuing to balance responsibilities at home and work my job at the bakery.Being a part of my team for the past two seasons has really improved my time management and helped prepare me for college. Balancing the rigors of a professional training environment with the San Jose Earthquakes while staying on top of my schoolwork taught me how to be disciplined with my schedule, the classes I took, and the quality of my work. There were many times when I had to complete assignments or work on projects while traveling for games and showcases, which forced me to plan and use my time efficiently. It also helped me become more proactive in communicating with my teachers and taking ownership of my responsibilities both on and off the field.<figure id="figure-wghbzhj7timqv5dqps"><img id="wghbzhj7timqv5dqps" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/332gT4c0ZvQudiEJUhxMbW1wMTgBwL3hjhRFCoDOYlVCRgqVG6cSnQ7x0C34dBQu.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/332gT4c0ZvQudiEJUhxMbW1wMTgBwL3hjhRFCoDOYlVCRgqVG6cSnQ7x0C34dBQu.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>There were many times when I faced burnout or some form of fatigue. These are very normal things, but I learned to manage them through intentional rest and by prioritizing my sleep. I would even recommend that most student-athletes invest in a WHOOP band—not just for the sake of it, but to better understand recovery. It helps you see how much strain you’re putting on your body on and off the field, and then deliberately balance that with quality rest. It sounds simpler than it is, but at least for me, it has gone a long way.Making time to hang out with your teammates and step away from school and sports also helped me realize that, even though it can feel like everything in the moment, there is more to life than just academics and athletics.That shift in perspective helped me find more joy in what I do. And yes, there are still days when motivation drops, but I’ve found that discipline has carried me through the most demanding stretches of the environment really well.It goes without saying that the idea you can’t focus on a quality education while pursuing athletic goals is outdated. In reality, education provides the foundation for anything you choose to do beyond sports. As a student-athlete, your playing career is limited—whether that ends after college or later—but your education lasts much longer than your time on the field.Beyond just preparing you for a career after sports, education also expands how you understand the world around you. It gives you perspective, helps you think critically, and allows you to engage with ideas and people in a deeper way. That matters both during and after your athletic career.<figure id="figure-iifzgcl9dmqv5e95b"><img id="iifzgcl9dmqv5e95b" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13HM3TpObYmHx4z9KfXDgX0dTWeLoQZH0HoIiSoUqQAGk9ba6KjrUqzTDsnW9nau.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 70%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="70%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13HM3TpObYmHx4z9KfXDgX0dTWeLoQZH0HoIiSoUqQAGk9ba6KjrUqzTDsnW9nau.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 70%;"></figure>At the end of the day, soccer has been a huge part of my life, but having a strong education ensures that when that chapter ends, I’m still prepared, confident, and able to step into whatever comes next.Find comfort in the uncomfortable. It’s not always going to feel great to do your assignments, show up to training, and then come back home to do more work. But learning to push through those moments is what really builds you over time.In the long run, it shapes your discipline and helps you find more joy in the process, because you stop taking the small things for granted. Balancing both school and athletics isn’t about everything feeling easy—it’s about learning how to stay consistent even when it isn’t.<figure id="figure-7yak4ktmp6mqv5ew7l"><img id="7yak4ktmp6mqv5ew7l" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2eEi3xU2CJSSTrUTgC6N7SYAlQRbZVUgpLmNYeYh2xVEzIny1kdwktJTiS878N7G.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>I feel more confident and excited to conquer any type of adversity that comes my way now. That is definitely the beauty of being a student-athlete: you learn that the tough things become easier.

Balancing Academics and Athletics

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