| A soccer goalkeeper is a team member who is | | | | During the earlier years of soccer, as a tradition the |
| assigned to intercept or prevent any opposing player | | | | goalkeeper is just stationed near the goal and does |
| to score a goal. This team member holds a crucial | | | | not leave his post. This has all changed in modern |
| responsibility in a team's chance of winning. | | | | soccer. Soccer goalkeepers are now part of an |
| Goalkeepers must possess exceptional skills in order | | | | attacking force and can even score goals just like |
| to become effective in defending the goal. He must | | | | the rest of the players. |
| be very quick and responsive in every minute of the | | | | The best professional goalkeepers are mostly those |
| game. He must also posses a focused mind as well as | | | | who spent years of playing which have gained a lot |
| attentive to incoming opponent. | | | | of experience with the sport. They are mostly older |
| Usually, team members who are assigned as | | | | than other team members, thus they know every |
| goalkeepers are those that are bigger than the rest | | | | detail of the game. |
| of the team. A bigger and taller goalkeeper is | | | | Goalkeeping is not just keeping the ball out of the |
| advantageous since he can cover a bigger portion of | | | | goal but must also be able to hold the ball long |
| the area of the net. The goalkeeper must also be | | | | enough to prevent any scores from the opposing |
| strong enough to overcome the rush of the opposing | | | | team and if necessary, to maneuver the ball into the |
| team. | | | | advantage of its team. |