I'd like to think in a couple of seasons time the position of goalkeeper will get more recognition in the womens game and the coaching will drastically improve.
Several years ago at the request of a colleague who was involved with the childrens team of a Scottish league club I wrote a short opinion piece on the need to start training goalkeepers as early as possible. It seemed that much like when I was at primary school the position of keeper (and defenders) was still often being pushed on the less 'athletic' kids and they weren't given any guidance by the coaches.
Ross County used to come to my school to do evening training sessions and the occasional summer camp and it was really usedful for goalies to get specific training.
I've only been to one women's game in my life (supporting a friend's team) and just before kick off she told me the opposition's goalie had been drafted in the night before and had apparently never so much as kicked a ball. I felt so sorry for her as my friend's team ran riot and I wonder if the goalie ever set foot on a pitch again.
I'm involved with an Aussie Rules Team in Glasgow and one 'skill' which a fair few women who come along to training struggle with is kicking a ball out of their hands. I've been kicking football or rugby balls out of my hands since I was about 4 years old and it is actually quite hard to teach it to an adult.
Many of them have never played rugby/ football etc and as with so many things in life, the older you are, the harder it is to learn. As adults yer more aware of potential injuries so when a ball is suddenly kicked or thrown towards you the tendency is to duck, flap your hands while you look away or simply get smashed in the face, stomach, groin etc.
Schools (and parents) restricting and/or brainwashing girls to only do Hockey, Netball, gymnastics, dancing ie the 'activities for young ladies bullshit' really needs stopped.