FC Eindhoven has paid extra attention to the safety of younger goalkeepers during a match in recent days. The reason was the death of a goalkeeper at FC Engelen and the collision that left RKC goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen unconscious. Goalkeeping coach Maikel Arts from FC Eindhoven took care of the goalkeepers of Under-18 and Under-21 on Friday. Lars Heerkens (Under-18) has played goalkeeper with a helmet from an early age. Guus Keijzers (Under-21) plays without a helmet: “It feels unnatural.”
“Good, Larsje! Go to the ball with your hands first.” The voice of goalkeeper coach Maikel Arts rings out over the training complex in Eindhoven. “We now train a lot of one-on-one situations. If you go to the ball with your hands first, your face is protected. This prevents nasty injuries,” explains Lars Heerkens. “If that no longer works, you can also put your foot forward to protect yourself.”
“After a while you no longer feel the helmet.”
Lars plays goalkeeper in matches wearing a helmet. “I’ve been doing that since I was ten. I first had goalkeeper training separately from the club. Wearing a helmet was even mandatory there.” Lars demonstrates how to put on and take off the helmet. “My helmet has no straps under the chin. I can put it on and take it off quickly. After a while you are so busy with the match. Then you no longer feel the helmet. For me, wearing a helmet has become normal. “
The extra training and the helmet give him extra protection, says Lars. “Through goalkeeper training you learn to properly assess or prevent situations in advance. With a helmet on I am more confident and I dare to go into a duel.”
“Maybe field players should wear helmets too.”
Guus Keijzers is a goalkeeper at Under-21 at FC Eindhoven. He also learns the same tricks under trainer Maikel Arts to protect yourself as a goalkeeper. “I have never considered wearing a helmet. It has never come my way. In the goalkeeping world it is not yet common practice to wear a helmet.”
Guus understands the choice to wear a helmet. “It prevents nasty injuries, which is a good thing. I have now discussed it with my parents at home and they leave the decision up to me. For me, a helmet feels unnatural and things rarely go wrong. Head injuries also occur regularly in the field. “Maybe field players should also wear a helmet.”
