Goalkeeper Academy for Ages 8–18 in Southern NH and Methuen, MA
Position-specific training for keepers U9–U19, led by Olympic goalkeeper Mustapha Achab. Small groups. Real reps. All winter long.
Dedicated goalkeeper training is rare at the youth level. BES keepers train with Coach Mustapha Achab, one of the most respected goalkeeper coaches in New England, on handling, footwork, positioning, and distribution.
Position-specific coaching most clubs do not offer. Small groups, real reps, measurable growth between sessions.
💡 Winter Bundle Savings: : Goalkeeper Academy counts toward both the Recreational and Higher Level winter bundles. Combine two to four programs and Youth League is free for age-eligible players (U10 and up). Learn more about the Winter Program Bundle.
Winter Goalkeeper Academy Clinic Registration Is Open
Who the Goalkeeper Academy Is For
Open to town, club, and BES keepers ages 8 to 18 (U9–U19) who want to get serious about the position. Newer keepers build correct habits before bad ones set in. Experienced keepers sharpen technique and add a tactical layer. Two groups, split by game format:
Younger Keepers: U9–U12 (7v7 / 9v9)
Fundamentals first: set position, the W-catch, low and high balls, footwork across the goal, basic diving, and first steps in distribution. Fast, fun, repetition-heavy. The age where good habits are cheapest to build.
Older Keepers: U13–U19 (11v11)
Technique under pressure: diving and recovery, crosses, 1v1 breakaways, angle play, sweeping behind the back line, organizing the defense, and distribution as a weapon. Built for club, high school, and college-bound keepers.
Not sure which group? U12 keepers moving to 11v11 can go either way. Pick the group that matches your child's current game format; Coach Mustapha will suggest a move if the other group is a better fit. You can also reach out to us with your question via our Contact page before you sign up.
Why Keepers Need Their Own Training
Team Practice Is Built for Field Players
At most team practices, the keeper warms up with the group, then stands in goal while the field players work on finishing. That is not goalkeeper training. It is target practice.
Goalkeeping is its own sport inside the sport. Set position, hand shape, diving technique, angle play, footwork across the goal, reading a cross, deciding when to come and when to stay, playing out of the back. None of it gets taught in a session designed for ten field players and one keeper.
The Goalkeeper Academy closes that gap. Every minute of every session is built around the position. Keepers train with other keepers, get corrected on technique in real time, and go back to their teams sharper each week.
✅ 60 minutes, all goalkeeping. No standing around while field players shoot.
✅ Small groups. Every keeper gets coached, every session.
✅ Pro-level coaching, youth-level pace. Olympic experience, taught for kids.
Quick Facts:
Ages: 8 to 18 (grouped 7v7 & 9v9 and 11v11)
Experience: Some soccer knowledge is helpful, not required
Dates (ok to join anytime):
Winter Session 1: November 2, 2026 – January 4, 2027
Winter Session 2: January 11 – March 15, 2027
Days: Wednesdays
Time:
5:00 to 6:00 pm (7v7 & 9v9)
6:00 to 7:00 pm (11v11)
Location: Phanzone Sportscenter, Hampstead, NH (142 State Route 111, Hampstead NH 03841)
Cost (proration available):
$600
💡SAVE if you sign up for our Winter Program Bundle here.
What a Goalkeeper Academy Session Looks Like
Sixty minutes, all goalkeeping. Every session follows the same structure so keepers know what to expect, while the content progresses week to week.
Footwork & Movement (10 min). Dynamic warm-up, ladder and cone patterns, shuffle and crossover steps, set-position resets. The feet get the keeper to the ball; the hands finish the job.
Handling (15 min). W-catch, scoop, contour and cradle catches. Low, chest-height, and high balls. Catch-versus-parry decisions. High-volume reps with immediate correction.
Diving & Set Position (10 min). Collapse dives, extension dives, landing mechanics, recovery to feet. Taught progressively — kneeling to standing — so technique is safe before it is fast.
Positioning & Angles (10 min). Starting position relative to the ball, cutting down the angle, movement across the goal, when to hold the line and when to attack the ball.
Distribution (10 min). Bowl, sidearm, and javelin throws. Punts and drop kicks. Goal kicks and playing short out of the back. Distribution is where the attack starts.
Game Scenarios (5–10 min). 1v1 breakaways, crosses under pressure, shot-stopping sequences, reaction saves. Everything above, at game speed.
Older group adds a tactical layer: sweeping behind the back line, communicating with and organizing defenders, and building attacks against a press.
Meet Coach Mustapha Achab
WHO IS THE COACH
Mustapha Achab spent 14 seasons in goal for Wydad Casablanca, one of Africa's most decorated clubs, and represented Morocco at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and on the senior national team through the 1990s. He was twice named the best goalkeeper in Africa. His playing career brought him to New England with the New Hampshire Phantoms, and he has spent the two decades since developing goalkeepers across the region — from town programs to US Soccer Development Academy and college-level players.
Morocco Olympic team (Barcelona 1992) and senior National Team A, 1991–1999
Wydad Casablanca, 1987–2001: Africa Champions League winner (1992), four Moroccan league titles, four Throne Cups
Named Best Goalkeeper in Africa, 1992 and 1999
New Hampshire Phantoms, 2002–2006
20+ years coaching youth, academy, and college goalkeepers in New England
If you’re interested, you can read Mustapha's full bio here.
What Your Keeper Gets Out of It
🖐 Correct technique, built early. Habits learned right the first time do not need fixing later.
🖐 Confidence on crosses and 1v1s. The moments that decide games.
🖐 Quicker, more efficient footwork. Fewer late dives, more routine saves.
🖐 Distribution that starts attacks. Not just clearances.
🖐 Game reading. Angles, starting position, when to come and when to stay.
🖐 A goalkeeper community. Training alongside other keepers who understand the position.
What our families say
Every clinic runs on the same promise: coaches who know your kid's name and what they're working on. Our BES families say it best...
“My 2 children were in the summer program and they enjoyed it to the fullest as well as they learned and improved a lot. They will return to the fall program. Coach Carl is positive, enthusiastic, supportive, trusting, focused, goal-oriented, knowledgeable, observant, respectful, patient with kids and a clear communicator.
I recommend become elite soccer 200%”
— Vanessa A.
“I am very impressed with Become Elite Soccer. I signed my son up to continue learning new skills over the winter months. I wanted my son to learn better ball control and to build confidence on the field. This program has, by far, exceeded my expectations. It is so much fun to not only watch my son grow as an athlete but to also gain a better understanding of the game. The coaches take the time to explain to the kids what it is they are teaching them and why it is important to the game. All in all I am very happy we chose the Become Elite Soccer program.”
— Jaclyn M.
“My three youngest absolutely loved working with Coach Eddie over the summer. He did a great job of differentiating his teaching so that all ages could have fun and improve their soccer skills. Looking forward to enjoying more programs with BES in the future.”
— Lauren P.
Questions parents ask about the GK Academy
FAQ
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No. The Academy takes keepers from first-season to varsity level. Groups are split by age and game format, and Coach Mustapha adjusts the progressions within each group. Newer keepers often benefit most — they build correct habits before bad ones form.
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Goalkeeper gloves (required), indoor turf shoes or cleats, shin guards, and water. Long shirt/pants or padded shorts help with the diving work.
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Yes. Many young players rotate through goal on their town teams. A few weeks of proper technique makes those turns in goal safer and a lot more enjoyable — and sometimes reveals a real keeper.
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Match your child's current game format for now. Either group welcomes U12 keepers, and Coach Mustapha will suggest a move after the first session if the other group is a better fit.
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Yes, they need to register but sometimes we run special promotions for our club players. Reach out to us before you sign up to see if there are promotions currently running.
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Yes. The Academy is open to all keepers — no BES affiliation required. Many keepers train here during the week while playing for their own teams on the weekend.
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Players can join anytime at prorated pricing, so you only pay for the sessions remaining or sessions you are able to make (you must let us know before you sign up).
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Training runs indoors at The Phanzone Sportscenter in the winter. Outside of state or local weather emergencies, we are always open during your scheduled time. For outdoor clinics, BES will reach out as far in advance as possible to let you know a session has been postponed due to weather.
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Each session stands on its own, so a keeper can miss a week and step back in without falling behind. Every week is progress; no week is a prerequisite.