SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School is proud to re-launch The Keeper's Line. This newsletter will come out periodically through the year with updates, insight and information and designed specifically for goalkeepers.
 

Tony DiCicco Named Head Coach of
US U20 Women's National Team
Gold-Medal Winning Coach at 1996 Olympics and Head Coach of 1999 Women's World Cup Team Will Lead U-20s into Qualifying for 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

Tony DiCicco, the head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1994-1999, has been named the head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team. DiCicco replaces Jillian Ellis, who has been hired by current U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Pia Sundhage as an assistant on her staff through the 2008 Olympics, should the USA qualify in April.

DiCicco, one of the most legendary coaches in U.S. women's soccer history, won 103 matches, the 1996 Olympics and the historic 1999 Women’s World Cup with the U.S. Women. DiCicco will be charged with taking over a team that will attempt to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup being held in Chile from Nov. 20-Dec. 7. Dates and venues for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament have yet to be set.

“When Jill agreed to join my staff as an assistant, it left a void in a very important position,” said Sundhage. “Tony has won gold medals at the highest levels. He knows what it takes to become a great player for the National Team and that knowledge will be very valuable for these young players. With the kind of experience these young players get from playing with the U-20s and other youth national teams, I’ve seen in the past that it’s especially important for the coach to share what it takes to reach the next level. It makes the players’ experience even better.

“I am also excited that Jill has joined our staff. She knows many of the players on the National Team now and her experience internationally and knowledge of the young players will be very valuable to us.”

Last fall, DiCicco was named head coach of the Boston Breakers in the new women’s professional league, the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer), slated to start play in 2009.. DiCicco currently serves as the technical director of FSASoccerPlus Football Club in Connecticut, a youth club that he founded in 2003. He is also the head coach of the SoccerPlus CT Reds of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) which won the USASA U-23 National Championship in 2007.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to coach an elite group of talented and motivated U.S. players,” said DiCicco, who went 103-8-8 as head coach of the USA. “Our goal is two-fold.. In the last two youth world cups we have come up shy of the championship so one of our goals is to win the championship. Second, , we want to help develop top international players for Pia Sundhage and our full Women’s National Team.”

Ellis coached the U-20s for all of 2007 and in the first training camp of 2008, but now moves to the senior team to work alongside Sundhage, completing a staff that also includes assistant coach Erica Walsh, goalkeeper coach Phil Wheddon and strength and fitness coach Helena Andersson. Ellis has been deeply involved with U.S. Soccer over the years, coaching extensively in the U.S. youth National Team programs, including two stints as head coach of the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team and serving as a scout for the U.S. women during the 2000 Olympics in Australia. Ellis is also the current head women’s soccer coach at UCLA, where she has taken the Bruins to six Final Fours.

”Joining the staff for the National Team is a wonderful opportunity,” said Ellis. “I’m very excited to be involved with a coach of Pia’s caliber and work with all the assistants as well as the top players in the United States. While I’m disappointed that I won’t be with this group of U-20s through to their world championship, they are in fantastic hands. The base of a strong team is being built.”

DiCicco will officially coach his first event with the U-20s during a trip to Chile in mid-February where the team will face three U-20 Women’s National Teams: England (Feb. 11), Norway (Feb. 13) and Chile (Feb. 15). The schedule for the U-20s this year will include numerous training camps, as many as four international trips, matches against U-20 and full Women’s National Teams, and of course, the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

The U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team won the first-ever FIFA youth world championship in 2002, defeating Canada in the title game, 1-0, on a golden goal from current U.S. Women’s National Team player Lindsay Tarpley. Also on that team, coached by Tracey Leone, were current U.S. players Heather O’Reilly, Lori Chalupy and Leslie Osborne. O’Reilly and Tarpley would go on to play in the 2004 Olympics and all four made the U.S. roster for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Two years later, under Mark Krikorian, the U.S. U-19s finished third at the world championship in Thailand. That team that featured six players who have earned caps at the senior level including 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup starter Stephanie Cox.

In 2006 as FIFA moved its oldest youth world championship for women to the U-20 level, the USA finished fourth at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship in Russia under head coach Tim Schulz. That team featured five players who last week helped the senior side win the 2008 Four Nations Tournament -- Cox, Lauren Cheney, Amy Rodriguez, Tina DiMartino and Tobin Heath.

“All the players with the U-20s have the aspiration of playing for our full Women’s National Team,” said DiCicco. “The schedule that we are putting together to develop these players from now until qualifying, and hopefully to Chile, is a fantastic vehicle for players to get their game to the next level. This is an opportunity for young players to be training and playing with and against the top players in the world from their age group, This can’t help but further their growth.”

Tony DiCicco: Boston Breakers Coach to Lead US U20s to World Championship

Update on Women's Professional
Soccer (WPS) Launching April, 2009

April 14, 2001 the scope of women’s sports changed dramatically. On that day in historic Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) took the field for the first time in front of 34,148 fans in the form of the Washington Freedom versus the Bay Area Cyber Rays; Mia versus Brandi.

In many ways the WUSA proved to be an enormous success. On the competition side, every team made the playoffs at least once in the three years of operation; there was a different Founder’s Cup Champion in each of the 3 years and four of the 8 teams played for the championship at least once. Additionally the league did tremendous things for player develop in this country and around the world. Players such as Shannon Boxx, Angela Hucles and Heather Mitts, to name a few, were able to break in with the US Women’s National Team through their play in the league.

But alas, due to a variety of factors, including the crowded sports landscape, economic decline, excessive spending and an ambitious business plan, September 13, 2003 the WUSA suspended operations effective immediately. This occurred during the 2003 Women’s World Cup, which was played in the United States due to the SARS outbreak in China that year. With the USA’s loss to Germany it was a dark September for women’s soccer on the home-front.

Immediately following the suspension of operations, plans were immediately put into place to revive the league. In 2004, the league hosted WUSA Festivals in Blaine, MN and Carson, CA. Additionally, then-Commissioner of the WUSA, Tony DiCicco along with the players and staff of the WUSA launched the “Keep the Dream Alive” initiative. The WUSA Re-organization committee worked tirelessly, but while millions of players, parents, coaches and administrators voiced their passion, the energy and support of the corporate world needed to push forward waned.

It was in November of 2005 when the Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII) was tasked with the “overarching goal of promoting and supporting all aspects of women’s soccer in the United States.” It was the WSII’s goal to bring back the women’s professional soccer. And Tonya Antonucci was to be the front-woman for organization.

Tonya brought with her a unique blend of business management experience having spent seven years as the director of Yahoo! Sports and a soccer background, having shared a playing field with World Champion and Olympian Julie Foudy at Stanford University. Then she coached at both Stanford and Santa Clara Universities.

As Joe Cummings, General Manager of the Boston Breakers described her, “Tonya was the single driving force. When no one else was talking about this, Tonya was.” After doing a great deal of research,  having long, informative conversations with those involved in the WUSA and writing and rewriting business plans [literally hundreds of times]. Antonucci and Cummings are convinced that the league will launch on solid footing.

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) was selected as the name of the “new WUSA” or “new women’s league” as it had been referred to since the announcement of its return. During a town-hall meeting at the NSCAA Convention, the most repeated question being asking, “How will things be different this time?” was answered. Cummings, who will act as the Senior COO Consultant and Chair of the Operations Committee explained that it was unreasonable to base numbers off of the international matches leading up to the WUSA’s launch and particularly the success of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. This time the business plan including ticket sales, sponsorship, expenses are all based on factual numbers developed during the WUSA’s three years. He went on to describe this not as a launch, but a re-launch. “In 2003, we suspended operations…imagine that we renovated, put on a fresh coat of paint and are re-opening our doors.”

There are other differences, the original WUSA was a single-entity league versus the WPS which will be a more traditional franchise model with an ownership group that has been described as “sports savy” and aware that this is a business first and foremost. The WPS also has strategic relationships with both Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM).

The other most common question is, “Is this league sustainable?” Time will tell, in the meantime, all over the country, amateur, college and youth players are looking to WPS with wide-eyes, yearning for their chance to play. According to Gary Weaver, part-owner of the Chicago franchise, “The numbers work.”

Antonucci exclaimed, “WPS will earn your respect with hard work on and off the pitch, dazzling feats of athleticism…and gutsy competition every game…by amazing women—who simply love the game and their fans.”

For more information visit WPS online at womensprosoccer.com.

WPS Logo: Featuring legendary player and all-time leading scorer, Mia Hamm

SPGS: Entering our
27th year as the
industry leader.

Technical Discussion: Basic Handling
by George Kostelis, National Director, SPGS, Assistant Coach, Yale University Men, NSCAA National Goalkeeper Staff

Goalkeepers at all levels are required not only to handle the ball but to handle all routine shots and crosses successfully. Yet, in every game - regardless of the level - we see mishandled shots or crosses. 

At SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School we train goalkeepers to minimize mishandled shots through the following sequence:

1.  Identify or name the handling techniques. There are only four (4) ways in which a keeper has to handle any shot. Also identify the associated handling positions and there are only 3 of these.

By simplifying the position, you allow the keeper to make easier technical decisions and also allow them the appropriate reference points so that they can coach themselves.

2.  Train each handling technique separately to make sure the key aspects are understood and repeated and then train them collectively so that the keeper has to adjust from one handling position to another based on the shot, location and pace. Remember when training technique make sure there are many, many repetitions.

However, before we even begin to identify and train handling, we must first perfect the goalkeeper stance and ready position. The stance is consistent with any athletic starting position. The knees are slightly bent and the feet are about shoulder width apart, the weight is forward onto the “ball of the feet” and the feet are only slightly toed out.  A key aspect of the proper stance is that the elbows are also flexed at about 90 degrees with the hands forward, relaxed and with the palms facing down (See picture 1). A flat piece of cardboard should slide up along the body with the elbows slightly in front. The head is still and slightly forward and also relaxed. The important aspect of the stance is that the overall position is relaxed, not tense and that it facilitates movement. Essentially, the stance should promote dynamic mobility to overcome the effects of inertia.

Movement is created by a “transfer of momentum” initiated from the hands and arms (the smaller levers of the body) and then transferring to the legs and back (the larger levers of the body). Common mistakes with the stance are: 1.  Rigid, tense muscular positions, 2. Palms facing out (either above the waist or from below the waist), 3. Arms allowed to hang down too low, 4. Feet staggered and not balanced or square and 5. Poor head position.

The four handling positions are:

1.  Basket Catch – balls played along the ground or up to the mid-trunk that allow the keeper to get behind the ball. (See picture 2)

2.  Contour Catch – balls played at the mid-trunk or higher that allow the keeper to get square behind the ball. (See picture 3)  The question always arises, when do I go from a basket catch to a contour catch?  The answer is when the ball is to be first touched by the forearms then use the basket catch.  When the ball is going to hit your body first, then use the contour catch.

3.  High-Contour Catch – balls such as crosses that can be caught above the challenge use the same technique as the contour catch but with extended or nearly extended arms so to catch above any fieldplayer’s challenge. (See picture 4)

4.  Side-Contour Catch – balls that are slightly to the side, not allowing the keeper to be square behind the shot, require a side-contour catch.  (See picture 5).  This catch is again the same as the contour catch but just turned on its side.  The head, hands and ball come together to secure the catch.

Try these training exercises:

Warm-up:
GK-2 begins between back 2 cones, spaced shoulders’ width apart, on command from GK-1, GK-2 steps forward and sets in front of top 2 cones – 2 yards apart and handles ball delivered by GK-1. Continue. Train each technique in 2-3 minute intervals.

Use hand distribution to maximize repetitions to train the basic techniques to handling:

1. Basket Catch (baseball throw a skipped ball)

2. Contour Catch (sling throw the ball towards the chest/head)

3. Side Contour (toss the ball just outside the frame of the body)

4. High Contour (toss the ball into the air in front of GK)

Variation:

• Foot distribution: off the ground, half-volley, and volley should be used for intermediate to high level goalkeepers.

• Coach serves the goalkeepers; goalkeepers rotate through the exercise.

Setup:

Utilizing the goal. Cones are placed 3 yards off the goal line representing the middle third of the goal. 3 goalkeepers train. GK-1 in goal, between the cones. GK-2 and GK-3 outside the goal on each post. Coach (C) serves from 14 – 16 yards.

Note: Emphasizing the middle third of the goal encourages the goalkeepers to use proper footwork, which should eliminate diving and reaffirm utilization of basic techniques.  The coach should stipulate no diving and encourage footwork.

Sequence:

• GK-1 starts between the cones with a ball. GK-1 bowls ball to coach. Prior to first time redirection from coach, GK-1 should pre-stretch and set. GK-1 reacts to shot using proper handling technique. After making the save, GK-1 exits the goal, towards GK-2. GK-2 enters the exercise and continues the sequence.

• GK-1 starts between the cones facing the goal. Coach has the soccer balls. On command, GK-1 will turn to handle a shot from coach.

• GK-1 starts outside the cones. On command, GK1 will shuffle and set in between the cones to handle a shot from the coach.

Variations:

• Coach serves volleys and drop-kicks.

• Incorporate agility: start goalkeepers on their stomach or sides.

• Have goalkeepers face the flank outside the cones. This will force the goalkeepers to use a drop-step and/or cross-over step.

• Have goalkeepers shuffle and touch the cone or footwork around the cones.

Coaching Points:

• Focus on setting feet and using proper ready position to handle shots.

• Utilize proper techniques to catch the ball.

• Emphasize footwork and getting the body behind the ball.

• Maximize the number of repetitions to train technique.

The associated handling positions are as follows:

1. Front-smother – this is an extension of the basket catch, used to control hard low shots. (See picture 6)

2. Breakaway technique – this is an extension of the side-contour catch.  The Break-away save, technique and tactics will be discussed in a later article but as you can see, the technique requires the side contour catch position as the keeper sprawls to win a through ball or an open ball in their penalty area. (See picture 7)

3. Collapse Dive – this technique is again an extension of the side contour handling position requiring a diving save.  The collapse dive is when the keeper catches the ball before the save but their momentum requires a controlled collapse with the ball. (See picture 8 & 9)

Remember, when training technique the key component is repetition. Coach to build self-confidence in your keeper.  Don’t overanalyze…sometimes you do everything right as a keeper and get scored on, and other times you make a number of mistakes but the ball stays out of the net so be selective with your coaching.

Briana Scurry, probably the best female keeper to ever play was not a great technical goalkeeper. Some of her catching or handling was not perfect BUT, she made saves so Tony and her other coaches didn’t over-coach her. That is what I mean by being selective. It’s more important to have a self-confident keeper than a keeper suffering from paralysis by analysis!

Good luck and enjoy working with your keeper…the time spent will make a difference for your team.

Setup:

Utilizing the goal. GK-1 will stand in the center of the goal. GK-2 and GK-3 will be positioned outside the corners of the 6 yard box with 2 medicine balls each. Coach is 16 yards away with soccer balls.

Note: Kwik Goal medicine balls are useful tools to assist goalkeepers with using proper technique and increasing strength.

Sequence:

• GK-1 will footwork to GK-2 and handle a bowled ball using a front-smother save. GK-1 will then recover back to the center of the goal, set to handle a shot to a pre-determined side to train the collapse dive. Repeat sequence to the other. After completing the sequence, GK-2 replaces GK-1 in goal; GK-1 becomes a server.

• GK-1 will footwork to GK-2, set to handle a bowled ball to the right side using a collapse dive. GK-1 will then recover back to the center of the goal. The coach will then play a ball in front of GK-1 for them to make a breakaway save. Repeat the sequence to the other side. The only change is having GK-1 make a collapse dive to their left.

• GK-1 will footwork to GK-2, set to handle a ball played to either side or at GK-1 to make a collapse dive or front smother save. GK-1 will then recover to the center of the goal, set, then handle either a shot or respond to a loose ball for a breakaway save.

Variations:

• Replace medicine balls with regular soccer balls.

• Incorporate a live breakaway from the top of the penalty area.

• Provide foot service from the angle positions.

• Increase the intensity level; each segment of the training exercise should be continuous.

Coaching Points:

• Stress the importance of the technical set position.

• Goalkeepers need to bring in the forearms when making a front-smother save.

• Encourage saving through the ball when making the breakaway save.

• When making a collapse dive save, the goalkeeper’s body momentum should come forward towards the ball.

Setup:

• Mark out a field: 25 x 44

• Divide 18 players into 4 groups, each with a different color. Arrange four teams of  4 and 2 goalkeepers.

• The game is 2 v 2 + 2 neutral players.

• Utilize resting team players as neutral players.

• 2-3 minute games.

Note: Goalkeeper coach should be behind the goal evaluating the goalkeeper’s performance. Feedback should be provided after the 2-3 minute intervals.

Sequence:

• Teams play 2 v 2 + 2.

• The objective is to create as many shots as possible on goal.

• After 2-3 minutes, alternate the 2 resting players from each team, as well as the neutral players and play another game. Winning team will remain on the field.

Variations:

• Add two neutral players to the flanks. This will add the dimension of dealing with crosses (high contour).

• Eliminate directional play; allow the teams to attack either goal.

Coaching Points:

• Emphasize positional play; ball-line and angle arch.

• Use proper distribution.

• Tactical decision making.

Picture 1: Set Position


 
Picture 2: Basket Catch




Picture 3: Contour Catch




Picture 4: High-Contour




Picture 5: Side-Contour




Picture 6: Front-Smother




Picture 7: Breakaway Save




Picture 8: Collapse Dive




Picture 9: Collapse Dive

The human body is a great machine. But even the best machine needs to be cared for and maintained. Here are some guidelines to have your excellent machine in the best condition possible.

Wear 2 pair of socks with the pair of socks next to your skin worn inside out. The looped aspect of socks holds the moisture the best. So why would you keep all that sweat and moisture next to your skin? By wearing the first pair of socks inside out, and the second pair right side in, you keep the sweat and moisture away from your skin while allowing reduced friction on your feet. Athletes that I train often wear ankle socks as the inside sock. It is very important to note that both socks on each foot must be free of wrinkles. "Slouchy" socks or socks that should have been thrown out long ago greatly increase the risk of foot problems including blisters. Wear proper supportive equipment for your gender. This is a very important issue. Sports bras and athletic supporters should be used for two reasons. First, they protect body parts that are easily injured. Secondly, they improve performance by allowing the body to move at higher speeds without injury.

Be aware of the environment in both warm and cold weather. This means dressing in many thin layers when it is cold so that a layer of air is trapped between each layer of clothing. This acts as a double insulator and is very effective at keeping the body temperature where it needs to be. Dressing in layers also allows for a quick removal of clothing as the environment gets warmer so that only what needs to be removed is removed. In warm weather, staying cool is done in many ways. Be aware that sweat is normal. Absence of sweat when it should be present is a sign of dire emergency. This could signal heat emergencies such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Get enough sleep. Any high level athlete knows how important sleep is. If you stay awake all night, everybody should know that means your body cannot perform at its best the next day - but most people do not know it can also affect your performance for another 2 days! You cannot "catch up" on your sleep in one day. It takes 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night regularly to allow the body to recover from a bad night of sleep - especially when you are training hard. As you get older, that number of hours decreases slightly, but less than 7 usually poorly affects your performance for at least 3 days.

Be prepared to make mistakes. No one ever learned anything by playing it safe. It is said that you have only failed when you fail to try. Learning occurs fastest if you try something, maybe not perform it correctly, but correct your technique and repeat until you learn the skill. Attempt to make progress with each attempt at anything, not perfection. If you make enough progress, at some point you will approach perfection.

Paul is currently the National Administrator for SoccerPlus Camps and the ATC and Strength and Conditioning Consultant for the SoccerPlus CT Reds. He owns Cacolice Conditioning & Consulting (nomagicbean.com) and lives with his wife, Carolyn and two boys, Camden and Quinn in Enfield, Connecticut.

Tony's Bookshelf:
The Leadership Moment by Michael Useem

Are you ready for the leadership moment?

When the moment of truth comes will you be ready? Useem, director of the Center for Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School tackles this and other fine-points of what makes for a successful leader. These stories are exciting, touching and sometimes disastrous, but all serve to help us to understand how to be more prepared for when our leadership moment.

The nine stories in this book are: Merck's Roy Vagelos commits millions of dollars to develop a drug needed only by people who can't afford it · Eugene Kranz struggles to bring the Apollo 13 astronauts home after an explosion rips through their spacecraft · Arlene Blum organizes the first women's ascent of one of the world's most dangerous mountains · Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain leads his tattered troops into a pivotal Civil War battle at Little Round Top · John Gutfreund loses Salomon Brothers when his inattention to a trading scandal almost topples the Wall Street giant · Clifton Wharton restructures a $50 billion pension system direly out of touch with its customers · Alfredo Cristiani transforms El Salvador's decade-long civil war into a negotiated settlement · Nancy Barry leads Women's World Banking in the fight against Third World poverty · Wagner Dodge faces the decision of a lifetime as a fast-moving forest fire overtakes his firefighting crew.

Quick Saves
Wire Reports

Soccer By Ives:
Aston Villa makes close to $4 million bid for Guzan

Just when you thought Brad Guzan was ready to don the green hoops of Celtic, Aston Villa has stepped in and taken control of the chase for the Chivas USA goalkeeper.

Villa has upped its transfer offer for Guzan to approximately 2 million pounds, doubling the reported 1 million offer made by Celtic, sources told SBI on Monday. If you're not good at converting currency, Villa's offer ads up to an almost $4 million bid for the 23-year-old goalkeeper, surpassing the transfer fee Manchester United paid for Tim Howard in 2003.

The looming issue with a Villa move is whether Guzan could secure a work permit in England. There is some belief that Guzan would have an easier time securing a work permit in Scotland (Don't ask me why, that's what I hear).

The decision is now up to Guzan. Does he take the bigger Aston Villa offer and battle it out with Scott Carson for the No. 1 job (and potentially replace Carson, who is on loan from Liverpool), does he sign with Celtic and serve as understudy to Artur Boruc, who seems destined to leave Celtic this summer, or does he stay with Chivas USA until the summer, when he can sign a pre-contract and move a step closer to a free transfer and bigger payday?


ESPN's Soccernet.com
Friedel Still Going Strong

Given that Brad Friedel is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and has been for a while, he must have known the question was coming. His quick reply suggested it.

"None at all,'' the Ohio native said with a chuckle when asked whether he had any thoughts of ending his international retirement in time for the 2010 World Cup. "I had unbelievable times, to say the least, and I loved every minute of international football. But I also don't regret for one second the day that I retired."

Friedel is 36, which isn't that old for a keeper, especially when you consider Seattle's Kasey Keller, part of the squad at last summer's Gold Cup and Copa America, is still going strong with the national team aged 38 and 35-year-old Marcus Hahnemann, another Seattle stopper, continues to be the undisputed No. 1 at Reading. (New Jersey's Tim Howard, having a stellar campaign at Everton, is a tot in comparison -- he's 28.)

Friedel made his 82nd and last appearance with the U.S. in a 1-0 win over Poland four years ago, capping a career that saw him take part in three World Cups. Few will forget his virtuoso performance in 2002, when he saved two penalties and was otherwise a human wall as the U.S. reached the quarterfinals.

He might have been persuaded by Bruce Arena to return for the 2006 showcase in Germany, but only if the team was in dire straits.

"I had a good relationship with Bruce, and he never called and said, `I need you to come back,''' Friedel said. "Once in a while, he'd say, `Are you thinking about it?' The only time I would have come back for the last World Cup is if Kasey, Tim and Marcus all got injured. But I didn't do any of the qualifying, it wasn't my team, and Marcus, Timmy and Kasey are all good goalkeepers.

"There just wasn't an ounce of me that wanted to come out of international retirement. Having said that, I want the team to win every time they play, and I try to watch them every time they play."

Friedel's focus, then, is squarely on Blackburn. Saturday's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough marked his 137th straight league appearance -- the last time he missed a Premiership match was in May 2004 -- so even die-hard fans would be hard pressed to name his backup. (Jason Brown, in case you're wondering, is the current benchwarmer now that Peter Enckelman is on loan at Cardiff.)

His longevity was noted by Blackburn manager Mark Hughes this month.

"There are a lot of guys who shine brightly for a short period of time and get a lot of publicity, and then you don't hear about them for two or three seasons," Hughes said. "But Brad has consistently been at the top of his trade for seven years. He is right up there with anybody else I have worked with," the Welshman added, going on to name former Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel and Neville Southall, the longtime Everton stalwart.

A big reason Friedel has been able to maintain his form and stay injury free, he says, is yoga. He was introduced to it five years ago by California resident Barry Venison, a former England and Liverpool defender who also made headlines for his outlandish hairstyle and dress sense.

Friedel practises yoga every day, about 20 minutes before training, for instance, then 30 to 45 minutes in the evening.

"It really is fantastic for relaxing and keeping your muscles intact," he said. "Maybe it's more mental, I don't know. But it seems from the time I started yoga, I just felt better and better."

That being said, it's little surprise that Friedel has no plans to quit anytime soon -- tongue in cheek, he said he'll carry on until he "falls over." His contract expires at the end of next season, though he's looking to "prolong that as long as" he can.

The tie against Middlesbrough extended Rovers' unbeaten streak to five in the league and kept them within striking distance -- five points -- of the much coveted fourth and final Champions League spot. Finishing fourth is a "possibility," even if Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Portsmouth and Aston Villa -- Blackburn's next opponent -- are also in contention as crunch time approaches.

"For a club like ours, a lot of it depends on injuries, suspensions and on certain games, getting the breaks," Friedel said.

Now for a roundup of how some of Friedel's compatriots fared recently in England:

Defender Carlos Bocanegra and midfielder Clint Dempsey each played the full 120 minutes as slumping Fulham was embarrassed in the F.A. Cup, losing on penalties to lower-division Bristol Rovers in a third-round replay Tuesday. (Neither figured in the shootout.)

Derby, last in the top division, managed to top Sheffield Wednesday on penalties, with first-half sub Eddie Lewis converting a spot kick for the Rams.

Hahnemann made a flurry of saves, but it wasn't enough to prevent Manchester United from beating Reading 2-0 in a pulsating league encounter Saturday. Midfield teammate Bobby Convey featured for 80 minutes as he made his 100 th appearance.

Howard and Everton were unable to get past high-flying Chelsea in the League Cup semifinals, losing the second leg 1-0 in Liverpool on Wednesday to exit 3-1 on aggregate. Jonathan Spector, a defender who often doubles as a midfielder for West Ham, came on as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday.

Brad Guzan: Has Impressed with the US National Team against Sweden. Could he be bound for Britain soon?












Brad Friedel: Still Impressive, but Still Done With International Play