2024 Goal Keeper Program

As a Recreational Club, we hope our Teams will have more than one player each interested in playing Goal. 

The Goal Keeper is a hero of the field, the last line of defense for their team's goal and the only player allowed to use their hands. 

Coach Robert Popelka was born in Dresden (former GDR) in 1978 and started playing soccer at the age of 7. He played the goalie position for 4 different local clubs in Dresden until he was 19. Then he had a 10 year break in his active career (8 years in the military and different jobs all over the country) before he started playing again for a couple of years, then another break for about 3 years and then he played senior league (players older than 34 years) for another 4 years - so a total of about 18 years active career for a variety of clubs in Dresden and with a few exceptions he played his entire career as a goalkeeper.

Coach Rob started coaching U8/U9 teams  when he was 18 in Dresden and did that for a couple of years. At the same time he started to offer special goalkeeper training for the goalies of his teams. From 2009 - 2011 he lived with his family in the northern part of Germany (in Schleswig-Holstein) and started coaching goalkeepers of all ages up to U19, which he continued when returning to Dresden for the club his son was playing at. He coached the goalies from U10 - U13 and occasionally U17/U19 The teams of this club (SC Borea Dresden) played on a very high competitive level in the highest possible leagues in Saxony or even in federal level leagues (second highest youth league in Germany). The club has a renowned youth center with its own boarding school for players between the age of 12 and 19 years, several first, second and third league players in Germany came out of there academy. They also partner with Warubi Sports and host several North American high school players for an exchange year in Dresden.

Now he is super happy and excited to bring the fun and challenge of being a soccer goalkeeper into our beautiful valley

Join Coach Rob as he shows players techniques and tricks to bring a new dimension to player's Goalkeeping abilities - and then enjoy the thrill of employing them on game day! 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE 

New Denver Camp - Sunday May 5th 2024

Crescent Valley Camp - Sunday May 12th 2024

Cost

Price per player is $60 per player, includes pair of 'Finger-saver' Gloves. 

Confidential Financial Aid is also available if needed. 

Interested? Register online through the Spring Season Registration Form HERE