TGS Academy Weekly Blog
September 11, 2026 — Why I Created The Goalkeepers Standard
Welcome to The Goalkeepers Standard (TGS) Academy!
This academy is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
Growing up as a goalkeeper in small towns without an established club nearby, I often had to learn the position on my own. Through watching the likes of Oliver Kahn, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel. My father coached at the collegiate level, and when I was in my early teens, he started a soccer club—literally just one team. Through that team, he met another dad who had played goalkeeper and began training me and other kids interested in the position. That was my first real goalkeeper training experience.
As I entered high school and joined more established clubs, I gained access to more consistent coaching. Even into college, however, dedicated goalkeeper training was limited. That experience reflects a frustration shared by many goalkeepers and parents: “There isn’t enough dedicated goalkeeper development within the club.”
After college, I moved back to Washington and began playing with the Tacoma Stars. I received quality goalkeeper coaching in that environment and played some of the best soccer of my life. Consistent, intentional and quality training makes a difference!
Reflecting on those experiences, I realized I wanted to create a more structured way for young goalkeepers to access training, education, and support. In May 2025, after nearly a decade of working behind a desk in the corporate world, I left my job to refocus my life and pursue that dream.
So here we are: The Goalkeepers Standard.
My goal is to empower goalkeepers and their families to better understand the roles, actions, and expectations of the position. Our training connects the Five Goalkeeper Roles, Five Development Pillars, and a nine-chapter curriculum designed to develop the complete goalkeeper. We connect these roles, pillars, and curriculum to the Five Moments of the Game, helping goalkeepers understand what we do, why we do it, and when and where to apply it.
At the heart of the academy are Development, Community, and Accountability. I want every goalkeeper to feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to take ownership of their growth.
For me, community includes the families behind every goalkeeper. Your encouragement, commitment, and support matter—through the exciting moments, the difficult games, and the progress that takes time to see. I want TGS to be a place where families feel connected, comfortable asking questions, and better equipped to support their goalkeeper. Your trust and involvement also help this academy grow. Together, we can build a community that celebrates each other’s progress and gives goalkeepers the confidence to keep learning.
Sessions are capped at eight goalkeepers per age group to support individual attention, meaningful feedback, and an environment where every player can develop.
Through this blog, I’ll share what we’re working on in training, why it matters, and how it connects to the game. It will also be a place to share experiences and ideas that help goalkeepers and families learn alongside us.
I’m excited to share this dream with you.
Come join us for a session!
Linden Fisher
Founder, The Goalkeepers Standard