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"Goalie Wars is unequivocally the coolest All-Star event in any sport. I’m telling you, this could become the next obscure Olympic sport if it’s marketed properly. Endurance, luck, skills…you need it all.”
Bill Simmons, Columnist, ESPN.com
Hello Jeff and everyone at NGWA! You run an exceptional organization and have come very far in a short period of time to make this a national event and have created a positive buzz about the art of goalkeeping as a world class sport. We were happy to participate and Emilia is determined to train harder, get older, and come back to win this! Our huge congratulations to Jessica Gaburo!
Thank you very much! Joel Zabaldo
WOW! The National Tournament was fantastic. The facilities, events and competition were top notch, and you and your organization should be proud. I can only imagine the amount of work that went in to the planning and execution of such a large tournament. For my son, Chris, competing and winning the U14 National title is a memory never to be forgotten, not just because of the victory, but also for the effort, skill, preparation and good fortune that goes in to every competition. For him, it was dream come true, and the realization that hard work pays off eventually. What a great lesson to learn at a young age. Thanks for the opportunity you give these kids and young adults. Keep up the great work, and much success to you and your organization.
Jeff Smith Sinking Spring, PA
My daughter, Rachel, had her first competition with you at the Western Regionals. She was fortunate enough to win 1st place, against some very tough competitors, in the U14 group. She enjoyed it immensely. Rachel will be at the Nationals, even though it means passing up her 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. That's how much she loved it. We are also looking forward to future competitions, hopefully here in Northern California soon. This will give her club team a chance to participate and also to witness how hard she works and just how good she is. This time I plan on getting some fantastic action photos, and films of the competition. It is hard for people to understand just how grueling a 2 minute half of GoalieWars is, unless they see it. Thanks again for creating this goalie "showcase" competition. Goalies all over the world will thank you.
Phil "SoccerDad" Foreman
Dear Jeff,
This time we traveled six hours from Garden City, NY to attend the Northeast Regional Goalie War Tournament in Rochester, NY. We, and Brandon were very impressed and touched, upon checking in, that you remembered him from the March 2004 Pennsylvania Local Tournament. Brandon competed in the U14 Division and learned 2 valuable lessons to "Never underestimate the Competition"....and to work on his Punts, Throws and Kicks :-) He was seeded in 3rd place for the Semi-Finals round, but managed to remain undefeated in the Goalie War challenge to capture the U14 Championship. Thanks again for a great day of fun and competition. We'll see you at the next one!!
Evette & Joseph Saldana
Dear Mr. Nelson,
My daughter Natasha participated in the Goalie Wars Competition in San Bernardino. She injured her ankle in her first game during the Goalie Wars but hung in there; Therefore we left immediately after her Goalie War finals to have her ankle looked at. Since we couldn't stay for the closing ceremony we both wanted to say it was a simply awesome experience, not only because of the levels of competition but the clinics and words of wisdom. She has not stopped talking about it. She has only been a goalie for a year and had some doubt at her skill level, but after this experience she is quite confident and she is looking forward to her next Goal War competition. Please Thank everyone involved .... THANK YOU !
Sincerely,
Rebecca and Natasha Jackson
We had an excellent time at the Goalie Wars on Saturday in San Bernardino, CA. My daughter loved the competition. Although she lost in the final match of the U14 bracket it was a great experience for her. The caliber of players was great as well the way things were organized. I will definitely recommend this to our club, and look forward to seeing you again next year.
Rich Ford (proud Step Dad of Amanda McDonough)
"Thanks for a fantastic tournament in Lancaster, PA. It was Chris' first of what we hope to be many Goalie War competitions. The caliber of player, the location and the professional manner in which the event was run made a wonderful impression on both of us. You are to be commended for your efforts in improving the skills of keepers of all ages. We have recommended your organization to others, and look forward to the NJ and Mid-Atlantic events in the coming months. Thanks again for helping my son have an experience he'll never forget."
Jeff Smith
"We traveled almost 4 hours from Garden City, NY for our son, Brandon to participate in the PA Indoor Goalie War Tournament and are very happy to say that it was well worth the trip. We all had a great time and the competition was fierce. In the end, Brandon was the U-13 2004 Champion and can hardly wait for the next Tournament."
Evette & Joe Saldana
"We had an excellent time at Goalie Wars on Saturday in Lancaster, PA. My son was one of the three East Juniata goalkeepers that each won their divisions and he absolutely can't wait to do it again! It was more exciting than any state playoff game I've ever attended. Thanks for the awesome experience!"
Michelle (proud mom of Joshua Bender)
"Dear Jeff,
It was good meeting you. Emilia really enjoyed the Goalie Wars and so did I. It was very well organized, prompt, upbeat, and challenging. Emilia definitely wants to participate in every Goalie War competition she can. You can count us in for the May 15 championship in Bergen County. This is the first tournament we have attended where everything was so tremendously orchestrated --- it was just a big feel-good the whole day."
J. Zabaldo, Delaware Water Gap, PA
"A quality goalkeeper must be proficient in all the technical aspects of ball handling. Technique is the cornerstone to a skillful performance. I firmly believe that Goalie Wars is an excellent, fun-filled and competitive activity that promotes the technical development of goalkeepers. Of all the goalkeepers that I have trained on the youth, national and international levels, Goalie Wars is always their favorite activity. I strongly encourage Club, State and Regional coaches as well as tournament directors to use Goalie Wars in their program as an effective training activity to evaluate goalkeepers technical ability."
Lincoln Phillips, author of: Soccer Goalkeeping: The Last Line of Defense: The First Line of Attack, FIFA Staff Instructor (Goalkeeping), USSF Staff Instructor (Goalkeeping)
"The Goalie War competition, in addition to being a tremendous training exercise for goalkeepers, is probably one of the most exciting individual competitions in any sport, along with the NBA slam-dunk contest. I've always loved competing in it, and I know fans love to watch it."
Tim Howard, Manchester United
"Goalie Wars is a great way for goalkeepers to showcase their technical, tactical, psychological and physical conditioning skills and abilities."
Laurie Pells, Assistant Women's Soccer Coach, Clemson University and Former Professional Goalkeeper, WUSA
"Thanks for a fun, competitive tournament … at PDA. My daughter enjoyed the activities and seeing some of the GKs she plays against in tournament play throughout the year. It was a great event at a wonderful complex. Thanks for organizing the day, and we look forward to next year."
Wendy Ashmen, NJ
"Being a part of an NGWA event gives goalkeeper's the chance to put themselves up against the regions best! There is nothing like getting the opportunity to showcase your talents in an environment like this and see exactly where you stand. Goalie Wars is the perfect game to test all your goalkeeping skills against an opponent."
Todd Hoffard, Professional Goalkeeper, Charleston Battery and Director, One on One Soccer, Field Player and Goalkeeper School
"Finally, a fun and exciting way for goalkeepers to test their skills on every aspect of the game. There is no better way for a college bound keeper to showcase his/her skills to coaches."
Greg Sherwood, Professional Goalkeeper, Reading Rage, Men's and Women's Assistant Soccer Coach, Moravian College
"I attended Goalie War I, NJ State Goalkeeping Tournament with my 9 year old daughter who plays keeper for her all girls travel team. What a great event and day for her to see what it really takes to play the position. I think from watching, she can really have a point of comparison for what the best keepers can do. She can't wait to turn 12 so she can compete. Just wanted to take a moment and say thanks for a great new forum to test and bring the best out of every keeper !!"
Joel Minkoff, NJ
"Goalie Wars not only tests your skills against other keepers, it offers high school and college age participants a chance to showcase their talents to coaches at the next level."
Jeff Duback, Former U.S. National Team GK
"The National Goalie War Association has taken a game we all played at camp to the next level. This is a fun and exciting event."
Harvey Meldrum, ODP, Region I, Goalkeeper Staff Coach
"Finally, an organized Goalkeeper competition is available for girls and boys of all ages and skill levels! Goalie Wars is fun and exciting, demanding and challenging, and brings out the best in every goalkeeper."
Garrett Caldwell, Professional Goalkeeper and Goalkeeper Coach, Colchester United FC (UK). Former Canadian U-19 and Olympic Team, University of British Columbia
"Goalie War levels the playing field to determine the strongest keeper so that the 'best' goalkeepers can no longer hide behind an incredible defense."
Dale Caya, Former Professional Goalkeeper, APSL and Former NCAA Division I, All American
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