The NGWA was founded in 2001 by Executive Director Jeff Nelson. Jeff is a former NCAA Division II Regional All American with more than twenty-five years of combined playing and coaching experience. Through his experience, Jeff found that many goalkeepers were not getting the support they needed to develop into top notch players. Jeff decided to use the sport of Goalie War as a tool to promote soccer goalkeeping and to increase awareness of the demands of this highly specialized position. Jeff founded the National Goalie War Association to provide continuing education, training, recognition and support for soccer goalkeepers.