While Bethlehem Steel FC was knocking off Louisville City FC, goalkeeper coach Phil Wheddon was in Germany participating in a fantastic new program from the German Football Association (DFB/Deutscher Fußball-Bund). With Oka Nikolov taking on more assistant coaching responsibilities with the first team, Wheddon was chosen to represent Philadelphia Union at the event. He joined other goalkeeping coaches and academy goalkeepers from around MLS as they learned the German style of goalkeeping, network and bounce ideas off of each other.
Goalkeeping coaches from around the U.S. and Canada were able to join the DFB for a week following the announcement of a partnership between Major League Soccer, Adidas and the DFB for an advanced goalkeeper education course. The course allowed coaches and goalkeepers alike to take part in world-class training, beginning with an immersive development course.
“I think the game is always evolving and as a coach you have to evolve as well,” said Wheddon. “The opportunity to go and see what they’re doing in Germany and work with the DFB, [DFB Goalkeeper Coordinator] Marc Zeigler and the other coaches is fantastic. There isn’t a tremendous amount of goalkeeping education in the United States right now, so this opportunity for the coaches in attendance is massive.”
Wheddon wasn’t the only representative from Philadelphia Union. Goalkeepers Lukas Burns (U-17) and Connor Cresswell (U-14) were selected to participate in the program on behalf of the Union Academy. Burns spent preseason with Steel FC this year in Clearwater, Florida and has trained with the club throughout the 2019 USL Championship regular season. The program presented both players with a unique opportunity to continue developing as young shot stoppers.
“For their development this is great,” Wheddon said of the academy’s shot stoppers. It puts them alongside other goalkeepers from around the country and every other MLS team’s academy, so we’ll know where we stack up as far as our development.
“It’s an opportunity for them to learn from other coaches and see different styles as well. As young goalkeepers they are always developing their own style and the way that they play the position within the Philadelphia Union framework. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn and grow.”
Reflecting on the trip
The Union trio returned from the program at the end of last week. Wheddon had nothing but positives to say about the experience as a whole, pointing to how it added a new methodology to his skillset:
“I thought the introduction into the German methodology was very valuable,” Wheddon stated. “Everyone around the world has different ways of doing things, so it was great to learn about the DFB and have their philosophy and methodology. It’s slightly different to what we do here in the United States and I thought it was overall a fantastic experience and really impressed by the DFB and their style, especially Marc Zeigler.”
The Boys in Blue return to Talen Energy Stadium when they host Hartford Athletic on Thursday, August 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here, with the match set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
