“There’s this period of brain flexibility, particularly before the age of 12, where you have a window to gain a wide variety of physical skills,” said Epstein. Tim Howard grew up playing basketball in New Jersey, and Epstein believes his lack of specialization allowed him to develop a stronger spatial awareness and instincts in net. Sport scientist David Epstein, author of The Sports Gene, believes Americans make great goalies because so few specialize in the sport at a young age. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Americans play a lot of sports goalkeepers Hope Solo and Brianna Scurry are widely considered to be some of the best to ever play the game.Īmerica is very good at producing one specific position. United’s Bill Hamid is already grabbing attention at big clubs. In MLS, a crop of talented young goalkeepers led by D.C. backup, Brad Guzan, who plays for Aston Villa. (Friedel still does at age 43.) Howard himself plays for Everton in the Premier League, as does the current U.S. Both Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, the two American national team goalies before Howard, played in England’s Premier League. Howard is just the latest in a long line of top American goalkeepers. Howard was named FIFA’s Man of the Match in the loss, and players, coaches and pundits from around the world praised his extraordinary effort in net. Tim Howard’s record-setting 15-save performance in the United States’ World Cup loss to Belgium was something Americans could be proud of, no matter the result.

It’s the one soccer position Americans have truly figured out.

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