Ivan D.

What experience do you have coaching or training athletes?
With 20+ years of being in Soccer, I’ve spent years developing young goalkeepers into confident, technically sound players who love their position. My experience includes coaching at the elite Pine Crest School, running goalkeeper training for FC Fort Lauderdale Rush (ages 9–14), and providing private sessions tailored to each athlete’s strengths and goals. My approach focuses on footwork, shot-stopping, decision-making, and the mental resilience required to be a top goalkeeper.

At what levels have you coached?
I’ve coached at the youth academy, school, and competitive club levels, working with serious players who are committed to improvement. I specialize in developing foundational skills and game IQ that translate to success on the field—whether it’s competing in club leagues or preparing for high school or academy tryouts.

Where have you worked as a coach or trainer?
I’ve coached at Pine Crest School, FC Fort Lauderdale Rush, and in private sessions across South Florida. Each setting has helped me refine my ability to connect with players and bring the best out of them in both training and matches.

What age groups do you typically work with?
Most of my coaching has been with goalkeepers aged 9 to 14, but I’m comfortable training players of all ages who are motivated to improve. Every session is adapted to the age, ability, and aspirations of the player.

What were your specific athletic accomplishments?
As a youth player, I competed at the highest levels of professional development in Ukraine. My team was ranked #3 in the national professional youth championship, and we won silver medals in the European Youth Championship—an experience that shaped my understanding of elite competition and goalkeeper excellence.

Did you compete at the collegiate or professional level?
Yes. I played in the professional youth league for FC Tavria, one of Ukraine’s top football clubs at the time. Later, I continued competing in Kyiv’s top business league with FC Titan, where I maintained a high level of play while transitioning into coaching.

Where did you compete?
I competed across Ukraine in the national youth league with FC Tavria, as well as internationally in the European Youth Championship. Domestically, I also played in the competitive Kyiv business league with FC Titan.

What awards or honors have you earned?
As a player, I earned silver medals in the European Youth Championship and reached a top-3 national ranking in Ukraine’s professional youth league. As a coach, I’m proud to have led my young goalkeepers to gold medals at the 2024 Palm Beach Cup—a testament to their hard work and the effectiveness of our training.

What can a client expect from a typical session with you?
Every session is part of a bigger plan. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all training—each goalkeeper I work with gets a customized development path based on their age, current abilities, and long-term goals. My sessions are focused, intense, and always have a purpose. You can expect structure, attention to detail, and a coach who pushes you to get better every time you step on the field.

What do you focus on (specific drills or techniques)?
I focus on developing core goalkeeping fundamentals: footwork, handling, diving technique, reaction saves, positioning, 1v1s, high balls, distribution, and communication. Each session is designed to strengthen a specific area while reinforcing game-like habits through quality repetitions and scenario-based drills. I also emphasize the mental side of the position—decision-making, confidence, and leadership.

Walk us through how you work out an athlete, so clients have a better sense of how you run a session.
We begin every session with a thorough dynamic warm-up that includes stretching, mobility work, and goalkeeper-specific activation exercises to prepare the body and reduce injury risk. From there, we transition into technical skill work, where I explain the focus of the session and demonstrate the correct techniques. We then progress to high-rep drills that challenge the goalkeeper to apply those skills under pressure, with increasing intensity and complexity.

Each drill is intentional and fits into a larger development plan I’ve created specifically for the athlete. Whether we’re sharpening reactions or improving cross-taking technique, the session always ends with a review and feedback—so the goalkeeper walks away not just tired, but smarter and more confident.