When Maddie started training with Protect Your Net, she was just 9 years old and had never had any formal goalkeeper training. Looking back at how far she has come, it is hard to put into words just how much Zach and Mike have contributed to her development, not only as a goalkeeper, but as a confident, hardworking young woman.
Maddie was determined from the beginning. She often trained with PYN twice a week, then came home and kept working on what she had learned, following the recommendations Zach and Mike gave her. Her growth didn't happen overnight. It came from years of dedication, repetition, and a willingness to work on whatever she felt she needed to improve next. And Zach and Mike were there through every step of it.
I feel like every year there has been a moment during a game when I have watched Maddie do something and thought, "I know how hard she worked on that in training." A save, her positioning, the way she communicates with her defenders, or the confidence she shows under pressure. She would work and work on something, gain confidence and skill, and then move on to the next challenge. Over time, that confidence has grown into something much bigger. She has become a goalkeeper who commands the field and leads her teams.
One of the things I think has made such a difference in Maddie's development is the environment Zach and Mike have created. They have always encouraged their keepers to communicate, learn from each other, and help each other get better. Maddie has trained alongside older goalkeepers and boys, which challenged her in ways she wouldn't have experienced otherwise. I remember when Zach and Mike told her she was ready to start training with the older keepers. She was nervous, but those experiences pushed her outside her comfort zone and helped fast-track her growth and confidence.
Maddie has also built friendships with so many of the other keepers she has trained with over the years. It is pretty special to watch her meet up with a goalkeeper she trained with at PYN when they are now playing against each other, and see the positive relationships they have built through the game.
Today, Maddie is 15. She has participated in the Maryland Olympic Development Program for the past three years, has been selected for their ID camp for the past two years, and is now the varsity goalkeeper at North Harford High School. She continues to train regularly with Protect Your Net, which speaks to the trust and relationship Zach and Mike have built with her over the years.
What I appreciate most about Zach and Mike is that they see the individual goalkeeper, not just the position. They ask Maddie what she wants to work on before training, pay attention to both the technical and mental sides of the game, and genuinely care about her development. If they notice something is bothering her or she is struggling, they follow up afterward, check in with her, or offer suggestions to help her work through it.
Maddie didn't have dedicated goalkeeper coaching through her team, so Protect Your Net was her primary source of goalkeeper training for many years. Zach and Mike have played an enormous role in building the skills and confidence that have allowed her to become the goalkeeper she is today.
Most importantly, they helped her fall in love with the position. Maddie loves the game, she works incredibly hard, and she has grown into a confident goalkeeper who believes in herself. As a parent, watching that transformation over the past six years has been incredibly rewarding.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Protect Your Net to any goalkeeper and their family. Whether you're working with a young keeper just learning the position or a more experienced player preparing for the next level, Zach and Mike create an environment where goalkeepers are challenged, supported, and genuinely cared for. We are incredibly grateful that Maddie's journey started with them.
