Goal keeper, it's a position often over looked in the beautiful game of football, but former All White James Bannatyne is hoping to change this in Tauranga with a goalie training clinic.

The 40-year-old, who played goal keeper for the All Whites from 2002 to 2010, culminating with being part of the squad who went to the FIFA Football World Cup in South Africa, will take a goal keeping training clinic at Links Ave this afternoon.

James says about 60 youngsters - aged between 8 and 16 - have so far signed up to take part in the hour long clinic. After he takes the youngsters through their paces he is holding a coaching training clinic for about 20 coaches on the finer art of what is required to become a good goal keeper.

The Waibop Football goal keeper development officer is pleased with the number of participants for the clinic.

'It's really positive, it shows there is a real need for the support of goal keeper development and the challenge I guess is to maintain that programme and support. So that we can improve the standard and make sure people enjoy it and stay involved.”

James says goal keeping is often overlooked when it's actually an integral position in the team.

'The requirements of a goalie are probably more mental than physical. But physical aspects certainly come into it as well. Goal keepers need to be brave and courageous. At the top level you certainly need to be committed to their own development.”

James hopes the first training clinic will lead to more clinics in the future.

The clinic is a Waibop Football initiative but came about over a cup of coffee with James and Mount Maunganui Junior Football Committee member Simon Bryant.

'We just saw an opportunity to provide good goal keeping training for kids. At that age they are developing their skills and we thought it would be a good time to help bring those goal keeping skills out.” Simon says.

The clinic will be held at Links Ave, today starting with the trainings sessions for goal keepers at 4.30pm, followed by the coaching clinic at 6.30pm.