World class at Lake Attersee: The 18th PRO ELITE Goalkeeper Camp sets new standards

From July 11th to 13th, 2025, Weyregg am Attersee once again became a meeting place for young goalkeeping enthusiasts from across Europe. The 18th PRO ELITE Goalkeeper Camp was a resounding success – with 63 goalkeepers aged eight to seventeen from a total of eight nations, we not only celebrated a new record number of participants but also achieved a level of excellence that is unparalleled in this format.

We are particularly proud of the high-caliber lineup of our coaching team. For the first time, Amro Khalid from the Leicester City Academy joined us. As the goalkeeping coach of one of England's most renowned youth academies, he brought fresh impetus to our camp. With Marko Lörinc from Slovenia, who works in the academy at NK Nafta 1903, we were able to recruit another internationally experienced coach for our team. Czech goalkeeping coach Jaromir Pitak also impressed with his expertise. Domenico Botticella traveled from Italy – a former goalkeeper in the Italian first and second divisions. He impressed with his professional experience and inspired our participants not only technically but also personally.

King Karol, an influencer and YouTuber with a wide reach, also thrilled the youngsters, making every training session a special experience with his relaxed manner. The team was rounded out by regional figures such as Raul Scarlat, founder of the Linz Football School, who impressed with his expertise, particularly in coordination and ball control. Filip Dramac, the number one at the Upper Austrian league team Friedburg, also participated with full commitment.

The camp offered an intensive and varied training program with eleven clearly defined focus areas. The keepers worked on sideways, flat balls, with exercises ranging from simple tapping movements to maximum push-off. They also practiced defending sideways, half-high balls, with progressions ranging from initial reactions to long dives. The basic techniques of catching—that is, central balls to the body, both flat, half-high, and high—were also in focus.

In one-on-one situations, participants practiced both short and long blocks, learning how to actively attack the ball and clear situations early. Crosses, corners, and high passes focused on orientation, jumping, and correct timing. Positioning was primarily practiced in the context of zonal defense and defending against cross passes. A particular focus was placed on behavior during set pieces—i.e., setting the wall, the number of players, and correct tactical behavior—along with a significant amount of theory.

In addition, great emphasis was placed on football skills: ball control, receiving, first touch, two-footed passing skills, and a field player-oriented structure of the exercises promoted game intelligence and technical proficiency. Goalkeeper-specific coordination was also trained – with a particular focus on reaction speed, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive elements. In the area of opening play, the goalkeepers learned how to build up the game both short and long – with throws, low goal kicks, and long shots. The final part of the course was a "best of" station, where the best elements from all areas were combined into a complex exercise structure.

Despite the rain on the first day, the pitch was in excellent condition, thanks to the dedicated groundskeepers on site. We were particularly pleased to welcome a young goalkeeper from England – a strong indication of the wide reach of our camp's appeal. The "Videobeweis" team was also on hand, capturing the most emotional, exciting, and spectacular moments on camera.

The 18th PRO ELITE Goalkeeper Camp in Weyregg am Attersee was a complete success in every respect. The enthusiasm of the children and young people, the quality of the coaches, and the international flair made this week a truly special experience. We are proud of what we achieved together with our team, the participants, and all the supporters – and are already looking forward to the next camp in Upper Austria! Click here for the camp video!