The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club is proud to have one of the most respect goalkeeper coaches in North America developing our goalkeeping talent. David Bellemare and the Fury provide the following training environment for our Prospect, Youth Academy and Professional Academy goalkeepers that includes the following:

Total Hours of Training Per Year - 60
     - 54 Hours of Goalkeeper Specific Training
     - 6 Hours of Goalkeeper Training Within Team
     - 1 Game Evaluation

Annual Training Breakdown
     - November - April: 1.5 Hours of Goalkeeper Specific Training per Week
     - November - April: 2 Goalkeeper Training Within Team
     - May - August: 1.5 Hours of Goalkeeper Specific Training per Week
     - May - August: 2 Goalkeeper Training Within Team
     - May - August: 1 Game Evaluation

The objective of the Ottawa Fury Goalkeeper Program is to develop and provide the goalkeeper every opportunity to reach their own personal goal in a Club atmosphere. To be part of a Club that offers a continuous and constant goalkeeping service is crucial in developing a keeper to their full potential. No one would argue that the goalkeeper is very unique position and faces special demands during the game that requires specific training. It is essential to take the time to master the fundamentals of goalkeeping and one way to do it is through specific goalkeeping sessions offered on a weekly basis with the Fury.

However, to maximize a goalkeeper's potential and their contribution to the team the Ottawa Fury has included some goalkeeper sessions within the team training. During these training sessions, we are able to address such issues as shot handling and crosses under pressure, initiating the attack from the back, back pass strategies, position in function of the ball/players, through balls, spacing between the keeper and defenders, team communication - all aspects that are really hard to replicate in a specific goalkeeper session are addressed in this training environment. The communication between the goalkeeper and his teammates is also crucial, not only that they need to get use to the tone of the voice but define common terminology. Under the guidance of coach Bellemare, the goalkeepers and their teammates develop these tools within the team training session. The goalkeeper will create a sense of responsibility within the team and will be involved as a vital member of it.

Another benefit to have the goalkeeper coach within the Club is the access and the continuous communication between the head coaches and the goalkeeper coach. The demands, especially the tactical aspects of the game, might vary between the different teams and age groups and these concerns will be address by the Ottawa Fury Goalkeeper program within a team perspective.

The Ottawa Fury Goalkeeper program is producing goalkeepers that are not only technically fit, but function as part of a team. We see a goalkeeper as more than just a shot stopper and he must be part of the team offensively and defensively and be trained in that environnement.

At the level we play, the vast majority of the goalkeepers are sounds technically and great shot stoppers with a big physical presence. The main comments we get from college and university coaches, scout and opposition coaches about our goalkeepers is that they have a great tactical awareness and understanding of the game. The quality of the distribution and the offensive implication is another prominent trend of a Fury goalkeeper. We take great pride at working on their soccer skills (1st touch, passing and kicking) because that will make us who we are - a different soccer player within a team!

The Ottawa Fury is pleased to announce the development of specific goalkeeper training and evaluation program called GKPlus that will begin September 2011. The objective is to give the goalkeeper a chance to foster his development on a more individual basis under the direction of Ottawa Fury Goalkeeper Coach David Bellemare. The program will consist in private and semi-private sessions, game and technical evaluation and the development of a personalized annual program.

GKPlus is a complement to the goalkeeper program offered to the Fury goalkeepers. A Fury goalkeepers at the Prospect and Youth levels are getting close to 60 hours of goalkeeper specific training in form of small group sessions and within their team during the year.

We want to implement the GKPlus program to guide goalkeepers towards reaching their personal goals and to help them in preparation for a specific event, provincial tryout, National Camp.

An important aspect of GKPlus will be to evaluate each goalkeeper and monitor their progression on a more personal note. GKPlus offers two types of evaluation through the use of video taping: a technical evaluation based of training tapes and a full game evaluation that will focus more on the tactical aspects of the game. Video analysis is a valuable educational tool giving the goalkeeper a visual reference. The footage is reviewed in details, by the Ottawa Fury Goalkeeper Coach, who will then provide a written evaluation highlighting your strengths and areas of weakness. Afterwards, Coach Bellemare will discuss and review this information with the goalkeeper giving them the best possible learning outcome. Having the ability to review your game and your technique in real time and in slow motion enables you to better understand your game and take it to the next level.

The first program of GKPlus will be held during the months of September and October every Monday night from 7:15pm-8:45pm at the University of Ottawa and is open to small group of goalkeepers (6-8). The group will be formed based on ability and common desire to push their limits.

"Coach Bellemare spent the year working with our CASL Academy goalkeepers and did an outstanding job.   What impressed me most is his ability to teach the goalkeepers how to play the position as soccer players, not just as shot stoppers.  His attitude and demeanor is very professional and positive yet demanding."
   - Carlos Somoano, Heach Coach of U15/16 CASL Chelsea FC Academy (US Soccer Academy System). Carlos is also the Head Coach of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill, Men's Soccer Program.



"We watched our own daughter become excited again about club training when David Bellemare was her coach. She looked forward to sessions and was motivated to perform and excel. We found David's presentation to be instructional, intuitive, erudite, positive, motivational, and above all fun; raising goalkeeping coaching to the level of art rather than just another practice session. We felt more than comfortable with our own daughter's progression and experiences while working with David...and we should know, both of us being professional goalkeepers and goalkeeper coaches ourselves...ours couldn't have been in better hands."
   - Ziggy Zigante, Goalkeeper Coach, Carolina Railhawks, NASL. Father of
     Susana Zigante, U19 Croatian National Team.

"David is a fantastic coach and over the three years in which I have trained with him my game has improved immensely. His training sessions are fun, intense and very educational. David was able to prepare me for my seasons in college where I became an All-American. He has helped me along every step of the way to becoming an elite goalkeeper and I am proud and fortunate to have worked with him at the Fury. With his guidance after college I had the opportunity to sign a professional contract. Now I am in the coaching position myself and I strive to implement the things in my kids what David instilled in me; to always work hard, to be technically proficient, and to enjoy what you do. To this day I look to David for his mentorship and knowledge of the beautiful game."
     - Erik Lefebvre, Director of Goalkeeping, Charlotte Soccer Academy and
       former Ottawa Fury PDL Goalkeeper

"I have been working with David Bellemare for the past three years at the Sports-Études Soccer program at l’É.S.P. Louis-Riel. David played an important role in the foundation of the program and contributed immensely to its success. His passion, knowledge, leadership, professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence and the beautiful game make him an asset to any program. Any individual who has the opportunity and privilege to be trained by David Bellemare should count themselves very lucky."
      - Joe Fournier, Entraîneur/Enseignant Sports-Études volet soccer
        Directeur Athlétique, École secondaire publique Louis-Riel

"I wouldn't have been able to do what I am doing with soccer today without David. David has been coaching me since I was 11 years old and he has made me the goalkeeper I am today. Before David, I had no goalkeeper training whatsoever, and now I can compete with the goalkeepers in the NCAA. I also have been able to experience a camp with the U20 Canadian Women's National Team. I learned a lot through David, whether it's technically, tactically or mentally, and I still learn from him to this day. Moreover, the way he coaches us, I have learned so many things that are useful on and off the field. He's coaching us good habits which helps us to grow as goalkeepers and as people. He is really dedicated in what he is doing because he is passionate and loves what he is doing. He is a coach who loves intensity, but still knows how to have fun. I always look forward to his training sessions. I feel very lucky to have him as a goalkeeper coach and I would recommend David to any goalkeeper - he is the best."
       - Audrey Bernier-Larose, Goalkeeper at Oregan State University (NCAA),
         Fury W-League Goalkeeper and Fury Youth Program Graduate

"It has been seven years that I have been working with David and I cannot be happier with the amount of improvement I have seen. David was not only able to develop my basic skill as a young keeper, but he was also able to get me prepared for college where I led the NCAA II in save percentage. David is extremely professional and knowledgeable in his approach to each and every keeper he works with. The most important thing David has done for me over the years has been keeping in touch and helping me with different problems I run into during my college season, even though he is not here in person. He is always willing to listen to my problems and respond in a positive and constructive manner that allows me to continue improving."
       - Brandon Heembrock, Goalkeeper at Dominican College (NCAA II),
         Fury PDL Goalkeeper and Fury Youth Program Graduate

"Over the past 2 years the opportunity Brandon has had to play with the Ottawa Fury PDL team train with David has helped him tremendously as a keeper and prepared him for our college season. Brandon has come into pre season more fit and technically at the top of his game, helping us get off to strong starts each year. Coach David has done a superb job over the summer months with Brandon helping him grow even more as a keeper."
        - John Campbell, Head Coach, Dominican College


"I have had the pleasure of working with and playing for David for 8 years now. I can honestly say that I have loved the sport for 22 years and playing for David has helped to solidify that love not only for the game, but especially for the position. David was instrumental in helping me to prepare for what ending up being a very successful NCAA Division 1 career at the University of Maine. What sets David apart from just about any coach that I have ever seen, is that he truly cares about all of his players not just as athletes and what they do on the field, but as people. He wants to get the best for everyone he works with in soccer and in life. The combination of his knowledge and understanding, as well as his passion and his enthusiasm allows him to be demanding and bring out the best in all of the keepers I have seen him work with. Unlike most goalkeeper coaches that I have seen, David understands the fine line that keepers must walk between the stresses of the position and the fun that is to be had while playing. In training he pushes us to our limits, and sometimes even beyond them and at the end of the day, even after the hardest, most exhausting, miserable sessions, I always found myself walking away with a smile on my face. I don't know that I've ever been able to say that before, and likely never will again. I would highly recommend David to any keeper looking to fall in love with the position, and better themselves as a person and a keeper all while truly enjoying it and having fun."      
       - Jasmine Phillips, Ottawa Fury W-League Goalkeeper & Youth Graduate
         Interim Fury Goalkeeper Coach and Former Goalkeeper for
         University of Maine Black Bears (NCAA)