About BIG CAT GK

BIG CAT GOALKEEPING is a goalkeeper-specific organization designed to benefit players of all ages and levels. Our goal is to bridge the gap between youth, college, and professional soccer. Established in Chicago in 2011, Big Cat goalkeeping now runs out of two main regions: Hollywood, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

Our Founder and Director of Coaching, Neil "Big Cat" Thompson, takes pride in leading a capable and passionate staff of coaches who share the same level of hunger to refine and adapt youth goalkeepers to the modern game. Neil has professional playing experience in Europe, including in the English FA Cup, and has has coached at the U-19 US Youth National Team Level, NCAA Division 1 level, and Youth Academy level at MLS franchise Los Angeles Football Club.

WHAT WE OFFER

Knowledge:

Drawing from experience from all corners of the globe, Big Cat Goalkeeping gives its goalkeepers the essential tools needed to excel in the modern game. Our staff has collaborated with top youth academies such as Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, and Blackburn along with domestic youth academies such as USYNT, LAFC, and Red Bull New York, & Houston Dynamo.

Access:

We believe it is critical for young players to gain as much perspective and experience as possible when it comes to developing themselves into a complete player. Our trips to date have taken us to the academies of Blackburn Rovers (England), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), Atletico Madrid (Spain), and Houston Dynamo (USA). These trips open the door to new sights, sounds, and possibilities for our goalkeepers to create everlasting memories, and to grow to new heights. 

Development:

The main training functions of Big Cat Goalkeeping include:

Along with our training opportunities, Big Cat offers a variety of top-notch gloves and other apparel. Our gloves have been worn and touted by professionals and amateurs alike - we highly recommend checking them out!

Commitment:

Big Cat is proud to have been a part of Being a part of hundreds of goalkeepers’ journeys to college, semiprofessional, and professional play. We offer a vast network of resources to navigate the pathway from youth soccer to college soccer, and beyond. We make it our duty to guide our players to the best possible level they can achieve!

     

     

    Big Cat Goalkeeping is here to provide great developmental and technical coaching for the goalkeeping position. We provide not only functional education and instructions for the position, but a close-knit, family-like environment.  It is our goal to develop meaningful coach-to-player relationships along your goalkeeping journey. We wish to provide our goalkeepers with all necessary tools to achieve the highest level of playing experience possible. 

    So what are you waiting for? Join the Big Cat family today!