By Matt Carroll,
Often times within a session it is difficult to integrate the technical elements of a goalkeeper with only 1-2 coaches present. It is often easier, and in some cases beneficial, to integrate the keepers into the technical warmup for the field players, but if goalkeepers are never allowed to develop their technical work within a session they will stagnate. The Box Drill is a simple technical warmup for keepers that can be done while the coach observes the main warmup, or can be executed by an assistant.
The drill starts with a 5x5 box and between 1-4 players arranged one to each side of the box with one player in the middle.
In the first phase of the game have a single one of the outside players hold a ball. The goalkeeper inside the box should have their back to the player on the outside. On a verbal cue the goalkeeper should turn around and get into a set position. The player on the outside then plays 1 of three passes to the goalkeeper. First they can play a ball into the air where the goalkeeper must collect the ball at the highest point with their knee up. Next, they can play a volley towards the goalkeeper’s chest that they must either catch with their hands or in a basket catch. Finally, they can roll the ball on the ground and the either collect on their knees or sprawled out using proper form.
The next phase, if possible, four players should be spread out around all four sides. The goalkeeper then should go in order receiving one of the three shots at each side. This can also be done with only 1-3 players as well, if only one, that player then can work on their short shuffle to shuffle around to each side as the goalkeeper works on their footwork adjusting to the movement of the player on the outside.
The final phase is the same as the 2nd phase, but in this example there is either a verbal or visual cue that signals which side the goalkeeper goes to. The outside players can be numbered so that a coach calls out the number and they defend the corresponding side, or it can be visual with the coach holding up a colored cone related to the colored cone that is at each outside player’s feet.
By Matt Carroll
