By Scott Housden - Moving across the goal at speed whilst being ready to save a shot is of course paramount to any goalkeeper. This drill will encourage your goalkeeper to not only move at speed across goal but also attack the ball with ease when shot stopping. Set Up The set up as shown in
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By Scott Housden - A goalkeepers’ ability to recover once they have gone to ground is a paramount skill in order to be able to make second or even third phase saves. This drill has elements of specific conditioning for this purpose but also focuses on a goalkeepers’ technique remaining strong once they start to fatigue.
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By Scott Housden - This drill can easily be incorporated into a general crossing session or a specialist cut-back crosses session. Essential criteria of dealing with any high balls or crosses is ‘Assess – Decide – React’ and it is no different for this drill. Set Up The set up as shown in the diagram below
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By Scott Housden - The exercise below is a great drill to finish a shot stopping session on. It adds an element of competitiveness among the goalkeepers as they can take turns in shooting. It is also a good marker as to how much the goalkeepers have absorbed during the session as a key component to
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By Scott Housden - Explosive power is a key aspect in goalkeeping. It is essential for 1 v 1 situations, dealing with high balls, shot stopping and recovery and movement around the goal. The drill below can be used as part of a diving technique session or as part of a pre-season conditioning session. Set Up
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By Scott Housden - As is the case for all other players, the goalkeeper moves considerably during games. However, a goalkeeper’s movements are often much smaller and precise. This active movement (i.e. the goalkeeper’s movement on the pitch to ensure good positioning before attempting to make a save) across the goalmouth is key when dealing with
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By Scott Housden - Once a dynamic warm-up has been performed it is always fun to include a game as part of the warm-up phase of the session. Below are two fun games for such part of the session. The first is ideal for a dealing with high balls sessions or dealing with cut back crosses
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By Scott Housden - Holding the ball when making a save is always what we as goalkeepers would like to achieve time and time again. However, many factors such as movement of the ball or weather conditions or, even a simple mistake can lead to the ball being spilled. The drill outlined below is a great
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By Scott Housden - The drill below is superb for allowing the goalkeeper to improve their fitness within their goalkeeping environment. It can be used as a warm up for a main session on diving, or indeed as a component for a conditioning session throughout the season and also pre-season. Set Up The drill is best
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By Scott Housden - Diving shape is a key component of making a successful diving save. Part of this is the ability to attack the ball when making the save. When a goalkeeper makes a simple save whilst standing with the ball shot straight at them at chest height, they are encouraged to catch the ball
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By Scott Housden - Being able to deal with the unpredictable including reaction saves is a vital component in goalkeeping. In order to be effective in these situations it is paramount that the goalkeeper remember and use the basic factors of goalkeeping, including; having relaxed shoulders in your balanced ‘set’ position, the size of your steps
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By Scott Housden - Once the goalkeeper is in control of the ball, there is nothing that frustrates not only the goalkeeper but also the rest of the team more is losing the ball through bad technique or a lack of concentration or vision. In the modern day game, distribution is an area where quality goalkeepers
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By Scott Housden - When playing a high pressing game, or your defenders are playing a high defensive line there is always the possibility of a counter attacking pinpoint long angled ball for a wide or central attacker to run on to and shoot. In this scenario, the goalkeeper is unable to sweep the ball and
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By Scott Housden - When facing angled shots from attackers, the goalkeeper’s movement and positioning are key in being able to make the save. The two key elements of positioning are; moving into line with the ball and moving down the line in order to reduce the goal-scoring opportunity. The diagram above illustrates the movement made
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By Scott Housden - The dive, it appears is the most attractive aspect of goalkeeping – particularly for junior goalkeepers, and is the skill which gives most satisfaction when performed correctly. Every goalkeepers diving proficiency differs from side to side (with a preference to one side). These drills below will help harmonise this diving technique and
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By Scott Housden - As is the case for all other players, the goalkeeper moves considerably during games. Nevertheless, only a few of these movements undertaken serve to fulfil the defensive duties of the goalkeeper. Active movement (i.e. the goalkeeper’s movement on the pitch to ensure good positioning before attempting to make a save) across the
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By Scott Housden - The majority of crosses that goalkeepers have to deal with during a game are usually those that the goalkeeper is not able to gather cleanly. Therefore, they may have to punch or help the ball on or, rely on their team to deal with the cross whilst the goalkeeper calls ‘away’ and
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By Scott Housden - Conditioning for goalkeepers is key throughout the season, and not just during pre-season. Specificity is also a key element for goalkeeper fitness. This is achievable by utilising specific traits that a goalkeeper undertakes during a game such as, short sprints, diving and recovering from dives. The drill below is superb for allowing
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