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Overview

This document covers the basics of the goalkeeper position including key techniques and the fundamentals of positioning. While targeted for younger U7-U10 players that are just beginning to learn the position, this information is suitable for older players who would like to learn a new position or maybe taking us soccer later in their childhood & find goalkeeping appealing.

About Goalkeeping

Playing goalkeeper is unique from other soccer positions not only because a keeper is permitted to use his/her hands while within certain areas of the field, but also because the position demands:

- Athleticism - A unique technical skill set

- Leadership - Mental toughness & focus

- Quick decision making - Verbal communication skills

In light of the psychological aspects of this position, it’s important that coaches be very encouraging with goalkeepers, especially after making an error (during matches especially). It is easy to destroy a player’s confidence & drive him or her away from the position if coaching comments are not kept positive. In the end, if a player is error prone or shows poor technique, that’s as much a reflection upon the coach as it is the player as it’s the coach that prepares and player for success or failure.

Like other positions, at the younger U7-U10 age groups, it is ill advised for a player to specialize in this position. Few young players (or their parents) really know whether or not this position will be right for them over the long run. Coaches should encourage all players to try the position, but should not force a player to focus solely on this position. Additionally, because of the “back pass” rule restrictions, strong foot skills for goalkeepers have become critical. Neglecting to develop a keeper’s field skills is not only bad for the player, but bad for the game.

Equipment

Because of the nature of goalkeeping, under the ‘Laws of the Game’ players in this position are required to employ slightly different equipment than a field player. The primary requirement is that the uniform worn most be distinctly different than those of the goalkeeper’s teammates or opponents. At older youth & senior levels, this means that goalkeeper’s wear different color jerseys, shorts & socks. However, for most youth competitions, a different colored jersey or off-colored pinnie is all the referee will require. Beyond the mandatory items, keeper’s often wear:

x Specially designed gloves to provide padding & improved gripe when catching a ball. x Long sleeve jerseys to protect the arms when diving. x Long pants with hip pads which also provide additional protection when diving.

As with field players, shin guards are mandatory safety equipment & soccer boots are highly recommended.

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Techniques

Footwork: While being a goalkeeper doesn’t usually demand a great deal of open field speed, both quickness & mobility are a necessity. There are many situations where simply being in the right place at the right time will prevent a shot or stop a goal. Great footwork will allow the keeper to be in that right place in time to make the save.

Ready Position

This is the starting point for many keeper movements. Keepers should assume this stance as the attacker’s shooting leg is drawn back & fixed in this position at the time the ball is struck.

x Keeper’s feet should be shoulder width apart with weight slightly forward such that they are balanced on the balls of their feet (i.e. heels slightly off the ground).

x Knees & waist slightly bent to provide a ‘spring’ for whatever movement will come next. x Arms should be down, to the sides & at an angle from the body with elbows slightly bent.

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Gorilla

This technique is essentially the ‘Ready Position’, but in motion. Keepers should use this when coming off their line to close down an attacker.

x Called “Gorilla” because the player resembles a charging gorilla when using this technique. x Knees & waist should be slightly bent to provide a “spring” for whatever movement will

come next. x Arms should be down and at an angle from the body with elbows slightly bent & palms

facing the ball. x Keepers should advance QUICKLY towards the ball while maintaining this position.

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Catching the ball: This is the most obvious goalkeeper skill set. While great foot skills are important for keeper success in the modern game, goalkeepers must be able to take advantage of the allowance to use their hands inside the penalty area. The ability to cleanly catch & retain a ball is amongst the most important skills while also being relatively easy to teach in comparison to other foot skills. Investing training time here will pay immediate dividends.

Scoop

Used to gather up balls on the ground, this technique will be used the most by young goalkeepers as they face similarly inexperienced attackers who tend to drive the ball along the ground.

x From the ‘Ready Position’, the keeper should side shuffle across the face of the goal to get in-line with the ball’s path.

x The keeper should establish a strong base by taking a small step towards the ball & plant the lead foot (i.e. left foot if shuffling left, right foot if shuffling right).

x Keeper should then kneel the trailing leg in a position parallel to the goal line. This creates the so-called “long barrier” position. While often awkward for young players, it covers a greater portion of the goal in case the ball is misplayed with the hands.

x Finally, the keeper should bend at the waist with chest facing forward & eyes fixed upon the ball while extending the arms fully with palms facing up, fingers fanned out with pinkies touching and fingers nearly touching the ground.

x As the ball comes into the hands, the keeper should curl their hands & arms up to trap the ball between the forearms & chest.

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Basket Catch

Used to catch balls in the air from about knee height to lower chest height, this is probably the most natural feeling catch for young goalkeepers, but also prone to being spilt if the ball is allowed to bounce off the legs or chest & back towards the attacker. Focus on quickly curling the arms around the ball.

x From the ‘Ready Position’, the keeper should side shuffle across the face of the goal to get in-line with the ball’s path, then step towards the ball.

x Keeper should bring their arms & hands into a parallel orientation in front of their body & at an angle towards the ground.

x Finally, the keeper should bend at the waist with chest facing forward & eyes fixed upon the ball while extending the arms fully with palms facing up & fingers fanned out with pinkies touching.

x As ball arrives, the keeper should curl their hands & arms up to trap the ball between the forearms & chest.

x Additionally, if the keeper can lean over the ball slightly as it arrives, then any split balls will likely deflect down directly in front of the keeper.

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Contour Catch

Used to catch balls in the air from upper chest height to head height, this is probably the least natural feeling catch for young goalkeepers because they will tend to recoil from the ball & attempt to protect their face. Focus on keeping the arms extended until the ball arrives.

x From the ‘Ready Position’, the keeper should side shuffle across the face of the goal to get in-line with the ball’s path, then step towards the ball.

x Keeper should bring their arms & hands into a parallel orientation in front of their body with hands up, wrists at a slight forward angle & fingers gently curled to mimic the shape of the ball.

x As the ball arrives, the keeper should adjust hand height to grasp the top half of the ball, then pull back the hands to cushion & slow the ball. Keepers who are good with the contour catch will have “quiet hands”, there will be little to no sound when the ball is caught.

x Keeping hands above the center of the ball will help prevent balls from going over the head of the keeper & into the goal. Additionally, should the ball be spilt, it will tend to deflect down to the ground in front of the goalkeeper where it can be quickly secured.

x The contour catch may also be used for balls well above the head, but requires the ability to time a one-leg jump in order to vault up & meet the ball.

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Tipping the ball

Used to deflect balls well above the keeper’s head. While catching & securing the ball is always preferred, this can be a particularly useful technique, especially when playing on age appropriate goals.

x From the ‘Ready Position’, move body on a slight angle whilst head can still focus on the ball. This will enable the goalkeeper to adjust their feet quickly in relation to the ball travelling towards them.

x As the ball arrives, the keeper should leap using the power within their legs to enable them to straighten their elbows to provide deflecting force while making contact with the bottom half of the ball to force the ball over the goal’s crossbar & away from danger.

x When playing on full size goals, keepers must be aware of their distance from the goal & ensure they can push the ball high enough to clear the goal.

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Smothering the ball

A smother may be used in conjunction with another type of catch, usually a ‘Scoop’ or ‘Basket Catch’. Typically, it’s useful to smother only lower balls (knee height) or skipping balls where the keeper may have to lean forward deeply to secure a ball. If a keeper can make a save without going to ground, they should do so.

Smothering is essentially the follow through of a catch whereby:

x The keeper takes the ball to the ground by straightening the legs & falling forward to the ground while cradling the ball between the forearms & chest.

x As the keeper’s upper body reaches the ground, the forearms should be used to cushion the landing while spreading out the legs behind to ensure the body remains directly atop the ball.

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Distribution – Kicks: For most young goalkeepers, kicking the ball out of the penalty area is the “safest” method of distribution &, ironically, the most error prone. Teaching a keeper the proper way to punt & goal kick will install confidence in their abilities while simultaneously protecting the team from “cheap” goals. However, coaches who choose to emphasize kicks as the primary method of distribution also need to spend ample time training players to receive balls out of the air otherwise a punt or a kick becomes as 50/50 proposition for retaining position (at best). All these kicks are a great use of tool for

a goalkeeper, however we can’t stress enough how important it is to encourage a quick, short pass to the defenders to enable the team to play the ball out of defense.

Punting

Young keepers usually enjoy practicing this technique as it’s relatively easy to perfect. This technique is different than for a football, so coaches should take care to teach this correctly.

x Open the body up about 45˚ while extending the arms & holding the ball using the palm of their hand opposite the kicking foot. The arm holding the ball should point towards the intended target.

x Take a small step forward & firmly plant the non-kicking foot. The orientation of the plant foot will largely dictate the direction of the ball will take once it is struck.

x Simultaneously lock down the ankle of the kicking leg, draw back the leg & flex the knee. The plant & kicking foot backswing should be one fluid motion.

x While keeping the eyes focused on the ball, snap the kicking leg forward. The keeper should either twist the wrist of the hand with the ball or roll the ball off the fingertips (the method used is dictated by the length of the keeper’s legs). Either way, the intent is to drop the ball directly down. Keepers should avoid throwing the ball up as it complicates the kick’s timing.

x With the ankle still locked, strike the ball with the instep & finish with the toes of the kicking foot pointed at the intended target. Toes pointing skyward usually result in balls going high, but not far down the field. The keeper’s foot should meet the ball about halfway to the ground.

x Encourage keepers to hold the ball until they are near the edge of the penalty area to maximize the punt’s distance away from the goal.

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Punting continued

To see this technique in action visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ3q-JLQt6c

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Goal Kicks

Despite how simple it looks, the Goal Kick is one of the most difficult techniques to master. Like many other things in soccer, performing a Goal Kick properly relies less upon raw power than one might imagine. While mastering the Goal Kick may take more time than any other keeper technique, it’s worth it as this one component will prevent more soft goals against young keepers than all other distribution methods combined.

The technical steps below are numbered to match the image of the keeper:

1. Pull back the kicking leg properly – This is crucial as to whether the keeper generates a powerful kick or not: the further back the keeper manage to bring the kicking leg, the greater the amount of power that will be applied to the ball. After striking the ball, the kicking leg should follow through.

2. Lock the ankle in correct position – While executing a Goal Kick, the keeper must keep the ankle of the kicking foot locked. The keeper should strike the bottom quarter of the ball with the half instep (i.e. the front half of the foot).

3. Plant Knee Positioning – The knee of the keeper’s supporting leg should be slightly bent, making it easier to kick the ball with the opposite foot’s half instep. The greater the knee bend, the easier it will be for the keeper to make ball contact with the half instep.

4. Plant foot location – While executing a Goal Kick, the plant foot should be about a ball’s width away from the ball & slightly behind the ball (not beside or in front of the ball). Providing this space will make it easier to approach & strike the ball from a 45˚ angle, thus allowing for the maximum application of kicking foot power. Additionally, the direction of the plant foot will largely dictate the direction the ball will take once it’s struck.

5. Body Position – As the keeper reaches the ball, the hands should be down, away from the body & at an angle to body to provide balance. The eyes should be focused on the ball. Meanwhile, the chest should be facing the direction of the ball’s intended flight path (i.e. down field & not facing the ball). As the ball is struck, the hips should swivel in alignment with the chest to deliver additional power to the ball. Finally, the keeper should bend slightly backwards at the waist to provide lift for the ball.

To see this technique in action visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQyppdNm8

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Distribution – Throws: As players develop better foot skills, shifting the keeper from punts to throws can provide higher levels of possession & may be used predictably to trigger counter-attacking opportunity. With all throws, the keeper should attempt to place the ball on a path that is easy for a teammate to receive & difficult for an opposing player to intercept. Ideally, balls are distributed such that they can be received on-the-run. Encourage keepers to hold the ball until they are near the edge of the penalty area to maximize the throw’s distance away from the goal.

Roll (aka Bowl)

The Roll is used for hand distribution over short distances.

x The keeper should face the target with shoulders squared & eyes locked on where the ball needs to go.

x The ball should be held in the palm of the throwing hand. For young goalkeepers with small hands, the free hand may be used to support the side of the ball (similar to holding a bowling ball). Some keepers may also find it comfortable to trap the ball between the hand and forearm.

x The keeper should take a step towards the target using the leg opposite the throwing arm, bend at the waist, reach for the ground, and then smoothly release the ball along the ground with a bowling motion & strong follow through. The hand should be below the knees at the point of release.

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Side Arm

The Side Arm is used for hand distribution over short to medium distances.

x The keeper should start with the chest at a 45˚ angle to the target (i.e. shoulder opposite the throwing arm aimed at the target).

x The ball should be held in the palm of the throwing hand. Some keepers may also find it comfortable to trap the ball between the hand & forearm. In either case, the throwing arm should be extended away from the body just below shoulder height with the elbow slightly bent.

x The keeper should take a step towards the target using the leg opposite the throwing arm, then rotate the body towards the target while simultaneously bringing the arm forward towards the target in a slightly downward direction.

x Release the ball at about waist height with a firm snap of the wrist (to put back-spin on the ball) & strong follow through.

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Javelin (aka over-the-top)

The javelin is used for hand distribution over medium to long distances. It may also be useful for shorter throws where a ‘Roll’ might normally be employed, but there is an opposing player between the keeper & where he/she would like to send the ball. This technique may be difficult for the youngest keepers who lack arm strength & have small hands.

x The keeper should start with the chest at a 45˚ angle to the target (i.e. shoulder opposite the throwing arm aimed at the target).

x The ball should be held in the palm of the throwing hand with fingers gripping the ball to secure it & the arm should be extended straight behind the body.

x The keeper should extend the non-throwing arm towards the target, take a step towards the target using the leg opposite the throwing arm, then rotate the body towards the target while simultaneously bringing the arm overhead towards the target.

x Release the ball with a firm snap of the wrist (to put back-spin on the ball) & strong follow through.

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Positioning/Angles: A key element for goal keeping is understanding how keeper position increases the difficulty of an attackers shot on goal. As mentioned previously in the footwork section, being in the right place at the right time makes all the difference. Teach your young keepers that just like a field player, they need to always be on the move & engaged in what’s happening on the field.

The Goalkeeper Arc

The Goalkeeper Arc is an imaginary, curved line which runs between the goal posts. The arc provides a reference point for the keeper’s positioning in front of the goal as the ball moves laterally across the field. At its apex, the arc is about 1yd away from the goal line.

When the ball is on the flank (as shown in the diagram), the keeper should be close to both the near post & the goal line. When the ball is in a central position, the keeper should track along the arc to a position of the goal line.

Regardless of the ball’s position, the keeper should:

x Use the side shuffle to traverse the arc. x Keep the head steady with eyes on the ball. x Continuously narrow a shooter’s angle on the goal. x Always favor protection of the near post.

Goalkeeper

Field Player

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Staying linked with defenders

Controlling the area between the last defender & the goal is a critical responsibility for every goal keeper. Keepers must be prepared to step outside the penalty area to intercept long passes that beat the defense & play the role of the sweeper.

As such, the keeper should adjust their distance from the goal as follows:

x Position near the top of the penalty arc if the ball is in the attacking third. x Position near the top of the penalty area if the ball is in the middle third, but still in the

opponent’s half. x Position between the penalty area and the goal area if the ball is in the middle third, but in

the keeper’s half of the field. x Position near the top of the goal area if the ball is in the defending third, but out of shooting

range. x Position along the goalkeeping arc if the ball is in shooting range.

When moving from position to position, the keeper should jog forward or back pedal so that the ball can be kept in sight at all times (i.e. do not turn the back to the ball).

As part of training keepers to stay linked with defenders, the defenders need to be reminded that the keeper is there & available for a “back-pass” in order to relieve pressure, switch the fields or potentially initiate a counter-attack. With young keepers, remind them that balls deliberately kicked to them by a teammate may not be picked up & instead must be played with the feet.

When to come of the “line”

This is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the goalkeeping position. When to hold ground & when to advance off the goalkeeper arc when a shot is imminent? There are few clear-cut guidelines with experience being the only true way to develop judgment. However, there are a few questions keepers can ask themselves to help make a choice:

x Do I have a teammate closing down the attacker and will he/she get to the ball before the attacker can shoot or cross?

x If the attacker has a heavy touch, am I quick enough to get to the ball before he/she does? x Is one of my teammates nearby & can they step into the goal area to protect the goal?

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Decision making: For the young keeper, there are really three critical types of decisions which need to be made during a game. The first, when to come off the “line, was covered in the previous ‘Positioning/Angles’ section. The other two are:

x Distribution x Initiating the counter-attack

In soccer parlance, distribution is the act of a keeper providing the ball for a teammate. This can occur via the various kicks & throws discussed in earlier sections. For the young keeper, being confident in their ability to get the ball where it needs to go is the first step (i.e. able to execute a technique). The second step is choosing which teammate is in the best position to receive the ball & this is the next coaching challenge as it’s as much the responsibility of the field players as it is the keeper to make the choice. If field players are standing still while marked or holding a space beyond the keeper’s range, then the keeper is in a very bad position.

When working on distribution, coaches should involve a handful of field players to play the roles of attacker & defender & provide the keeper with realistic scenarios. Create situations in practice that keepers are likely to see during a match:

- Goal Kicks - A save followed by a medium sidearm

- A save followed by a punt - A save followed by a long overhand

- A save followed by a short roll

Finally, try to use keepers in small-sided scrimmages during practices to provide the most game-like environment possible for the keeper to experience.

Directly related to distribution is the keeper initiating the counter-attack. For many young keepers, the first thing they think of after making a save is to run as quickly as possible to the edge of the penalty area & punt it away with no real thought on where it might end up. Usually, the punt will become a 50/50 proposition for retaining possession (at best).

Instead, keepers should be taught to scan the field as they jog towards the edge of the penalty area. Keepers should look for open players on the midfield wing or perhaps a player deep down the field (but not in an offside position) & look to get the ball to them somehow. This approach will increase the likelihood of possession & provide an opportunity to organize a counter-attack. While it’s recognized this is far simpler said than done, teaching a young keeper to think in this manner will pay dividends as the keeper’s skill improves & develops composure.

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Communications: Finally comes communications in terms of organizing the defense. Strong goalkeepers take charge by providing instructions & reminders to their teammates about exposed portions of the field, unmarked attackers, which teammates should go where during an opposing team free kick & so forth.

For young players, being a leader is difficult enough, but getting a young keeper to lead from the back is a difficult task. Still, like many other things in soccer, it’s best to start young & encourage them. Start with simple, obvious things like:

x Organizing the defense during an opposing team corner kick (“mark-up”); x Organizing the defense during an opposing team direct free kick in the defending third (“make a

wall”).

Over time, the keeper will become more comfortable in the role & expand their scope to include a wider range of scenarios.

Carl Smith

Community Development Officer

Seacoast United

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