Match preparation soccer drill for goalkeepers
Ask a parent or other helper to assist with this soccer warm-up drill so you can get your goalkeeper match ready.
Soccer (football) warm up drill for all age groups
This is a soccer warm up drill for goalkeepers of all age groups. It is best run with just the goalkeeper and a helper or yourself, but you can use a couple of outfield players to help you.
The soccer drill should last for around 15 minutes in the goal while the rest of your squad is doing other warm up soccer (football) drills.
Set up the soccer drill
- Use the goal and a few soccer balls.
- Make sure your goalkeeper has already done light jogging, stretching and catching first.
How to coach the soccer drill
Check out the diagram. Standing to the side of the goal and about 7 or 8 yards away, you should gather 6-7 soccer balls and hold one in your hand.
In this soccer drill, tell your goalkeeper:
- To sprint out to touch the soccer ball you are holding. Then quickly back peddle towards the goal (keeping his eyes on the ball in your hand).
- As the keeper back peddles towards the goal, throw a high lofted ball at the goal which the goalkeeper must punch over the cross bar or catch.
- After the ball is caught, throw a ball towards the near post and tell your keeper he must react quickly and push the ball past the post out of touch or catch the ball.
- You then quickly throw another ball towards the far post and tell your keeper he must catch or push the ball past the post.
- After this ball is caught, you or one of the team - you can use your striker which will also warm up his shooting accuracy - shoots at the goal and the keeper must make a save again.
Make sure you use both sides of the drill area
Now move to the other side of the goal and do the drill again. There is a lot of movement for the keeper involved in this warm-up drill, so don’t tire him out. It’s a dynamic and fast paced exercise, so make sure your keeper has time to take a breather before the match kicks-off.
How to change the soccer (football) drill
Move the area you are firing the ball in from and get a couple of your outfield players to fire the ball in at your keeper while you stand behind the goal and advise him how to stop the ball going into the goal.
You can also get them to play more high balls where the keeper has to move backwards towards his goal-line.
Key soccer coaching tips
- Tell your keeper he needs to use quick footwork skills and movements because the ball will be moving fast.
- Point out to the keeper how shutting off the angles helps cut down the size of the target the striker has to shoot at - work on angles from both sides.
- Tell him he should keep his shoulders square to the ball.
- Look for a quick recovery from shots and tell him to be ready for rebounds.
- Make sure he is correctly judging high balls.
Click here for soccer coaching tips to get your goalie jumping.
Click here to order
The Soccer Goalkeeping DVD.
Soccer coaching tips
Improve your soccer training skills. Sign up for a FREE weekly email, full of simple proven tips, advice and drills.
"I look forward to every issue because it is concise and filled with great information. In times like this, with very busy schedules, it is invaluable. I highly recommend it."
Victor Gascon, Coach, USA
|