Soccer drill to build goalkeeper long distance throwing skills

Long throws from your goalkeeper are a great way to set up counter-attacks - you only need to watch professional goalkeepers to see how one-arm, long throws can get the ball quickly into target areas.

This is something you can try yourself before you get your goalkeeper doing it, but remember he's half your size and in many cases is still developing the strength to throw.

Drill tips for long distance throws

Tell your goalkeeper to throw as though he was bowling a ball with a straight elbow overarm, transferring the weight from the back foot forward to the front foot.

In an area around 10 metres long (the distance can easily be adjusted in relation to your goalkeeper's throwing ability) the goalkeeper starts from a central position and alternates throwing the ball into the two target areas marked out either side of the goals.

The goalkeeper at the opposite end repeats the soccer drill.

two goalkeepers at either end of marked out area practise overarm long distance throws

Extending the soccer drill

You can develop throwing skills by telling the goalkeepers to defend the two target areas nearest them by intercepting the ball before it bounces.

The keepers are awarded points for successfully bouncing the ball in either of the opposition’s target areas, and for intercepting a ball before it bounces in the target areas nearest them.

For more goalkeeper throwing soccer coaching tips, click here.

Soccer coaching tips


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