GREAT QUESTION. YOUR KEEPER SHOULD BE INCORPORATED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR FIELDS PLAYER TRAINING. JUST ADD A GOAL.

YOU CAN PLAY WITH 1 FULL SIZE GOAL FOR ONE TEAM TO SHOOT AT AND 2 SMALL GOALS FOR THE DEFENDING TEAM TO GO TO. YOU CAN USE GOALKEEPERS IN 4V4, 1V1, 11V11, 5V2, 2V1, ANYTHING!

I HAVE BOOKS AND BOOKS OF DRILLS, BUT MOST OF MY BEST DRILLS NOW I MAKE UP AT TRAINING OR BEFORE A SESSION IN MY CAR.

IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC REQUEST I CAN ANSWER YOU MORE PRECISLY

The guide to goalkeeper coaching part 1: positioning

Several readers of this newsletter have asked me if I can write an article on the basics of goalkeeper coaching.

So this is the first part of the guide. It will, I hope, help you teach your young goalkeepers how to save more shots, give them confidence in their own ability and help them them to enjoy their "career" as a shot stopper.

But before we start, I'd like to suggest that you teach all your players how to be a goalkeeper.

For one thing, telling just one of your players that she has to go in goal ignores the fact that you really don't know who is going to be your best goalkeeper until your players have been playing soccer for at least three years.

For another, not many children want to play in goal. Most want the glory of scoring goals, not saving them. While I will give you some tips regarding boosting the status of goalkeeping in the next newsletter, you should still rotate the position among all your players – even if it just to how them now tough life can be "between the sticks"!

The importance of correct positioning

It's important that you spend enough time on this topic. Correct positioning doesn't come naturally to young goalkeepers and one who hasn't been told how to position themselves in particular situations will concede avoidable goals. On the other hand, a good sense of positioning makes shot stopping so much easier and sometimes removes the need to make a save at all.

1. Where's the goal?

Some young goalkeepers will watch what's going on in front of them. Some will watch the match on the next pitch and some will keep an eye on what their mum and dad are doing. Not many will look over their shoulder when the ball starts coming towards them to make sure they know where the posts are.

Make sure your goalkeeper knows they can't be in the right position to make a save if they don't know where their goal is! A occasional quick glance round is all that is required.

2. Getting ready to make a save.

Before starting on positioning, make sure your goalkeeper doesn't stand like a "rabbit frozen in the headlights" when an attacker is bearing down on them.

When the ball is approaching their goal, they should be on the balls of their feet, knees bent and facing the ball square on with their hands by their sides. This is called the "ready position".

Tip: You can demonstrate the importance of correct weight distribution and movement very simply.

Ask your players to stand still with their weight on their heels and then ask them to jump as high as they can. They will find it difficult, if not impossible, to get off the ground.

Repeat the exercise while they are bouncing on the balls of their feet and they will see how important it is to keep their weight forward and not stand still.

3. Don't get stuck on the line.

Another common fault, especially with timid or very young goalkeepers, is to get their feet stuck on the goal line.

This has to be corrected as your goalkeeper can't possibly save shots directed at either post if they are standing in the middle of the goal with their feet planted on the line.

Tip: tell your goalkeeper to stand in the centre of the penalty area, facing the goal line. You stand on the goal line and ask your goalkeeper: "How big does this goal look?". Answer: "Pretty big".

Now move off the line so you are standing about five yards in front of your goalkeeper and ask: "How big does the goal look now?". Answer: "Smaller".

Now stand toe to toe with your goalkeeper and ask the same question. You'll get a different answer.

Your goalkeeper now understands the benefits of not standing on the goal line when an attacker is approaching with the ball.

Warning: while it is important that your goalkeeper moves off the line, there is a danger they could be lobbed if they come out too far, too soon – especially if they are 3ft 6ins and the goal is 7ft high!

4. It's time to draw the line.

As well as reducing the distance between themselves and the ball, your goalkeepers need to be taught that they need to stand on an imaginary line between the ball and the centre of the goal.

This allows them to cover shots directed at either post.

What to say to your goalkeeper:

"Don't stand on the line!"

"Look over your shoulder!"


Four goals, two keepers
Objectives: to encourage your outfield players to play with their heads up and spot goal-scoring opportunities, and to encourage your goalkeepers to keep their eye on the ball and predict where the next attack is coming from.

Age range: U9 to U14

Set-up: play this game on a slightly narrower pitch than usual. For U10s, 40 yards long by 15 yards wide is ideal.

Place a small goal at each corner of the playing area.

Each team has one goalkeeper and between three and five outfield players.

How to play: Each team – and each goalkeeper – has two goals to defend.

First team to score X number of goals wins the game.

Alternatively, play for a set time.

Put a different player in goal every few minutes or after a goal is scored.

Progression:

Restrict outfield players to three touches.

Mark an exclusion zone about five yards in front of the goals where only the goalkeeper is allowed. This encourages your players to take their chances more positively and stops them trying to walk the ball into the net.

Set up several playing areas and play a mini tournament.



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GOALKEEPING TRAINING
Change of Direction and Diving
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on explosiveness, change of direction, diving and shot blocking.
Start with a keeper in the center of the goal with a hurdle one yard in front of each post. The hurdles are facing the sidelines. A server is at the top of the 18 with some balls

The keeper starts by sliding, side to side, toward one of the hurdles and jumping over it sideways.

As soon as the keeper lands on the outside of the hurdle he immediately jumps back over toward the middle.

Upon landing the server plays a ball to the center of the goal. The keeper will have to dive and make the save.

The keeper would then get up and do the same thing in the other direction.
The keeper would do this 5 times in each direction.
By adding the movement and the 2 quick jumps before each dive it’s adding in fitness work, explosiveness training, working on change of direction, diving and shot blocking.