NI Goalkeeping - Home of Northern Ireland Goalkeeping

FOOTWORK

Exercise 1

Running over the ball.
Double footed jumping.
Double foot – two forward, one back

Six to eight balls are laid out in a line with a balls space in between them. The goalkeeper has to run over the balls, placing a foot in each space.

Key points

Light quick steps.
Keep weight on the balls of the feet.

Exercise 2

In and out.
Sideways
Backwards.

Six to eight balls are laid out as in Exercise 1, but this time the goalkeeper glides sideways, in and out of the balls.
Key points

Glide with feet shoulder width apart and knees bent.
Try to keep in contact with the ground as much as possible.
Keep the body weight forward.

Exercise 3

Side skipping forwards.
Forwards and backwards – sideways.
Backwards.
Side skipping – in behind balls.

The balls or markers are arranged in a zig zag formation and the goalkeeper has to glide around each ball or marker.
Progress to moving backwards in and out of the balls or markers.
To test whether the goalkeeper is moving with his head up, the coach can feed the occasional ball so that the goalkeeper has to save on the move.
Key points

Glide with feet shoulder width apart and knees bent
Maintain good contact with the ground
Keep body weight forward
Try to move in the ready position with head up and hands cocked

Exercise 4

Goalkeeper stands in a 6 yard goal facing S2; S2 volleys to goalkeeper who makes his save and returns the ball to S2, then turn quickly, moving forward through the goal to face S1 (10 reps). Servers approximately 10 – 12 metres away.
Service – volley, floor throw and above the head.

Exercise 5

Both goalkeepers start in the middle of the goal one behind the other. On the servers command they side skip in opposite directions to receive a serve from the servers. They make a save then cross over to receive a serve from the opposite server. Continue x 10.
Service – side foot, volleys.

Exercise 6

Goalkeeper moves over or through the markers into the small goal to make a save from the server.
Service – volleys, ½ volleys, floor, bounce.