Ocean Beach Soccer Club
Goalkeeper Development
The implementation of goalkeepers
within youth soccer begins at the
U–10 level.
Restricting a player to the position
of goalkeeper at too early of an age
may have a negative effect and
eliminate them from future
participation in soccer.
It is imperative that, until the U–14 level, the position is “passed around” to each
member of the team so that all may learn the skills involved, whether or not any
of them will eventually embrace the role at a later age.
Children grow at different rates and times. It is impossible to predict who will
develop into the best goalkeeper when they are ten or younger.
It is also impossible to tell who, if anyone, will embrace the idea and challenges
of being the team’s goalkeeper.
Early selection as a goalkeeper may not be in the player’s best long–term interest.
This is why every player needs a chance at the position in game situations.
Development of a goalkeeper must be carefully monitored and conducted.
The progressive teaching of technical skills is important given the concerns for
safety within the position. This is just a beginner’s level training guide — nobody
expects you to become a world–class goalkeeper trainer.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
• U-7: No GK required.
• U-8: No GK required.
• U-10: GK is included within team – rotate all players as GK.
• U-12: GK’s identified within team – GK’s share time but in order of priority, which
is determined by the coach. Should be 4 to 5 players that can/will play GK.
• U-14: GK chosen on ability and contribution to the team. Should have at least two
back–ups to the primary GK.
Goalkeeper Specific Rules
A goalkeeper may pick up a ball and touch a ball with their hands inside their
own penalty area. They cannot touch the ball with their hands outside of the
penalty area.
When leaving the penalty area, the goalkeeper is subject to the same rules as all
field players.
A goalkeeper may not pick up a ball played back to him by his own team if it was
kicked. If headed or deflected back to him, he may pick up the ball.
The goalkeeper must release the ball within 6 seconds after picking it up. Once
released, he may not pick up the ball again until another player touches the ball.
On a penalty kick, the goalkeeper may not move off of the goal line until the ball is
touched by the kicker.
Uniforms
Goalkeepers must wear a jersey of a different color from either team and the
game referee.
If the jerseys of the two goalkeepers are the same color and neither has another
jersey to change into, the referee allows play to begin.
Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms as part of their basic equipment.
Goalkeepers may wear gloves to protect their hands. Goalkeeper gloves that have
a non–slip surface on the palms and fingers are allowed. No foreign substance,
such as Stickum, is allowed to be applied to the goalkeeper’s gloves or hands.
Training
Goalkeepers are the last line of defense, so their importance to a soccer team can’t be overstated.
A strong defense is twice as good when it has a good goalkeeper backing it up, and keeping balls
out of the net reflects directly on the scoreboard and indirectly through team morale.
There are hundreds of ways to improve a goalkeeper’s skill level. Some of the drills that follow will
help goalkeepers make the big stops when it counts.
BREAKAWAY DRILL
How it works:
Use one goalkeeper at a time.
This drill is good for shooting practice
as well as goalkeeper practice.
• Divide team in half. Half the team
starts from a line that is 30–40
yards away from the goal.
• Players go in one at a time and
only get one shot on goal.
• As soon as the shot is taken, the next player may go.
• Players must retrieve their own ball.
• Each team gets 90 seconds to take as many shots as they can.
• Teams and goalkeepers switch after 90 seconds.
• U–10 & U–12: Goalkeepers not in goal are assigned to one of the half teams and take shots
if their team is the one shooting
Coaching Points
• Keepers must determine how far they can come out without giving up a “chip” over their head.
• Keepers should stay on their feet, making themselves as “big” as possible, for as long
as possible.
• Dive, slide for the ball, hands first, only when sure of getting the ball. Dive immediately after
the attacker’s shot if necessary.
• Keepers must also work on guiding the ball over the crossbar.
• Shooters must decide between dribbling and shooting or chipping the keeper immediately after
the save is made.
• When dribbling, if the keeper stays in the net, slot the ball low, just out of reach of the
keeper’s feet.
• If the keeper comes out of the goal, look to unbalance the keeper, then dribble around the
keeper and shoot.
• Fitness for all involved.
SHOT STOPPER
How it works
• Coach stands 5–7 yards away with ball
in hand.
• Coach simulates shots by rolling soccer
ball to the side, lobbing over the head,
throwing the ball downwards to replicate
downwards header, but always gives the keeper a chance to make the save.
• If keeper misses the ball or pushes it away, coach immediately picks up another ball while
keeper is recovering.
• When save is made, keeper must first throw the ball back to the coach, before doing anything
else. Keeper uses the momentum of the throw to aid in the recovery back to the alert position.
• Give rest periods when fatigue sets in.
Coaching Points
• Throwing the ball back from the side diving position, while pumping back with the upper knee,
brings the correct recovery position, forcing proper side diving technique and positioning of
hands. This artificial condition has the effect of conditioning the keeper to adopt the open, side
diving position when making a save.
• Look for these improper diving positions:
1. Swinging both knees around in front.
2. Dives backwards.
3. Belly flops.
4. Rolls onto the back.
KEEPER TOSS
How it Works
• Split squad in half and line up outside each side of the
penalty area.
• Coach tosses, rolls or bounces a ball to the goalkeeper.
• Alternating sides, the first player in line starts running upfield
• Goalkeeper either rolls or throws the ball out to the player
who then controls the ball and passes it back in to the coach
• Coach begins the next ball immediately after the goalkeeper
makes his/her throw
• Switch goalkeepers when fatigue sets in (about 8–10 throws)
Coaching Points
• Proper technique and throwing skills, developing arm strength.
• Accuracy of throws will improve.
• High work rate for keepers.
• Emphasize positioning
CATCHING HIGH BALLS
Of all the goalkeeper drills to learn, this one might
be the most important.
How it works
• One goalkeeper in net, two attacking players
• Coach tosses high ball into the area
• Attackers try to put the ball into the net
• Goalkeeper attempts to out–jump attackers and
catch the ball
• Mix up lob tosses as well as flat trajectory throws simulating a hard, high cross
• Switch attackers each throw and keepers every 3–4 throws
• Work on keeper cover–ups and protecting the ball once caught
• Keepers should also try punching the ball out or tipping the ball up and over the bar
Goalkeeper Communication
Teach Your Young Goalkeepers to Talk (U–12 & U–14)
Goalkeeping is something that takes a lot of experience to be
really successful. It is all about experience and how well they
are able to direct and command their penalty area and goal.
The more situations they experience, the better they will be
at reacting to situations before they actually happen. A big
way to do this is by communication. Knowing what, when
and how to say it is critical for the goalkeeper.
So, how do you get your goalkeeper to talk more?
Well, if you have a 9–year–old goalkeeper, you certainly
can’t expect to see and hear your goalkeeper communicating the same things that you see on TV,
just like you would not expect the field player to communicate well at this age either.
Players at this age are totally fixated on the soccer ball and can’t really comprehend anything else
that might be going on in the game. At the young ages of their development, we cannot expect
too much from goalkeepers in regard to communication, especially during the ages of 10–13.
What we would recommend is to quiz your goalkeeper. Ask them “what should you be saying to
your teammates?” The answer you will most likely get? “I don’t know.”
Most young goalkeepers do not talk because they do not know what to say — it is that simple.
They have hardly experienced anything yet in their young soccer careers and we are expecting
them to talk like the 35–year–old professional that we all watch on television. This is extremely
unrealistic and unfair to that young goalkeeper, especially if we truly understand the childhood
development of that particular age.
Focus on getting young goalkeepers to communicate five things:
Turn: telling a teammate when they have time and can turn the ball
Man–on : telling a teammate when they are under pressure
Push–up: telling their defenders to squeeze up the field and push their defense forward
Clear : tell teammates that they need to clear the ball away because he/she is holding their
ground in goal
Keeper: telling teammates that you are coming for the ball
When and How to Say It
If a goalkeeper can at least communicate these five things, they are on the road to success!
It is NOT the expectation for the young goalkeeper to match up players, have players keep
defensive shape, etc. Focus on having them understand these simple five things first and then
build from there.
Once they realize what to say, now we need to focus on having them understand when to say it.
This is actually more important than knowing what to say — it must always be early!
Communication after the fact is not useful information so we must make sure they are able to see
and vocalize this information early.
For example, they yell “Keeper” when they are coming for a cross (as well as other situations),
but how many times have you seen a young goalkeeper yelling “Keeper” when they are actually
catching the ball? This is way too late.
The whole reason for the communication is to let their teammates know that they are coming for
the ball and let them get out of his/her way.
So, if they give the information when they are catching the ball, most likely the defender has
already committed to the ball as well. Now both of them are running into each other.
This obviously will cause potential problems and, possibly, injuries.
To be even a marginally effective goalkeeper, they will need to communicate properly. Otherwise
they will be nothing more just a shot–stopper. That is NOT a compliment. Shot stopping is just one
element of goalkeeping.
Teaching Goalkeepers the Art of Distribution
Once the goalkeeper has the ball, he or she becomes an
attacking player. Just like any attacking player, the keeper
wants to move the ball towards the other goal in possession,
if possible.
If a keeper wants to learn how to throw or punt or dropkick
the ball better or more accurately, high repetition is required.
If the keeper wants to understand who to distribute to and
whether to punt or throw, then they have to be put into game
situations. Anything from a 3 vs 3 to an 11 vs 11 will work.
Here are some rules:
• If the ball comes in from one side, distribute to the other side.
• If your team is under heavy pressure, punt long to relieve pressure.
• If your team needs possession, then throw the ball out to the outside areas of your final
third unless players are not open.
• If your teammate is close to you, bowl or roll the ball out underhand.
• If your teammate is farther from you, then sling the throw overhand to get it there quickly
and to cover more distance.
• If your teammate is standing, then throw to their feet, don’t lead them into space
• If your teammate is running, then lead them into the space they are moving to.
Pre–game Warmup
The goalkeeper: the most important player on
the soccer field at all times, and most of the
time it is the position that is not properly warmed
up during pre–match activities.
Why? Because neither the coaches nor the
player know how to do it properly.
It is that simple.
How many times do you see youth soccer
pre–game warmups that consist of two lines
that dribble in and shoot at the goalkeeper?
If you think it is helping the goalkeeper, you
are gravely mistaken.
A proper warmup is critical for his or her success in the match. Goalkeepers need to prepare their
technical side, which will increase their confidence going into the match.
To properly warm up for a match, the pre–game preparation actually begins days before during
practice. Once they get to the field, they need to begin slowly with a nice jog and stretch.
Then they can begin to toss the ball around with a coach or other goalkeeper. This begins to get
the upper body ready to move. Simple basic catching of the ball with perfect technique (with
diamond and fingertips on top of ball....NO “W” catch!) is the easiest place to start. By adding
a little footwork they can begin to further get their legs and upper body working together.
As they progress, they need to prepare their body to hit the ground. Starting out with some simple,
collapsed diving for low– and mid–level balls should do this.
Service for this type of activity should be from a partner or coach’s hands before ever progressing
to someone striking a ball. Again, footwork can then be added into this type of collapsed diving as
the goalkeeper begins to break a sweat. It is also wise to do these exercises at different angles in
the goal to get the goalkeeper feeling his/her goalmouth.
Catching of high balls is essential as well. Service that is tossed up to catch can be done prior to
balls crossed from the flanks by a field player or coach.
Somewhere during the warmup, the goalkeeper also needs to kick a couple balls from the ground
(goal kicks) and also out of their hands (punts/drop kicks) too.
By now the goalkeeper should have a nice sweat on them and be feeling quite good and
confident. Now, and only now, can a goalkeeper begin to face some shots.
Now, the important thing is to have just a couple players begin to shoot on target...
again, ON TARGET. They begin by not trying to score. We want the goalkeeper to begin seeing
live shots from players running onto the ball.
These players should not be hitting still balls; they should be striking moving balls. Players try to
hit the goalkeeper for two reasons:
1) to continue to give the goalkeeper confidence, and
2) to work on their accuracy and warming up of their legs to hit the target.
After this is done for a couple reps, the players can begin to make the goalkeeper work to make
saves while still hitting the ball on target.
Being only minutes away from the match, the goalkeeper needs to begin to see more live and
realistic situations. Once the goalkeeper feels completely warm and is confident, then and only
then are they ready for the game.
In short, the goalkeeper needs to warm up every aspect of goalkeeping during his/her warmup:
• throwing
• basic catching
• footwork
• kicking
• collapsed diving
• crosses
• shots, etc.
If they potentially might see it in a match, they need to have done it in their warmup.
Here is a simple warm up for the goalkeepers. The first five exercises involve all keepers:
1) Ten volleys into hands
2) Goalkeeper rolls ball and coach hits it back to their hands (10 each)
3) Goalkeeper shuffles from post to post; when they reach the post, the coach serves the ball
to their hands (6 each)
4) Balls served into air (from coaches hand) simulating crossed ball. (3 to the right, three to
the left)
5) Balls served on ground, goalkeeper must dive. (4 to the left, 4 to the right)
The rest of the warm up involves mostly the starter:
6) Shots from the 18-yard box. Coach and back-up alternate shooting from different angles,
forcing the goalkeeper to use footwork across goal before saving the shot. (6 to 10 from
each side)
7) Cross balls from each side. (10 from each side)
8) Back to shots from the 18–yard line, now shots are an attempt to score, forcing the keeper
to make more difficult saves.
9) Play one–touch with the feet (back–ups are now at midfield), on every third pass the keeper
kicks a long ball to midfield.
10) Goalkeeper works on half volleys and punts to the back–ups at midfield.
11) Goalkeeper and back–ups take shots from the team (starter gets the majority of reps).
If you notice, this warm up includes many exercises. It is designed to involve the goalkeeper in as
many technical situations they will face in the game as possible.
The total time of the warm up should be no more than 30 minutes, so the exercises are short
but effective.