Football and Goalkeeping

Provided their egos can handle peer criticism, goalkeepers can get valuable input from their teammates, as well as their Keepers should also talk with their coaches about the sport and players as much as possible. Watching game footage together and analyzing play are an excellent way to develop a feel for the game and to Read more

Warm-up exercise are movements generally done before more intense activities to prepare the body and mind in order to prevent injuries and improve performance. The warm-up should cover all challenges that the goalkeeper will face in the game. Start with simple saves, aiming the ball at the keeper so he/she starts feeling comfortable grasping the Read more

Once the technical components of dealing with crosses have been mastered, the focus shifts to tactical considerations and the most difficult part of goalkeeping: decision making. Given enough proper training, all keepers will be solid shot stoppers and will possess the necessary skill set to be functional in goal. But being a top-flight goalkeeper comes Read more

Where goalkeepers stand before they make a play on the ball significantly influences the extent of their range and the effectiveness of their play. Especially on crosses, correct starting spots are crucial. If the keeper starts correctly, he will have less distance to travel to claim crosses. This potential benefit encourages the keeper to come Read more

Goalkeepers who intend to catch crosses must know their range. Keepers and their teammates must have a good sense of how far off the goal line the keeper can catch crosses. This enables the keeper and the defenders to coordinate their play. The greater the keeper’s range, the higher up the defenders can play away Read more

The ability to catch crosses is an absolute must for goalkeepers in the modern game. Goalkeepers who stick to the goal line put their teams at a major disadvantage. Attacking players are more athletic and bigger than ever, and they will finish many more chances to score if they don’t have to cope with the Read more

Having identified patterns and problematic situations, keepers (and their team-mates) can focus on those areas in training and is termed specifics. The following sections address two common areas of difficulty: breakaways and defensive battles directly in front of the goal. Breakaways Sudden breakaways can be challenging. Keepers who formulate and practice a strategy and who Read more

What makes the goalkeeping position particularly challenging is that a team only needs one keeper, shrinking the opportunities to get on the field. But on the positive side, goalkeepers can have longer careers than field players if they compensate for the athleticism they lose with age by being an expert at reading the game. Here Read more