Following is a letter from Coach Gary and my reply: Hi SoccerHelp, I am a premium member and have been searching for some goalkeeper soccer drills, however I really have not found any. I am sure I am simply not looking in the correct spot. Can you point me to where these are at? Thanks, Gary, Premium Member How to Teach Soccer Goalkeeping
Goalkeeping Articles Available on Premium
The Best Soccer Goalkeeping DVD Video
Should basic instruction be given before a child plays Goalie?
How to select a soccer goalkeeper
Some Basic Do's and Don'ts
3 Sections from Premium Soccer Goalkeeping
Was Peter Schmeichel the Greatest Soccer Goalkeeper Ever?
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Hi Gary, There is a section on Premium about Goalkeeping at Goalkeeping (how to teach soccer goalkeeping) Here are 3 sections from Premium: C. Protective Equipment. Even at a young age, goalkeeper gloves are good because they protect the hands. By U-8, knee & elbow pads are a good idea. If you have an aggressive goalkeeper who slides on the ground, padded goalkeeper shorts may be worth the cost. Goalkeepers are allowed to wear a soft cap in cold weather. When it's hot, do not allow a goalkeeper to wear a long-sleeved goalkeeper jersey; they will get over-heated. Protective equipment is good because it can keep a child from getting hurt. The idea that children are tough and don't need any protection doesn't make sense. My experience is that if they get hurt, they often don't want to be the goalkeeper again. E. What to Teach? (The following should answer all of your questions. You don't need to teach all of this, just what you think is important).(There is a lot more to this section - it has 11 parts) K. How To Select a Soccer Goalkeeper (U-10 & Older). I don't put anyone in goal unless they want to play there. I ask who wants to play goal, or who has played it, and test their skills by having them punt the ball, seeing how far they can kick the ball, throwing it at them from about 5 and 10 steps away to see if they have "good hands". I teach them how to move to cut the shot angle, how to catch a ball and how to deflect a shot off to the side and over the crossbar. Ideally, a goalie is quick, but there are more important things in Rec soccer. In Rec soccer, height helps and the ability to punt the ball is very important, or the other team will bring pressure and get scoring opportunities. A long goal kick isn't as critical; you can have another player take those. I have had several goalies who were good but would have been average at best anywhere else on the field. These were large boys who were slow with below average ball skills, but they were good in goal. In Rec soccer, a great goalie can make a huge difference and can be worth 2 or 3 goals. If you want lots of detailed info and great video clips from one of the world's best goalkeeper coaches, read the review of "Keeper 2-DVD Set". It is brilliant and a great bargain at $29.95 for almost 3 hours of training that you can slow down and watch over and over. The footage of goalkeepers with Tony Waiter's commentary about what they are doing right and wrong is amazing. There are a lot of clips of Peter Schmeichel that are amazing and inspirational. Below is part of the review and the Detailed Index. If you buy this, please let me know what you think. "Keeper!" is a 2-DVD set designed for coaches and goalkeepers. I think these are the best goalkeeping DVD's available. Tony Waiters is one of the best coaching teachers in the world. He was a professional goalkeeper for 10 years, coached the Canadian World Cup and Olympic teams and was the first Director of the National Soccer Coaches of America's Goalkeeping Institute. These 2 DVD's blend footage from professional games with clear, concise narrations, computer graphics and on-the-field demonstrations by 3 young goalkeepers who appear to be about 10, 14, and 18 years old. This is a much more effective instructional method than could be done in a coaching clinic. There is a huge amount of information here (almost 3 hours) and at this price it's a great value. The great thing about DVD's is that it's easy to skip to the section you want to watch by using our detailed indexes. These originally sold for $29.99 each as tapes. They are a great bargain at $29.95 for the 2-DVD Set. The footage of the great Peter Schmeichel in his prime would be worth the price - it shows how great he really was. (The footage appears to be from his goalkeeping days with Manchester United, which were 1991-1999). Some experts think Schmeichel was the greatest goalkeeper of all time, and I agree that he might be the greatest. The footage shown is accompanied by narration by Tony Waiters who explains what the goalkeepers did right or wrong. It is very educational.
- First, teach them to protect their face so a hard shot doesn't hit them in the nose. Tell them to not worry about trying to catch a ball coming at their face, just put their hands close together and block it (i.e., fingers pointing up with the thumbs touching or overlapping, 6 inches to 1 foot from the face, and forearms parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground).
- Teach them to play about 2 steps in front of the goal. This way, if they bobble a ball or it goes between their legs, they still have room to stop it before it crosses the Goal Line inside the goal. (Remember, the ball must totally cross the entire line before it is a goal). Occasionally, they may have to back up to catch a high chip shot, but that won't happen often.
- Teach them the "Ready Position". The Ready Position means hands are up (so they can protect the face), feet are about shoulder width apart, knees are bent, and the goalkeeper is facing the ball with his shoulders "squared" to it (this means the goalkeeper is fully facing the ball & not sideways to it).
- Teach them to shift from "post to post" so they are always between the ball and the goal. What this really means is to shift from side to side to cut the "shot angle". For example, if the ball is on the far left sideline, your goalkeeper should be standing about 2 steps in front of the "left post" (i.e., in front of the goal post closest to the ball, which is called the "near post"). As the ball moves toward the "Center of the Field", your goalkeeper should shift that way, always using sidesteps and keeping his eyes on the ball and in the "Ready Position". He should move sideways by shuffling his feet so one foot doesn't cross over the other.
Overview of Contents:
DVD 1: 10 Principles of Goalkeeping, Exercises to Train Goalkeepers, "No-No's" for keepers, keeping in line with the flight of the ball. DVD 2: Near Post considerations, Practice Exercises, Starting Positions for crosses, Set Play considerations, Penalty Kicks, Corner Kicks, Free Kicks, The Jumping Wall, Long Throw-Ins DVD 1 Detailed Contents and Index:
Minute Topic 0:00 Introduction. It is suggested that the DVD's are watched in 30 to 45 minute segments. 3:15 The 10 Key Principles of Goalkeeping (The Hands, Body Shape, Alert and Alive, Stay on Feet, Body Behind the Ball, Set Consideration, React Don't Anticipate, Recovery, DCO, Goalkeeper as an Attacker) 3:30 "The Hands". Positions of the hands (The "W", "High Piano Position", etc.) 10:55 "Body Shape". 19:15 "Staying Alert and Alive". How goalkeepers should move. 20:50 "Stay On Your Feet As Long As Possible". This is excellent. 23:09 "Get Your Body Behind The Ball" 26:22 "Set Consideration". The importance of getting "set" and ready for the shot. Excellent! 30:10 "React, Don't Anticipate". Don't second-guess the shooter. Examples of great reaction saves. 32:35 "Recovery". Getting back on the feet as soon as possible. Exercises are shown to train players for this. 35:35 "Decisions, Communication and Organization". The importance of the keeper communicating with defenders. 37:00 "The Goalkeeper As An Attacker". This is very important. The keeper often launches the attack. Excellent examples are shown of good and bad efforts by keepers. 40:00 Film of good and bad goalkeeping with narration by Tony. This is excellent! It also is fun to watch how attacks develop in the "Attacking Third". 55:10 "Practices With A Coach or Friend". A number of training exercises are demonstrated. There are many good ideas here. 1:19:00 Tips for players and coaches 1:19:50 "No-No's" For Keepers. Examples of bad technique are shown. Excellent! 1:26:40 "Keeping In Line of the Flight of the Ball". Excellent! 1:28:45 End DVD 2 Detailed Contents and Index:
David at SoccerHelp
Minute Topic 0:00 Introduction. DVD 2 focuses on "Team Goalkeeping". 0:20 Review of The 10 Principles of Goalkeeping (from DVD 1). An excellent, concise review. 3:40 Near Post Considerations". Excellent! Watch This. The Keeper must take away the Near Post shot. The highlight footage here is fantastic. 12:02 Goalkeeper Practice Practice exercises are shown. There are many good ideas here. 24:50 "Playing Through Balls Exercise". 30:04 "Protect and Collect Demonstration" 41:05 Starting Positions For Crosses. Excellent! Computer graphics are used. 57:20 "Set Play Considerations"
58:00 Penalty Kicks. This is excellent. Watch This! 1:02:10 Corner Kicks. Excellent! Watch This. 1:06:30 Free Kicks Excellent! Watch This. 1:16:20 "The Jumping Wall" 1:17:35 "Long Throw-Ins". Excellent coaching advice 1:20:40 End