How to Improve a Goalie's Hands in Soccer

So much goes into playing goalie in soccer. You need to have good reactions, the ability to read the ball and impeccable footwork. But in the end, more than anything, you need to catch the ball! Here are some effective drills that you can do to improve a goalie's hands.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer balls
  • Goalie gloves
  • Plenty of water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fingertips: Remember that a goalie should be catching the ball with his fingertips, and there are some ways to train a goalie's fingertips. The first is to have the goalie stand with his legs far apart and bent over. Without the gloves on, the keeper should roll the ball in a figure-eight line style around his feet. Make sure he is not using his palms or pushing the ball with his arms. Instead, he should be guiding the ball with his fingertips.Then have the goalie sit down with his feet in front of him. Have him roll the ball with his fingers again around his body. Make sure he rolls the ball both ways and alternates hands. Having to go all the way around his feet will make the goalie really strain his fingertips.

    • 2

      Glove-free drills: Have the goalie take her gloves off and then twirl the ball around her waist. Make sure that the ball is not up against her body. The ball should be going fingertips to fingertips. Have the goalie do it as fast as she can without using her palm or scooping the ball.Then have the goalie stand with her legs apart and knees bent. The goalie should hold the ball between her legs with one hand in front and one hand coming in from the back. Have the goalie flip the ball up ever so gently and quickly switch her hands' position and catch the ball. This is good for hand speed as well as catching. Have the goalie do this until she can do it 10 times continuously without a drop.The third glove-free drill is the same as the last one except both hands are in the same place. Have the goalie flip the ball up in the same manner, but this time she will have to get both hands in the same direction. Have the keeper do it until she has done 10 without dropping the ball.

    • 3

      Knees: Have the goalie get on his knees. Punt line drives at the goalie, some high, some right at them, some left and some right. Kick the ball increasingly harder as the drill goes on.

    • 4

      Sitting shots: Have the goalie sit with her feet out in front of her. Have her roll you the ball, and you shoot line drives back at her. The advantage to this drill is that the goalie cannot compensate with her feet. If she can't hold the ball, it will go past her, because she can't move to get her body behind it. As the drill goes on, stretch the goalie more and more, and make her reach further.

    • 5

      Push-ups: Nothing helps a goalie catch like strong forearms. Don't have him do a traditional push-up. Instead have him do push-ups on his fingertips or push-ups on the ball. Another variation of the push-up is to keep the ball on the ground. Instead of having the goalie push up and down on top of the ball, have him lift the ball off the ground and take little "hops" with it. Have him go all the way left and then all the way right.