How to Make a Soccer Goalie

The goalkeeper is the last line of defense on a soccer team. While they come in many different sizes, goalies must hold an important set of attributes in order to succeed. Teams rely on goalies to not only make saves on shots, but to also organize the defense and provide leadership. Making an efficient soccer goalie requires a focus on specific drills designed to improve the goalie's skills.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a player on your team to play goalkeeper. This player should have a desire to play the position. While size isn't a requirement, soccer goalies are typically tall, athletic players who can cover more of the goal.

    • 2

      Improve a goalkeeper's reflexes by constantly shooting on goal during practices. Line up players throughout the attacking zone and have them take shots one at a time. The goalie will become familiar with where to position himself for all shot angles and enhance his saving skills. If other players are busy with a drill, have a coach work directly with the goalie.

    • 3
      With the ability to use their hands, goalies can get to balls in the air before other players.

      Kick high-arcing balls from the corners and wings to help the goalie improve his ability in the air. Goalies must be strong in the air, using quickness and strength to snatch crosses and shots out of the air. Corner kick practice also helps a goalie learn when to leave his net to grab a ball and when to stay in the goal to prepare for a shot.

    • 4

      Improve a goalie's agility with a rapid fire drill. This can be done with a coach. Have the goalie sit in front of the net. Instruct the coach to throw the ball to one side of the goalie, in a position just at the edge of the goalie's range. The goalie lunges for the ball and throws it back to the coach, who quickly throws to the other side of the goal. The goalkeeper must quickly get to the ball on the other side.

    • 5

      Instruct the goalkeeper to maintain ball skills as if he were a field player. While goalies can use their hands, they also frequently must show skills with their feet, and there is no room for error in the goal box. Goalies should practice short-range passes, as well as full-power clearances, with both feet.

    • 6

      Encourage the goalie to be a vocal leader for the defense. The entire field is front of the goalie, and because of this, it is his job to set up his defenders in the proper position. All attacking opponents should be marked. A goalie must let his teammates know where to be and where the attackers are coming from.

    • 7
      Punting is the best way to get the ball into your attacking zone.

      Help the goalie practice his distribution out of the back. The goalie may be the last line of defense, but he is also the first line of offense. Distributing out of the backfield includes quick rolls to outside defenders, mid-range throws to midfielders and deep punts to strikers. Take the field with your whole team and kick balls to the goalie. Have him read the opponent and recognize where the ball must go.