Football Goalkeeper Tips

A soccer goalkeeper is the last defense against the opposing team scoring and achieving their ultimate glory. The goalkeeper has to pay keen attention to the pace of the game and his reactions must be quick enough to stop a ball from finding the net at point blank range.

  1. Catching

    • Goalie gloves can make all the difference in tending the nets in soccer. Without them, the ball risks slipping through your hands and into the net. Gloves grip the ball much better than your hands, which can become sweaty and unmanageable. When catching the ball with your hands, make a "W" by opening your hands and facing the palms away from you. Touch the tips of your thumbs together. This provides the widest possible area to catch the ball without it slipping through your hands.

    Punching

    • When the ball is in the air and coming towards you at a high speed, punching the ball out of bounds or away from the net can be more effective than trying to catch it if you think you are unable to make a grab. Your fists will provide the ball with a hard surface to bump against and it will send the ball flying. This technique is particularly affective when opposition players are around the net, because they would be able to quickly get to a loose ball.

    Rolling Ball

    • When a ball is kicked or headed toward the goalie along the ground, the best option is to put one knee beside the ankle on your other foot. Bend the knee on the opposite leg and place your hands in front of you to grab the ball. This technique is safer than simply bending to grab the ball with both hands, because you eliminate the risk of the ball squeezing through your hands and legs.

    Kicking

    • In amateur soccer, a defender will sometimes pull back to take a goalie kick for the keeper. In the professional leagues, however, the goalie is responsible for kicking the ball down the field. He must read where the placement of the ball would be of the greatest advantage to the team. This doesn't always mean pounding the ball as far as he can down the field. Instead, he may pass the ball only a few yards to his open defender.