A GUIDE

TO THE

ART

and

TECHNIQUE

SOCCER

GOALKEEPING

by George V Morris

To be a Goalkeeper you have to be Brave, Fearless, Alert and Watchful.

Goalkeeping is combination of Art and Science together with Physical Fitness and Speed.

TRAINING.

Exercise is essential in co-ordinating body and mind.

The ability to reach and catch high balls is useful, but perfection cannot be attained without

absolute physical fitness.

Sprinting to develop agility and strong calf muscles, muscles that withstand that quick leap

from a standing position.

Bending, with the legs straight and hands flat on the floor, is a good exercise to prepare for

the quick bend to pick up the ball when it is rolling along the ground.

Trunk bending from side to side gives that extra bit of tone to the muscles essential

when stretching your hands for the ball when your body is not behind them.

Doing the exercises regularly will give you the suppleness necessary to be a good Goalkeeper.

Mental training is as important to a Goalkeeper as physical training.

Mental training means the Study of positional play and it's relation to angles you will

adopt under certain circumstances – when a player is coming in from the wing, or when

a forward is racing towards goal from any of a dozen slightly different directions.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!.

The BIG decision for a Goalkeeper several times in each game is when to come out of goal.

Come out at the right moment and you will be praised .

Come out at the wrong moment then criticism will abound.

An understanding with your defenders is essential. Tell them how you will let them know

you are OK, or otherwise.

When coming out shout loudly to the player that to say you have the ball covered.

naming the player avoids being penalised.

Move into a new position if you need too, but keep your eye on the ball at all times.

When the ball is in the air within the 6-yard line directly in front of goal, it is the goalkeepers ball.

If the goal area is clear of opponents, try to catch and hold the ball.

If you are obstructed or handicapped by players, then play safe and punch the ball away rather than catching it and running the risk of dropping it at the opposition's feet.

Punch the ball with both Fists. This gives broader contact and usually better direction.

GEOMETRY.

Knowledge of angles can help you put the approaching player off his intended target and where you want it to go.

Question:- 1. A Centre-Forward is coming towards goal about 25 yards away, with the ball at his feet. What do you do?

2. If you stay on the goal-line the forward has a chance of success of placing the ball in the wide spaces on either side of you.

3. But if you advance the ball must pass much nearer to you than it would it you stayed on the goal-line.

Also this forces the player to watch the goalkeeper, making him to take his eye of the ball spoiling his chances of scoring.

NARROWING THE ANGLE. Created when a winger cuts in from his wing on goal.

Staying on your goal-line you can be easily beaten by a shot at the near post.

So narrow the angle by approaching the advancing player giving his less options.

Touch the post with your outstretched arm and advance a few paces forward

Adopting angle play assists a goalkeeper in his job, no matter from which direction a player is advancing or from what position he is likely to shoot from.

All you need to practice angles theory are goalposts. Considering what would be your position should a player be approaching and from what position. Helps with the mind games.

TRAJECTORY.

Studying the flight of the ball looping into your goal area enables you to judge where to position

yourself ready to safely handle and control the ball, mindful of players around you.

Make your decisive decision and make that ball yours.

POWERFUL DIRECT SHOTS.

When faced with a powerful shot the best way to save it is to dive with both hands together,

fingers outstretched, and hands flat and behind the ball. There you have a strong defensive

wall to ensure the ball going round the post or over the bar for a corner.

Never try to Punch away the ball.

PICKING THE BALL UP.

Good goalkeepers depend a great deal on their defenders for assistance and covering when

going to pick-up the ball in your area. Shout to them that you are claiming the ball.!!!

CORNER KICKS.

Get your Full Back to position himself at the near post, far enough away from the post to give

you a clear sight of the ball. If neccesary get he other back to mark the back post.

Position yourself a couple of yards from the back post, with the body square on facing the ball.

A ball hit hard and low automatically becomes the backs ball. He is the first line of defence for that shot.

When the ball sails over the backs head and within the six-yard box. The goalkeeper is the man to deal with it – by punching away with both hands if being molested/hindered by opponents or catching it when the field is clear.

When the ball is placed on the 18 yard- line both Goalkeeper and backs are able to turn and face

the danger.

POINTS TO REMEMBER.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BALL.

An age old rule for footballers is to keep your eye on the ball at all times. It applies to Goalkeepers

in a big way.

Move into new positions but keep your eye on the ball, never waiver.

When the ball is in the air, from a centre, a corner kick and such like, and within the six-yard

directly in front of goal, it is a Goalkeepers ball.

If the goal area is clear of opponents, try to catch the ball, but if you are obstructed by opponents

then play safe and punch the ball away rather than run the risk of catching and dropping it at the

feet of an opponent. Remembering to punch with both hands to give the broadest possible

contact with the ball and better direction than with one fist.

PRACTICE.

Spend as much time as you can taking Crosses; checking Angles; Diving at feet; the correct way to Catch a ball.

Remember commanding your Area is something a Goalkeeper must do at all times; patrolling the entire 18yard penalty area when the play is in the opposing half of the field.

This practice can be done in isolation without a ball.

In some cases the Goalkeeper can be a useful last outfield player when long balls are booted upfield over the heads of your defenders. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!!!