On a soccer team, goalkeepers are a breed unto themselves, as the only players allowed to legally touch the ball. You have responsibilities to direct the defense during scoring threats that happen in the run of play or as a result of free kicks and throw-ins. During training sessions, you can protect yourself from hard shots and rocky ground with goalkeeping equipment.
Types
You'll need padded gloves, padded shorts or slacks and a bright jersey of a different color than the field players' kits. The traditional jersey features long sleeves and thin padding at the elbows, shoulders and chest, writes Joseph Luxbacher in "The Soccer Goalkeeper." Short-sleeved jerseys have become more popular, he adds, but provide less protection. Shin guards will protect your lower legs during training, and shoes, either cleats, turf or indoor, can be matched to the training surface.
Features
Most training drills place you in front of a regulation net, where you handle practice shots or work one-on-one work with the coach. Cones can fill in if you don't have access to a regulation goal. A net to hold the ball, attached to a tether held by a peg in the ground, can help you practice goal kicks and punts without having to shag the ball yourself. Or you can use a back rebounder, a tight net on an aluminum frame, to work on your kicking game. Training DVDs can help you improve the basics of footwork, positioning, catching the ball in the air, diving and punching the ball away, as well as setting up walls for free kicks.
Function
Extra regulation balls can enable the coach to set up two lines of players taking practice shots during training and give you twice as many chances to block, catch, punch or parry shots out of the goal. Kwik Goal offers a kit with additional items for goalkeeper training. These include a 2 lb., size 5 medicine ball to strengthen your core and upper body for throws; a soccer agility ball with protrusions to make unpredictable bounces to test your reflexes; an agility ladder; and low hurdles to work on foot speed.
Considerations
Wear a used, broken-in pair of gloves for practice and reserve new gloves for games only, advises Colorado-based goalie coach Jeff Benjamin on the Goalkeeper Coaching site. Gloves can range in price from $10 to $150, and you'll want to not wear out new $100 gloves at practice. Similarly, wear inexpensive pants or sweats on days when training will focus on sliding to snuff out a breakaway scoring chance. For games, wear proper goalkeeping pants or shorts, which feature topstitched padding to protect the hip, and wear compression shorts under the goalkeeping shorts for additional protection. Special goalkeeper socks come up to mid-thigh, with thicker fabric to protect the knees.
Features
If you train when the sun is low, wear a hat such as bicycling cap with a short, soft bill to shade your eyes. During actual games played in late afternoon sun, ask the center referee for permission to wear a cap, Benjamin advises.
Warning
Avoid using kneepads and elbow pads as part of your training kit, Benjamin recommends. If you skin your knees, have the coach analyze your play during training to correct your technique for diving or picking up rolling balls. Instead of wearing elbow pads, wear a long-sleeved jersey for protection and modify your technique so you don't land on your elbows.
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