A goalkeeper is in a unique position on the soccer field. He is the only player allowed to use his hands and the last line of defense. A goalkeeper is the only player who can see the other 21 players on the field. He is in a perfect position to direct his defense. Goalkeepers have an exclusive set of skills that requires special training.
Catching
Everything begins with proper catching techniques. When catching a ball at chest height, a goalkeeper should touch the tips of his thumbs together and use his index fingers to form a W. Use the W as a base for catching the ball and the other fingers to wrap around the ball. For balls below the waist, you can invert your hands into an M with pinkies as the connecting point. Goalkeepers can work in pairs, throwing and kicking the ball to each other to force the other goalkeeper to adjust his hands to catch the ball.
Footwork
Goalkeeper coach Jeff Benjamin stresses that good footwork is essential to everything a goalkeeper does on the field. Goalkeepers should be on the balls of their feet in order to react quickly. You should shuffle your feet to remain balanced. Also, move with knees bent, weight slightly forward and arms spread slightly at your sides. Combination drills, in which a goalkeeper needs to move laterally to make a save, then move forward or backward to make another, can be useful for improving footwork.
Crosses
When dealing with crosses, a goalkeeper must know how far he is capable of moving in order to catch the ball. The best way to do this is to simply serve crosses into the box so the goalkeeper can find his comfortable range. If a goalkeeper feels he cannot safely catch a crossed ball, he can punch it using both fists placed together. Present another player to serve as an obstacle during crosses. It will force the keeper to decide to catch or punch the ball.
Diving
Diving isn't an easy skill to learn. It's best to begin easily and progress as a goalkeeper gains confidence. It is important the keeper lands on her side, using the legs, hips and shoulders. According to Benjamin, a goalkeeper should begin in a sitting position. As a ball is thrown to either side, she should concentrate on landing softly with her elbow tucked in. As her comfort level increases, progress the drills to kneeling, squatting and standing positions.
Distribution
Goalkeepers sometimes overlook the importance of distributing the ball. A quick outlet pass or kick after making a save can often begin a counterattack that can lead to a good shot on goal. When a goalkeeper collects the ball, he should be on the lookout for an open teammate. While kicking the ball is best for distance, throwing the ball to a teammate assures a goalkeeper his team will keep possession. Goalkeepers can work in team passing drills picking up the ball and throwing it instead of kicking the ball to a teammate.
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