Soccer goalkeepers must keep an eye on the entire field to anticipate shots and to notify teammates of gaps in the defense. During a fast-paced game, goalies must think quickly and use whatever tricks they have at their disposal to prevent the other team from scoring. If you want to learn how to play effectively, watch professional games to see what tricks the top goalkeepers use.
Punching
In the best-case scenario, a goalie will catch the ball and then pass it to a teammate as soon as a teammate is clear. But sometimes a goalie must take quick action to clear the ball away. Punching is an effective trick to launch the ball over the goal or away from the net when you don't have space or time to catch the ball. The most powerful way to punch is to place both fists together, but goalkeepers use single punches when they don't have proper position to double punch the ball. For example, if the ball drops into a crowd of players near the net, as it might during a corner kick, a goalie can jump and punch the ball away to prevent the offense from knocking it in.
Gloves
Many goalkeepers wear special gloves during a game to improve their grip on the ball. An improved grip helps them catch and throw the ball more easily and minimizes accidental slips. Wearing gloves also helps protect the goalkeeper's hands from powerful shots. Regulations concerning the use of goalie gloves vary among leagues, so check with the staff or the league manual to learn which types of gloves you can wear. If possible, get gloves that stay tacky in dry and wet weather.
Surprising a Shooter
Reading body language is a critical part of soccer. A shooter analyzes the goalie's position to determine where to place a shot. In a one-on-one play, it's possible for a goalie to trick a shooter into postponing the shot until it's too late. To do this, the goalie stands close to the net while the shooter approaches. At the last second, the goalie launches forward to fall on the ball. Done correctly, this will startle the shooter, forcing a hasty, inaccurate shot.
Considerations
Goalkeepers are always on the defensive, so they're more likely to be victims of tricks than they are to practice them. Learn to anticipate common tricks to avoid being caught out of position. For example, during a penalty shot, shooters sometimes use a stutter step to throw off the goalkeeper. As the shooter runs toward the ball, she angles her body as if to shoot toward one end of the goal. She then performs a stutter step to change direction. If you don't anticipate this sort of maneuver, you might shift toward where you think the shot is heading, leaving the other side of the goal wide open.
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