The goalkeeper is a unique position in the soccer team and requires specialist training away from the rest of the playing squad. The goalkeeper has arguably the single most important job on the field. A good goalkeeper is strong, dominant in her area, with great agility and quick reflexes. These are qualities that can be trained, like the sliding save, with specific drills.
Body Shape
Diving into a save requires a rehearsed technique, which the goalkeeper will eventually perform instinctively after much repetition. When diving, stay on your toes and bend the knee closest to the side you will be diving. Collapse that leg and dive to the side. Keep your arms out stretched as far as possible to make yourself big and strong in front of goal. Try to push the ball away from danger area.
Basic Slide Drill
Have the coach throw the ball to you from ten yards away, and then catch the ball and throw it back to the coach. The coach will now throw the ball out at an angle along the ground. You must body check one way, touch the ground with your hand, and then dive to save the ball. Attack the ball with your sliding save so as to cut down the angle.
Post to Post
An advanced sliding drill on a full-sized goal is the post-to-post drill. Start by standing with your hand on one of the posts. A serving outfield player will pass the ball from the edge of the 18 yard box to a shooter standing in the "D." The shooter will make a shot at the far post. It is your job as the goalkeeper to move from the original post, across the goal, and dive at the far post.
Attacking Slide
In a situation where an attacker has gotten one-on-one with you, you may need to come out and attack the ball rather than waiting for the shot. This sliding save means you must keep your eye on the ball and time the save well at the edge of the box. As the attacker allows the ball to move further from his feet during the dribble, slide in for the ball, smothering the ball.
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