It's called soccer in North America, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, calcio in Italy, and football or futball around the rest of the globe. Regardless of which term you use, football requires a goalkeeper of some competence to give his team a chance of winning. Goalkeeper training involves skills drills and fitness work adapted to this specialized position. Good goalkeepers take their training seriously and start young; U.S. standout Tim Howard, for example, showed glimpses of talent to his coach at age 12.
Significance
Training has to address the expanded role of a soccer goalkeeper. A goalie doesn't just catch and save balls any more, note soccer coaches Thomas Dooley and Christian Titz, who work in the U.S. and Germany, respectively, in their book "Soccer Goalkeeper Training." A modern goalkeeper needs to organize the defense, often by being quite vocal -- as Howard and others are -- with directions during an opponent's attack, as well as quarterbacking the offense after a save and acting as a sweeper, or last player back.
Passing Techniques
To fulfill this growing role, goalies need to pursue training that works on the same arsenal of passing techniques that field players work to master. You can practice short passing with the side of the shoe, long kicks with the laces, clearances, and especially the goal kicks and punts that a goalie needs to send as long and accurately as possible.
Catching Technique
Dooley and Titz recommend practicing catching techniques by working with a partner who throws or passes the balls from a short distance. These include catching techniques for high balls, mid-height balls at either chest height or below, low balls straight on and low balls to the side. For example, they recommend that the coach stand 12 to 14 yards in front of you in the goal. You can then catch high balls by running toward the ball with short steps, making a one-legged jump, catching the ball at its highest point with arms outstretched and pulling the ball tightly into your chest on landing.
Distribution
Scrimmages offer a good opening to work on distributing the ball after a save. Your goal is to get the ball to a teammate so that she can control it easily. You can work on rolling the ball so it doesn't bounce on the way. If you throw the ball in the air, try to have it drop so your teammate can control it with a chest or foot trap. You should avoid having it bounce short, which can be difficult to control.
Expert Insight
After a maximum of 10 balls in training, you should change the side of the goal you are working on, or move from a drill that emphasizes the arms to one that works on footwork. It's important to focus above all else on maintaining your concentration, as a lapse can lead to a goal for the other team. If you are the coach, you should demand accuracy and provide a high pace of training, notes the book "Soccer Goalkeeping Training." Slow training doesn't replicate the game experience as well. It's also a good idea to address your keeper clearly and with empathy to soften the need to correct mistakes repeatedly so as to guard against bad habits.
References
- "Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story"; Jeremy V. Jones; 20100
- "The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper"; Timothy Mulqueen, et al.; 2010
- "Soccer Goalkeeper Training"; Thomas Dooley, et al.; 2011
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