The best soccer goalkeepers make reaction saves, sticking out a hand or foot at the last moment to block or tip a shot. Reaction saves make the shooter and spectators wonder, "How'd he get a hand on that?" writes elite goalkeeper coach Tim Mulqueen in "The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper." Sharp reaction skills lead to saves even on screened shots, letting you react at the last instant. Practice drills to handle tough shots so that reaction saves come more easily on game day.
Step 1
Stand a yard from your coach. Have him throw a ball just above your head and call out an uneven number, indicating you should stop the ball with your hands, or an even number, indicating you must head the ball back to the coach. Perform eight to 10 repetitions to improve your reaction speed and speed of motion, recommends Lorenzo DiIorio, who trains goalkeepers for the Italian pro club Udinese, in his book "Soccer Goalkeeper Training Manual."
Step 2
Stay one yard from the coach as he holds two balls in his hand, indicating one as No. 1 and the other as No. 2. When he bangs the balls together and calls out a number, make a diving save of the appropriate ball. Perform five to six repetitions if you are fresh and two to three on the day before a match, responding rapidly to the external stimulus and concentrating.
Step 3
Stand in the goal while a coach or trainer stands 10 yards out in the middle of the field with a collection of balls. Have the coach shoot low balls, mid-height balls and high balls toward both the middle of the goal and the corners. Get into correct position to save the ball as soon as it leaves the coach's foot. Jump with force to the correct side. Take a short break after every shot or a three-minute break after every five shots.
Step 4
Stay in the goal while the coach moves 10 yards away at an acute angle. Ask a teammate to stand 10 yards out in the middle of the field. Have the coach take a shot toward the near corner of the goal and try to make the save. Ask the teammate to quickly throw a ball into the opposite corner for you to save immediately after the shot. Work to cut off the angle for the shot and hold the ball securely, then get up after the shot and explode to the far corner to stop the throw.
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