Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today I will introduce a new
series of drills that will work on receiving high balls.
Start with a server who simply tosses a ball in the air and have the keeper work on proper
footwork to receive the ball properly. Concentrate on having the keepers first step
or two go in place so that the habit of always taking the first step forward is
broken. The ball should be caught at the highest point possible and pulled in as
soon as possible
Next have a field player stand in front of the keeper and have the server toss the ball
over the field players head. The field player doesn't move and is just their as a
distraction. Again, make sure the keeper uses proper footwork to get to the ball and
pulls the ball in (but not until she is not directly over the field player as that might
result in hitting the ball into the field players head).
Next have the field player start jumping up and down in order to be a distraction while
the keeper receives the ball. The field player is NOT trying to receive the ball but
rather is just an annoyance for the keeper to practice ignoring. The keeper must be
aware of this field player in order to go around her (or sometimes through her) and not go
up at the wrong time or place because of the field players movements,
Finally, have the field player try to head the ball while the keeper is trying to catch
the ball. Consider the possibility of adding a second field player to make this even more
difficult on the keeper.
By doing this series of drill, keepers will become more comfortable catching (or punching)
balls while under pressure from opponents (and teammates).
