Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today's newsletter will introduce a new
drill that works on getting your body behind the ball at all times.
This drill should be used for high level keepers only and should be done very
infrequently. The reason for this is the risk of developing bad habits as well as the risk
of injury.
The way for this drill to work best is to have two keepers competing against each other.
Start with 10 ball (ideally) at the top of the 18 with one of the players shooting and the
other keeper in goal. The rules are quite simple. The shooter can shoot anyway
she wants and the keeper in goal can save the ball with any part of her body EXCEPT her
hands or arms. By putting in this requirement, it will force the keeper to get some part
of her body behind the ball in order to make the save. After 10 balls have been shot, they
change roles and proceed. Their should be a predetermined number of shots hit by each
player and the keeper who has allowed the fewest number of goals wins.
I did this drill recently with two college keepers where each player took a total of 50
shots. The effort they put out was tremendous and they turned this drill into a very
competitive game. Their efforts to get their body behind the ball to save shots into upper
and lower corners was excellent. Some of the saves were not pretty but what they got out
of the drill was something I would consider to be extremely valuable.
The reason I don't recommend younger or less experienced keepers do this drill is that the
last thing I want a keeper to get in the habit of doing is to kick ball away and not try
to get both hands on the ball. An older more experienced keeper will understand the
purpose of this drill and also understand that the purpose of this drill is NOT to
encourage more kick saves or head saves or anything like that. It's also important for a
keeper to be fit and strong since there are times during this drill that a keeper will
land in a position different then what they are accustomed.
Again, this is a very effective drill but should only be done sparingly and with proper
preparation.
