Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today's subject will introduce a
new drill that works on concentration.
First of all, I would like to remind people of the new forum available to discuss things
related to coaches and players at
http://finesoccer.net. Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions or help others
A drill that I have seen many keepers and coaches do is to have the keeper start on the
goal line with her back to the field. The server has a group of balls around the top
of 18. The server either claps or says shot and the keeper must turn around and save
the shot which is hit as soon as the call is made. This drill works on quickness and
reactions since there might be very little time from when the call is made to when the
ball is struck.
The new version I would like to introduce is exactly the same except that the server
doesn't say anything. The keeper must react to the sound of the ball being struck.
As soon as she hears contact being made, she would turn quickly and make the save.
It is important to start with the server playing balls slowly until the keeper is better
accustomed to the drill. Also, start with the balls being struck low because this
will decrease the likelihood of an injury in case of a slow reaction. As the keeper
gets accustomed to the drill, the balls can start to be hit harder and harder and at
different levels and locations.
This drill will work on concentration, reactions, sight, sound, hands, technique,
conditioning (after a while, this quick turn will start to be felt on your calves).
You might think that it is necessary for there to be complete silence when this drill is
being done in order to allow the keeper to hear the ball but the truth is that a keeper
should be able to hear the ball regardless of what is going on around her. When I
say this is a new drill, I mean it's new to many people but I have used this drill for
many years. I first started using it at a field that was located at one of the
busiest intersections in downtown DC. There were constant cars going by, planes
flying overhead, tourists walking by and through the drills and other players playing
besides us but the drill still worked once the keepers put their minds to it.
Give it a try but really emphasize that the ball must not only be saved, but the ball
should still be saved correctly every time.
Just something to think about is that in this day and age, it is important for a keeper to
also understand the whole game of soccer. I strongly recommend that if you find the
Goalkeeping Newsletter helpful, then you should also subscribe to the Soccer Newsletter so
that you also can understand other parts of the game. To subscribe please
go to
www.finesoccer.com/subscrib.htm
Have a great day
Lawrence
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