GOALKEEPING

POSITION-SPECIFIC
COACHING

U.S. Soccer E License

U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS

I. GOALKEEPERS STANCE/SHAPE AND READY
POSITION
II. GOALKEEPING FOOTWORK ALL TYPES

III. BASIC HANDLING TECHNIQUES

SAVING LOW SHOTS BASKET vs SMOTHER
SAVING MEDIUM RANGE SHOTS
SAVING WAIST HIGH AND ABOVE

IV. READY POSITION IN RELATION TO THE BALL

V. DECISION MAKING WHEN AND WHERE TO USE

CORRECT TECHNIQUES
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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

READY POSITION
The Goalkeepers Ready/Set Position
Key points:
Weight should be balanced and slightly forward with the head and shoulders slightly
forward but relaxed
Feet in a comfortable position, roughly shoulders width apart
Body should be slightly bent at the waist
Knees should be slightly bent
Hands should be in front of the body, elbows move forward prior to the shot
Goalkeeper should make sure that they are set prior to the shot

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

GOALKEEPERS READY/SET POSITION

Coach ( C ) passes to server 1 or 2.

GK must move into small goal created between post and cone,
then get set for a shot.
1 passes back to ( C ) and GK gets back into middle of goal.

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE
THE LOW BALL

B the basic technique for saving low balls. It is used in all conditions
and is an essential technique for all goalkeepers
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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE
THE FRONT SMOTHER

BODY
MECHANICS:

Hands and Arms?

Body posture-
shape?

Hips?

Stance?

Receiving/controlli
ng the ball?
WHEN?
WHY?

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

THE LOW BALL SAVE

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE
MEDIUM RANGE SHOTS THE BASKET

BODY
MECHANICS:
Shoulders?
Steps? (footwork)
Toes?
Hands, wrists,
elbows?
Eyes?
Securing the ball?

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE
MEDIUM RANGE SHOTS CONTOUR CATCH

BODY
MECHANICS:
Shoulders?
Steps? (footwork)
Toes?
Hands, wrists,
elbows?
Eyes?
Securing the ball?

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

MEDIUM RANGE SHOTS

TRAINING CONCEPT: GK controlling medium range shots

Repetition of technique with a demand on dynamic movement

ACTIVITY ORGANIZATION:
Goalkeeper (G) Jumps over cones(4 yards apart) with lateral steps, hops
over cones and back into the goal. When GK gets central again they save a
mid-range ball from Coach ( C ). Repeat both sides (sets of 6 total reps).
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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE
BALLS ABOVE THE HEAD CONTOUR CATCH

BODY
MECHANICS:
Shoulders?
Steps? (footwork)
Toes?
Hands, wrists,
elbows?
Eyes?
Securing the ball?

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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

SAVING HEAD HEIGHT AND ABOVE

ACTIVITY ORGANIZATION
GK Moves through the cones and saves
from 1
GK then moves centrally to save from
Coach ( C )
Repeat to both sides
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U.S. SOCCER E COURSE
POSITION-SPECIFIC: GOALKEEPING

COMPETITION: SHOT-STOPPING GAME

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