Goalkeeper Set Position and Recovery
Two servers shoot one after the other from different angles. The goalkeeper sets before each shot, saves, then gets up quickly to be set for the second.
- Age
- U9–Senior
- Players
- 3–5
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 20 × 30 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Analytical
- Format
- Circuit
- Objectives
- Technical: Goalkeeping
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Goalkeeper positioningShot-stopping
- Physical:Reaction speed
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Goalkeeper
- Run without ball
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Goalkeepers concede many goals from second shots because they are still on the floor. This drill trains the set position (feet shoulder-width apart, weight forward, hands ready) at the moment of the shot, and the quick recovery to face the next one. Adjust distance and power to the age and level of the goalkeeper.
Objective
Be in a balanced set position at the moment of each shot, make the save and recover quickly to face a second shot.
Organisation
- Full-size goal (or smaller goal for younger keepers).
- Two servers 12 m from goal, at slightly different angles, each with 6 balls.
- One goalkeeper working, one or two resting or serving.
How it works
- Server 1 shoots at a catchable height to one side.
- The goalkeeper saves (catch or parry wide), gets up quickly and adjusts position.
- When the goalkeeper is set, server 2 shoots to the other side.
- 6 double shots, then change goalkeeper. 3 rounds each.
Coaching points
- Small adjustment steps as the ball is struck; be set (still) at the moment of the shot.
- Weight on the balls of the feet, hands in front of the body.
- Dive forward to the ball, not backwards.
- After the save, get up through the knees and move across the goal immediately.
- Parry wide, never back into the middle.
Progressions
- Second shot comes immediately, without waiting for the goalkeeper to be fully set.
- Server 2 shoots on the volley from a hand serve.
- Add a striker who follows up for rebounds.
Regressions
- Shots at medium height straight at the goalkeeper.
- Longer pause between shots.
Variations
- Low shots only for diving practice, from 9 m.
Key principles
- Set before the shot.
- Attack the ball.
- Recover quickly.
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