Soccer Coaching Tips: How to Train Your Goalkeepers to Work with Their Feet

Goalkeepers are key players in soccer who guard the net. They're often called netminders, doormen or goalies. As a soccer coach, you probably realize that teaching goalkeeping is not an easy task. For new players, it can be the most frightening (and the most rewarding) position on the field. Having great goalkeepers will give your team an effective line of defense that can increase your team's winning potential tremendously.

The foundation of training a new goalkeeper is teaching him to work with his feet. Good footwork will be used to secure catches without plunging forward for the ball.

Keep Moving

Your goalkeepers should understand that to be successful, their feet must always be on the move. Standing on the ball of his feet and constantly moving keeps a goalkeeper in the defense mode at all times - and the opposing team knows it! The feet should move swiftly to keep the opponent guessing. The goalkeeper is always "dancing" around to stay on guard.

Positions of the Feet

Staying square (or facing) the opponent with the ball directly is important to maintain control. The goalkeeper should try to avoid turning perpendicular when catching a ball that's not coming directly toward him. His shoulders and hips should always be square to the ball. Getting behind the ball is the next important move. Being behind the ball highly increases the goalkeepers blocking ability. To do this, the player must use their feet to perform one of the two following steps:

1. Shuffle step - The player moves a short distance with the feet shuffling quickly, and he stays square with the ball at all times. The player should not cross his feet.

2. Crossover step: The player uses this method to cover more ground. The hips are turned while the player runs in the direction he needs to go, but the upper body stays facing the ball. The feet still should not cross over each other during this move, however. The reason the player shouldn't cross his feet to get behind the ball is because doing so could cause him to trip.

Moving Forward

To make a save, the player should move forward. Moving forward enables the goalkeeper to reach the ball quickly and get a good angle to deflect the balls that aren't caught away from the goal. The goalkeeper should move forward when catching a ball, not backward.

Quick Recovery

A goalkeeper's feet should also be prepared for a swift recovery if he goes down in a dive or slips and falls. He should be ready to spring back into action immediately with his feet moving and his hands free.

Common Mistakes of Goalkeepers

Some common mistakes goalkeepers make include resting on the back of their heels, crossing their feet when moving behind the ball, taking a step back to make a catch, and failing to get completely behind the ball. During training, teach your goalkeepers to be aware of these common mistakes and to correct them immediately when they occur. Learning to avoid these mistakes from the start will save many plays in the future.

Footwork is the foundation of goalkeeping, and the more experience and training your goalkeeper has with his feet, the more successful he'll be.