When the Goalkeeper
Can't Use Hands

It should be clear to everyone that the modern goal keeper must be able to deal with situations where he can not use his hands. The trend of limitations on keeper's use of hands is likely to continue. Teams and keepers must adjust to the new situation. We have posted drills for some of these situations practicing heading, working with clearing the ball, and decision making.  The information on this page is a continuation of these ideas.

The idea of this page is that the keeper must often deal with awkward through balls, bouncing balls, balls that are too low to head and too high to safely kick, etc. The only way to be comfortable with these balls is to practice dealing with them. I suggest that 10 to 15 minutes of every keeper sessions should be devoted to dealing with situations where you can not use your hands.

Step 1. Serve easy balls to the keeper that the keeper must chest down and clear. Emphasis is on clearing the ball high and wide. Safety first. Young and novice keepers should probably kick the ball back to the same side of the field it came from. As soon as the keeper has enough leg strength, the keeper should work on clearing the ball to the opposite side of the field. (I really don't like young keepers to kick the ball across the middle of the field, because of the danger of the wrong team gaining the ball. As soon as the keeper has confidence and length, kicking the ball to the opposite side of the field offers a good chance to start a counter attack.)

Step 2. Serve easy balls to the keeper that the keeper must head down and clear. Same emphasis as above.

Step 3. Add pace to the service and repeat 1 and 2.

Step 4. Move the server about 30 yards away and serve. Repeat chest and head down drill.

Step 5. Add 50% pressure from attacker.

Step 6. Add 100% pressure from attacker.

Les

Copyright 1996-2002 ©Les Sparks

Les Sparks had the Goalkeeper's Corner website for the Carolina United Soccer Club from 1996 - 2002. 

Created: 12/20/99
Last Updated: 06/04/03

Since February 24, 1999
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  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble