Goalkeeper Training
for Summer

      Here are a few suggestions for how you can spend your summer improving your skills. You'll note that many of these are the same as the suggestions for field players elsewhere on this site. The reason is that keepers must improve their foot skills. 
      In a recent article, Tony DiCicco, the Women's National Team's coach, said that the major deficiency of keepers is lack of foot skills. So if you do nothing else this summer, please work on your foot skills. So here are the suggestions:

• First get some rest. By now most players are nursing a few minor boo-boo's-- ankle sprains, pulled muscles, bruises, jammed fingers for keepers, etc. These all need rest to heal. So take 4 to 6 weeks off and get well.
• Watch as much soccer as you can. If you live near where there is live soccer, for example the Raleigh Wings, go watch it. Watch soccer on TV. This year with the Women's World Cup with all games on TV, there will be lots of high level soccer available. Watch it. Tape the games and study them.  Watch MLS games and pay attention to the shootout. You'll learn a lot about how to deal with 1 v 1.
• After you've rested, begin a conditioning program to get in shape for fall. We've got a couple on this site. Click here to go there.  Ask your coach for a program if you don't like ours.
• Put together a daily plan for improving your skills. Some suggestions
  • Send 15 minutes a day working on the foot work drills on this site.
  • Spend 15  minutes a day working on the 1,000 touches drills on this site.
  • Every other day go to the park and practice punting and kicking the ball. Tony DiCicco
    says that a goal keeper must be able to take her (his) own goal kicks. When you do this practice, be sure that you're kicking to a target. Never, just kick the ball.
  • Call some of your friends and try to have a pick up game at least once a week. 1 v1, 2 v 2 or what ever you can.
  • Find a wall (a tennis practice wall work fine). Take a tennis ball and throw it against the wall so that you have to jump to catch it.  This will improve your ability to judge high balls. (Be sure to use a tennis ball. Don't use a soccer ball or you'll cause hard feelings with the tennis people.)
• Be sure to eat right and drink plenty of fluids.
• Have a good summer.

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