Soccer Training Tips: 5 Simple Steps To Coaching Goalkeepers
Games Guy | July 23, 2010
If you’re like me you probably know that soccer training tips for goalkeeper are of immense value since a goalie is the only player on the field who is allowed to touch the ball by both hands and arms.
For this reason, the soccer skills of a goalie give him an advantage over all the other players on the field. But this makes a coach’s job tougher and more complex when training goalkeepers for soccer.
Based on the method of play in soccer, goalkeepers are the first line of offense and last line of defense. They’re always ready to employ their body to stop the ball from entering the goal or to block it. They are ready to dive in any direction to catch hold of the ball.
Goalkeepers training for soccer on various techniques specific to their role and the level of their play can be extremely demanding. You must also keep in mind, his mental state when you are training him/ her on all important skills and techniques.
The only player in the team who can match the vigor of a goalkeeper is the striker. In reality, many goalkeepers have already been great strikers at some point in their careers. You’ll observe that very often, it’s the goalies and forwards that get into a direct battle on the field, no matter what the level of competition.
When it comes to soccer training tips, staying balanced and knowing the center of gravity of the body is of the essence to the goalkeeper. This will benefit a game setting by enhancing the activity of a goalkeeper and the promptness of other players.
While a majority of goalkeepers are tall with big hands and long arms but even if it is not the case, they simply compensate for the lack of their physical attributes with good vertical and lateral mobility.
It is important for a coach to realize that goalies have a great sense of worth but still need to be motivated on a regular basis. Goalkeepers should perform soccer drills that improve upon their skills specific to their role in the game once they have finished doing regular warm up exercises with the team.
Because goalkeepers have a dominant personality and a sense of control, they are leaders of the team. So they must be supported by the rest of the team to successfully execute their role by being placed in a vocal and demonstrative capacity.
The ball can be handled by the goalie only in the 18 yard box. If there is anyone other than the goalie, who gets to touch the ball, the opponent team wins a free kick. It’s a penalty shoot from “the spot” in case of a goalkeepers’ team member.
So you should now concentrate on using these soccer training tips by encouraging the goalkeeper who leads the team inside the 18 yard box, and needs appreciation of remaining teammates. For more such training tips and coaching skills, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community and get access to thousands of videos.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.