SET Position:
This is the position the goalkeeper moves in to when there is any threat of a shot;
Feet – shoulder width apart, toes pointing forwards and slightly up on toes (back studs/blades just grazing the ground)
Knees – slightly flexed
Hips – bent slightly at the hip (moving body weight forward)
Hands – palms facing each other approximately a balls width apart (position hands at roughly waistband height)
Elbows – slightly flexed (keep arms, shoulders and upper body relaxed)
Head – keep head up, eyes on the ball at all times (use this rhyme – ‘Nose over toes’ – this will keep the goalkeepers body weight going forwards)
Full body – Square to the ball at all times.
HANDLING
The ‘W’ Technique
A save used for shots around the head (neck and up)
Begin in SET position Eyes on ball at all times Body square to ball
Move hands directly up to ball as shot comes in, as your hands come up gradually bring thumbs together and get them quickly into the line of the ball. Keep elbows flexed (these act as a shock absorber and also stop the hands going flat leading to a dropped shot) Keep eyes through the back of the ball throughout the catch Keep bodyweight forward
Don’t snatch at ball or bring hands too narrow as this will result in a dropped catch (Allow goalkeeper to familiarise themselves with shape/size of ball by holding it in W shape)
Through all saves you should attempt to have 2 barriers behind the ball, for the W save these would be HANDS (thumbs) and FACE.
The CUP technique
Any shots around the chest/stomach/waist area/above knee
Begin in SET position Eyes on ball at all times Body square to ball
As shot comes in maintain a good set position with bodyweight forward (if goalkeeper rocks back on to heels they become unbalanced and may fall back into goal) From SET position present hands out to the ball bringing both little fingers together to create a corridor to guide the ball into chest/stomach
Allow ball to hit body 1st. If you snatch at the ball there’s a possibility it may spill out.
Secure the ball by bending at elbows only and wrapping hands/forearms around the ball.
Bring head and body over the ball to maintain forward momentum.
Watch for goalkeeper stepping back with one leg as this create less of a surface area (2nd barrier) to help secure the ball with the body twisting. It can also lead to a goal being conceded as the ball go through arms and past the body.
2 barriers; arms and body (chest or stomach)
The SCOOP technique
Any shots below knee
Begin in SET position Eyes on ball at all times Body square to ball
As shot comes in, begin to lower hands and ensure middle fingers touch
Lower body by either bending at the hip and scooping ball straight up or by turning out one foot and dropping into a K barrier (As illustrated) and scooping ball into stomach.
Ensure bodyweight is forward, keeping head and upper body over the ball. You may even wish to drop down into the save once the ball is secured
Don’t allow knee to touch the ground during catch as this unbalances a goalkeeper and leads to lack of mobility in case of a deflection or bobble.
2 barriers; hands and legs/foot(feet) depending on technique used.
DIVING
For all diving saves ensure the goalkeeper isn’t landing on the top of their knee or on top of their elbow in any way. These are serious safety issues and must be addressed immediately.
Collapsing Dive
Again, from SET position
This dive is primarily used if a goalkeeper can’t move feet quick enough to save a ball that is close to them.
Throw leg that is closes to the ball inwards and drop down towards the ball.
Move both hands in sync with body ensuring they don’t move any further than a balls width apart (HANDCUFFS don’t allow hands to move a great distance apart)
Present hands slightly to the ball, keeping slight bend in elbows (shock absorption)
Hand closest to the ball goes behind, 2nd hand on top of ball
Catch the ball in the W shape
Ensure the dive is slightly forwards (any backwards motion opens the goal up and reduces the distance covered by the dive)
Eyes through the back of the ball
Stages of dive (attempt to land on side of knee, hip, then back of shoulder/side)
Avoid hands ‘chopping’ down, encourage hands to ‘slide’ across to ball (if you ‘chop’ there’s a possibility the ball will sneak in beneath hands)
Avoid landing on top of knee as this rotates the goalkeeper on to stomach (ensure they land on side. Use top leg to keep equilibrium so they don’t fall back or forwards)
Ensure goalkeeper keeps the ball on the ground as any upward motion may result in dropping the ball.
3 barriers; Hands, head and ground.
LOW DIVING SAVE
Primarily used for saves that are slightly further away
Again, from set position
Leg closest to the ball steps out (slight forward movement) and toe points towards the direction of the ball
KNEE, HIP, SHOULDER.
Hands move in sync with body (handcuffs) Present hands slightly to the ball, keeping slight bend in elbows (shock absorption)
Hand closest to the ball goes behind, 2nd hand goes on top.
Secure using W technique
Eyes through back of ball
Diving slightly forward
Use tips as with collapsing save.
2 barriers (3 if possible); Hands, ground, (head)
MID HEIGHT DIVING SAVE
For any save that is approximately waist height
Follow all steps as with low diving save with the exception of handling
Present hands to ball in W shape and slowly guide ball down to ground to attain your 2/3 barriers, use KNEE, HIP, SHOULDER to guide ball to ground safely.
If goalkeeper uses ball to break their fall there’s a possibility they may drop the ball or it may slip out on a wetter surface.
