Gafferbook
Goalkeeping ยท U9 to adult

Goal-kick technique

Keepers practise goal kicks to short and long targets, focusing on approach, plant foot and contact. Reliable kicking turns defence into attack.

U9 to adultAges
1 to 4 keepers plus targetsPlayers
Half pitchArea
10 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Targets: short (edge of the box), medium (wide), long (halfway).
  • Balls on the six-yard line.

Equipment: Goal, cones, balls

How it works

  1. Kick to the target the coach calls.
  2. Short: pass. Medium: driven. Long: lofted.
  3. Count how many land in the target zones.

Coaching points

  • Angled run-up, plant foot beside the ball.
  • Lock the ankle; strike through the lower half for height.
  • Follow through towards the target.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Shorter targets

Make it harder

  • Targets move
  • Add a pressing attacker for the short option

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.

More goalkeeping drills

Ready position and catching

The coach serves from close range to the keeper's chest, body and feet. Builds the ready position and the three basic catching shapes.

See the drill โ†’

Diving from the knees

Keepers practise low saves from a kneeling start, so they learn the shape of a dive without the fear of falling.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper footwork and set position

Keepers shuffle across the goal between cones and get set before each shot. Good footwork and being set as the ball is struck save more goals than diving.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper high catches (crosses)

Servers lob balls into the six-yard box and the keeper attacks them at the highest point. Builds confidence coming for crosses, the area most young keepers fear.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper one-on-ones (close down and smother)

Attackers dribble in from 20 metres and the keeper closes them down, makes themselves big and smothers or blocks. Teaches the brave, sensible one-on-one technique.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper distribution to targets

Keepers roll, throw and pass to targets in zones at different distances. Good distribution starts attacks, and at Future Fit ages it's half the keeper's job.

See the drill โ†’