Penalty saving practice
Keepers practise staying on their line, reading the taker's body and reacting late to save penalties. Simple techniques that make a real difference in shoot-outs.
Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.
Set-up
- Keeper on the line; takers queue at the spot (or closer for younger players).
- Observers can help spot cues.
Equipment: Goal, balls
How it works
- Keeper stays big and on the line until the ball is struck.
- Watch the taker's hips and plant foot.
- Count saves; swap keepers.
Coaching points
- Stay on your line (laws require one foot on or level with it).
- Move late, but move decisively.
- Make yourself big; wave arms only within the laws.
Add this drill to a session plan โ
Make it easier
- Takers shoot from further back
Make it harder
- Takers can stutter-step
AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ Passโ Runใฐโ Dribble
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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 โDiving 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 โKeeper 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 โKeeper 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 โKeeper 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 โKeeper 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