What are your priorities as far as positioning is concerned?
Priority 1 = Save the shot
Priority 2 = Cut out the Cross
Priority 3 = Save the shot after the ball goes to the far post.
GOAL 1 – Saving the Shot. Goalkeeper must be set, and as the player goes wide, ensure that he/ she is outside the line of the post. Save shot as normal, ensuring clean hands so as not give a way a corner of drop in the path of players.
GOAL 2 – Is created when an opponent goes to the goal line. The goal is now the post to an imaginary post on the 6 yd box. The goalkeeper has to save in this goal as if it is our real goal. Bodyweight forward, set etc. By saving in this goal, you are cutting out the cross and any danger.
GOAL 3 – Is the far side of the big goal when the ball is played to the far post. Either lofted or driven. The goalkeeper must get to this side of the goal as quick as possible. A cross over step is allowed as it enables running, the fastest way to move. Goalkeepers however must ensure they are set before making a save. The key to success is to move along the line of the goal rather than following the ball off the line. If you are not going to get to the ball you should stay on your line for more reaction time.
Short range shot stopping requires lightning reflexes with both hands and feet. These are some of the “Glory” saves that goalkeepers like to make and more often than not, game winning saves.
First of all let me differentiate between short range save and point blank saves.
Short range shots are often first time hits that are between the 6yd line and penalty spot. Often these types of shot are hit as outfield players pull the ball back from the goal line or from a crossed ball along the floor.
Point blank saves require the goalkeeper to be brave in order to pressure the defender – The objective is to get the ball before the striker and if you are not first, spread yourself enough to make a sufficient block.
For this article I will be concerned with the short range shot stopping.
• In order to make the best save possible – Being in the “Set” position is important.
• Bodyweight forward – almost aggressive. It is a natural reaction to have your body weight go backwards when something is coming towards you at a fast pace. Attack the ball with hands or be attacked!
• When having to move across the goal ( Due to the ball being played across from the goal line and the goalkeeper having to cover the unprotected side of the goal) . The secret is to be controlled and reading the play. As the striker hits the ball you should be as close to “Set” as possible. With shoulders facing the ball and bodyweight central. Depending on how far you have to get across the goal, running as opposed to gliding will be a quicker option – Running across results in shoulders facing the wrong way. You must adjust your body shape before making the save.
• With hard shots coming at short range it is natural for the save not to be technically perfect. This results in the need to make the second save. Being able to recover to be first to the ball is important as your defenders may not always be there to help out.
Strikers naturally get high success from these shots so the goalkeepers should not get too despondent as the ball gets in. As a general rule however, if the ball is hitting the back part of the net as opposed to going in the sides they should be considering why that is. On the flip side, making such a save can act as a great boost to your confidence, your teams moral and be demoralizing to the opposition.
The ability to have a good first touch when a back pass is provided breeds confidence to both the goalkeeper and the team. The perception of the goalkeeper is very important and talked about here [Ways to improve your perception as a goalkeeper].
Like a poor first save, a poor first touch and resulting consequences can give the opposition a boost in morale as they see that the goalkeeper they are playing against is susceptible to mistakes.
This was recently the case for one of my old students, Lee Butcher, whose poor first touch resulted in a scramble to collect the ball in the first 10 minutes….. needless to say, the opposition chased down every back pass thereafter, making the game difficult for Lee. See the video here.
You will see from the video that in all honesty, the touch was not too bad. He got in line with the ball, his touch went forward….. but it was slightly too heavy considering the player charging in.
Good control from a backpass is vital throughout the game. I was watching my team play last week in which the substitute goalkeeper for the other team, who was keen to impress, got himself in trouble with this very topic. It was the eighty ninth minute of a tense promotion chasing game. See below how his bad first touch leads to some juggling antics.
One of the biggest mistakes from a first touch perspective is Rene Huigita’s mistake in the 1990 World Cup. See here for the video.
More recently, Houston Dynamo goalkeeper, Tyler Deric suffered from a poor first touch that resulted in the winning goal for new MLS team Orlando. It’s a shame for Tyler, as up until then, he had had a great game.
Sean Johnson’s recent mistake against Minnesota is an example of what could happen if you don’t take a first touch at all.
https://youtu.be/saPzgQrXCYI
Here are some common mistakes.
A heavy first touch ( As per Lee Butcher & Tyler Deric)
Not being in line with the ball and reaching ( As per Rene Higuita & the Sutton GK )
The ball getting stuck under your feet
Using the outside of your foot to control the ball and it not getting in front of you ( Or in Sean Johnson’s case, not actually touching the ball at all)
2) Preferred foot control, Non preferred foot delivery
3) Non preferred foot control, Preferred foot delivery
4) Non preferred foot control, Non preferred foot delivery
Decision is made based on time you have and where the incoming forward is coming from and where your team are getting open.
First touch must be diagonally forward and on the floor ( Imagine 10 or 2 on a clock face ) – Control that is backwards, up in the air or stuck under feet create difficulties.
Your selection of distribution is then based upon your coaches preferred method and various game situations ( Short to full back, wide to midfield or long to forwards ) and the tempo of the game. You would not risk a short ball to a full back under pressure if you are winning 1-0 with two minutes to go. It is important that you ask your coach of the preferred distribution.
The “Set” or “Ready “ position enables all goalkeepers to have the chance to make the best save possible.
There are different “Set” positions based upon the save you are likely to make. These different “Set” stances are for the following:
Shot stopping ( Regular distance )
Shot stopping (Short distance)
Winning the through ball / Collecting a cross
For this article I am concentrating on the “Set “position for saving a shot. This is the position that should be taught to young goalkeepers not only because shot stopping is the aim of being a goalkeeper but from a safety aspect too.
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