GK SHOT STOPPING
Shot stopping is what most scouts and clubs will look at when judging whether a goalkeeper should be given a trial at a pro club. Obviously there will be other factors that will be looked at and taken in to account such as height, dominance and positioning but shot stopping will be the main factor. It seems somewhat surprising considering that the bulk (roughly 90%) of a goalkeepers game will be played using the feet with various goalkicks and passbacks. However it will ultimately be the goalkeepers shot stopping ability which will, on most occassions, keep the ball out of the net. As expressed in the earlier sections, both footwork and handling will have a great contribution as to how successful a goalkeeper will be at shot stopping. The quicker the goalkeeper can move their feet and their hands to the ball the more chance of saving a point blank shot they will have.
For the next 7 drills the goal needs to be 6yrds wide:
Drill 1
The goalkeeper needs to start in the middle of the goal lying face down with their arms bent and palms lying flat on the floor. On the servers shout, 'GO', the keeper need to get to their feet and stop a shot which can be served using varied service. (Give a set of one kind of service and then move to a new service)
Drill 2
For this drill, the set up needs to be the same as drill one but the goalkeeper must have their arms by their sides. Again on the servers call, the keeper must raise to their feet to stop the shot.
Drill 3
Again the set up will be the same for this drill however the goalkeeper will need to be lying on thier side with their feet in the middle of the goal as if they have just made a diving save. On the servers call they must get up and stop the shot. Make sure you work both the left and right side of the body. So perhaps complete a set of six dives starting lying on your left and then complete six starting from your right.
Drill 4
The goalkeeper needs to start in the middle of their goal but this time sitting. When instructed, they must get up and stop the shot.
Drill 5
The goalkeeper should start in the middle of the goal in the set position with their hands behind their head. On 'GO' they need to move their hands quickly to save the shot. Complete a set of 12.
Drill 6
Same set up as drill 5 but this time the goalkeeper need to place their hand on thier knees.
Drill 7
Again this drill requires the same set up as drills 5 & 6 with the goalkeeper placing their hands on their ankles this time.
There are many variations for the seven drill above including closing your eyes or turning on the servers command. Experiment with all of them and adapt as you feel fit. You could adapt all of the above drills to consist of two shots one after the other to promote the double save.
Drill 8
For this drill the goalkeeper will be working whilst on the move. A full size goal will need to be used and two cones need to be placed, one, one step out from the right post and one, one step out from the left post. Both cones will be 10 steps out towards the server. The goalkeeper should then start on one of the cones and on the servers call quickly move towards the middle of the goal where they will have to make a save. This will be repeated on both cones.
Drill 9
This drill needs the same set up as drill 8 however there will be an extra cone placed in the middle between the two existing cones so there are now three points of retreat for the goalkeeper to work.
Drill 10
Drill 10 requires a small goal to be set up at an angle using one of the posts as a post of the smaller goal. From here the keeper will start on a cane placed in the middle of the main goal. The keeper runs to the middle of their small goal and takes a volley. They then return the ball along the floor and side step around the cone post of the small goal. They will then make a diving save towards their near post from the servers sidefooted service.
