tips for goalkeeper

The position of goalkeeper can be the loneliest on the field. Mistakes are more costly than in any other position, meaning the goalkeeper can face heavy criticism and scrutiny if things go wrong. Here are five goalkeeper tips to help with your game.

Ball Distribution: - Getting the ball out to your teammates quickly and accurately can give your side a real edge at the other end of the field. Rapid distribution from a goalkeeper can launch a counterattack that can put the opposition on the back foot and lead to a chance, or even a goal being scored. Many attacking moves start with a goalkeeper’s throw or kick, so once you have made a save or caught the ball, look around you to see if there are teammates in space. 

Command of Penalty Area:-Be aware of the position of your defenders and the opposition’s attackers. If you can instruct your defender to take the near post, and you the far post, this restricts the scoring opportunity for an attacker.

Communication: - It is important for a goalkeeper to know which positions his defenders are going to be taking up and which players they are marking.  Communication is particularly vital at corner kicks, and shouting something like ‘leave’ or ‘mine’ will help avoid misunderstandings which can result in the ball going loose.

One-On-One Situations: - If an opposition attacker beats your defenders and finds himself clean through, it is important to make the goal as small as possible. Staying on your feet for as long as possible is important because you force the attacker to make a decision about which part of the goal they are going to aim at. They will quite often start doubting themselves at this point because they are presented with a number of options and can be unsure which one to take.

Corner Kicks: - When the ball is inswinging, you should move a little closer to your goal in order to protect it. If it is outswinging, you can stand a little further away, perhaps three or four meters. The most important thing is to catch the ball at the highest point. You have an advantage over every other player on the pitch because your reach is greater and you are the only one who can use your hands in the area.