How to Improve Your Goalkeeper

A good goalkeeper wins points on their own. But keeping is a specialist skill that’s too often neglected in training. Here’s how to develop a keeper who’s safe, confident and commands their area.

Handling and the ready position

Everything starts with safe hands. Coach the ready position — balanced, on the balls of the feet, hands up — and the basic catch: get the body behind the ball, form a solid W with the hands, and pull it into the chest. Drill it until it’s automatic.

Footwork and positioning

Great saves start before the shot. Teach the keeper to move their feet to get in line with the ball, take up the right angle to cut down the shooter’s target, and stay on their line at the right moments. Good positioning makes hard saves look easy.

Shot-stopping and diving safely

Build shot-stopping progressively — low balls first, then to the sides, then diving — always coaching the safe technique: lead with the hands, land on the side (not the front), and hold or parry to safety. For young keepers, keep it low-impact and age-appropriate.

Distribution starts attacks

A modern keeper is the first attacker. Coach accurate throwing and kicking to start play quickly, and calm feet for playing out from the back. A keeper who distributes well turns a save into a counter-attack.

Commanding the box & communication

The keeper sees the whole pitch — they should organise the defence, call for crosses decisively, and claim their area. Coach loud, clear communication and the confidence to come and take the ball. A keeper who commands their box calms the whole back line.

Drills that build it

Handling and ready-position reps; footwork ladders into a save; progressive diving on a soft surface; crossing drills to practise claiming; distribution and playing-out games. Keep young keepers’ sessions safe and fun.

Try it on the pitch: set up high press, low block, man-marking or an attacking shape and get AI coaching for it in the DRILLPITCH Formation & Tactics Builder.

For done-for-you sessions with every drill mapped out, take a look at the DRILLPITCH manual shop.