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Goalkeeper Footwork

Train goalkeepers to move quickly and efficiently using ready position and proper footwork to collect and return a ground ball.

Goalkeeping9-1011-1213-1415-16U18Adultschedule12mgroup1 players minimumstarstarstarstarstar4.0 (1)
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Equipment, Setup & Instructions
Equipment
  • Cones
  • Soccer balls
  • Ball supply basket or pile (optional)
  • Stopwatch/phone timer
Setup
  1. Area: 5x10 yard cone grid with a marked starting end and top end
  2. Group: 1 yellow goalkeeper starts standing at the starting end line of the grid
  3. Coach: 1 grey coach positioned 5 yards beyond the top end of the grid with a supply of soccer balls
  4. Equipment: Cones marking the four corners and boundaries of the 5x10 yard grid, plus a supply of soccer balls and optional ball basket/pile with the coach.
Instructions
  1. On the coach’s command, the goalkeeper sprints along the outside of the grid to the top of the grid.
  2. At the top, the goalkeeper immediately gets into the ready position (balanced and alert).
  3. The coach plays a ball directly to the goalkeeper on the ground.
  4. The goalkeeper scoops the ball up cleanly and returns it to the coach.
  5. The goalkeeper backpedals to his starting position.
  6. The goalkeeper then shuffles across the 5-yard end line to the opposite side for the second repetition.
  7. Provide ample recovery time between sets so the keeper can repeat at full effort and correct technique.
Coaching Points
  • Keep hips facing the coach at all times during returns and setup
  • When arriving at the ready position, bend knees slightly, stay on the balls of the feet, hands up, eyes on the ball
  • Use quick, short steps for the shuffle; avoid any crossing of the feet
  • Sprint to the top under control so the keeper can stop and react into the ready position quickly
  • Scoop the ground ball with safe hands and good body position—don’t reach away from the body
  • Backpedal with balanced posture; keep feet under hips and avoid leaning back too far
  • Get set before the ball arrives—timing is more important than lunging
  • Return the ball accurately to the coach to reset quickly for the next rep
  • Maintain rhythm: movement, stop, ready, receive, return, recover
  • Scan with eyes only to the coach/ball (no unnecessary head movement)
  • Encourage full recovery between sets to keep footwork sharp and technique consistent
  • Watch for common errors: slow ready position, crossed feet during shuffle, hips turning away from the coach
Variations
Make it harder:
• increase the grid while keeping the same sprint/shuffle pattern, longer sprints or shorten for more frequent faster reps
• Increase speed by requiring the ready position to be reached within a set count (e.g., 1–2 seconds)
• Add a second ball as soon as the first is returned (coach rolls back-to-back quickly)
Make it easier:
• Increase the grid size less pickups, more running or vice versa depending on player.
• Slow the coach’s ball delivery so the keeper can practice clean, controlled scoops
• Shorten the drill by doing only one side per set before resting
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