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⚽ 28 drills

Goalkeeping Drills

28 goalkeeping drills for grassroots football coaches, from U7 to adult. Each with step-by-step instructions, coaching points, and a visual diagram.

Everyone Keeps Goal

FA Future Fit at U7-U8 explicitly mandates rotating goalkeepers — no special…

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GK 1v1 — Coming Off the Line

The 1v1 is a mental duel as much as technical…

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GK 1v1 Saves — Set and Hold

Most U11–U13 goalkeepers can stop straightforward shots but have poor hand t…

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GK Angles and 1v1s

A goalkeeper who stands on their goal line gives away 2–3 goals per season t…

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GK Angles — Come Off the Line

The most common U11–U14 goalkeeper error is staying on the goal line when an…

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Commanding the Area — Crosses

The GK who commands their area — coming for crosses confidently, calling 'KE…

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GK Command of the Box

A GK who commands their box vocally reduces aerial confusion, prevents defen…

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GK Crosses — Claim or Punch

Crosses are the most common scoring moments goalkeepers face after 1v1s, and…

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GK Crosses — Coming for the Ball

Coming for crosses is the goalkeeping skill that separates capable U13 keepe…

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GK Long Distribution

Long GK distribution — the goal kick, the punt, the drop kick — is the set p…

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GK Distribution — Play Out from the Back

Modern goalkeeping demands distribution that builds attacks…

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GK First Touch — Distribution from a Save

A GK who makes a save and then takes 3 seconds to distribute has already con…

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GK Footwork and Distribution — Feet Under Pressure

The modern goalkeeper at U14+ is expected to play with their feet as a ball-…

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GK Footwork and Short Distribution

Modern grassroots football, even from U12, expects the GK to be comfortable …

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GK Fundamentals — Set and Save

Goalkeeping at grassroots is desperately under-coached…

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GK Handling and Distribution — First Skills

Goalkeepers at U9–U11 in 5v5 and 7v7 formats often have no specific GK train…

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High Ball Claiming

A GK who claims high balls confidently prevents corners, reduces aerial conf…

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Low Diving Save

The low diving save is the most commonly scored-against situation in grassro…

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Low Diving Saves

Low diving saves are the most frequently required advanced GK technique in 7…

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GK Penalty Technique

The GK's penalty technique is poorly coached at grassroots level…

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Penalty Saving

Penalty saving is more about psychological preparation than technique…

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GK Positioning and Angle Play

GK angle play — reducing the shooting angle by coming off the line — is the …

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GK Quick Distribution — Roll, Throw, Punt

Most U11–U13 goalkeepers default to one distribution method — usually a punt…

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Reflex Reactions — Close-Range Saves

Reflex saves require a different training input than standard shot-stopping…

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GK Reaction Saves

Reaction saves — the save made from a deflection, a rebound, or a close-rang…

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GK Set Position and Angles

Most goals conceded at U10–U12 go in because the GK is in the wrong position…

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GK Set Position and Ready Stance

The ready stance — weight forward, hands at hip height, eyes on the ball — i…

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GK Reaction Saves — Close-Range Sequence

Match-realistic shot-stopping requires fast reset between saves — a goalkeep…

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