U13 GK — Positioning Focus
A 60-minute goalkeeping session focused on positioning — angles, line keeping, 1v1 closing — the skills that turn saves into impossibilities.
⏱Session timeline
▦Session blocks
Arrival Triangle
0 minGK joins the warm-up as an outfielder. Modern GKs need foot skills — this is part of their training, not a side activity.
Dynamic Dribbling Square
0 minContinue with foot-skills warm-up. By minute 6, the GK should be sweating but not gassed.
GK Fundamentals (Brief Refresh)
0 minRefresh the basics — set position, hand shape, controlled diving. Even confident U13 keepers benefit from a 12-minute return to fundamentals. Run only Phases 1-3 (skip diving practice if last week covered it).
GK Angles & Positioning
0 minThe session's centrepiece. Run all 4 phases including 1v1 closing. 60-second rest between phases — positioning work involves a lot of movement, fatigue degrades the decision-making.
Match-realistic finish
0 min3v3 SSG with the GK in goal. 4-yard cone goal at the other end. 6 minutes of real game scenarios. Coach observes whether the GK applies positioning learning under match pressure.
Walking debrief
0 minWalk the GK through one specific moment from the SSG. 'Where were you when X happened? Where could you have been?' Specific feedback embeds the principles.
◆What you'll need from yourself
Clear demonstrations and high energy. Keep the session moving with minimal queuing, and reinforce one or two key coaching points rather than overloading players with information.
!Common problems
Players standing in queues (set up enough stations to keep everyone active) and the session running too long on one activity (keep blocks tight and move on while engagement is high).