A warm-up is an essential element of matchday preparation for any player – and should leave a goalkeeper physically, tactically and psychologically prepared for the game they are about to play.

While there is no right or wrong way to warm up a goalkeeper, there are some general principles to follow. These include:

• Getting feedback from the goalkeeper about what they feel they need in order to prepare for the game
• Ensuring all elements of the goalkeeper’s role are covered – these are defending the goal and defending space when out of possession; starting and supporting build-up play when out of possession; and communicating, whether in or out of possession
• Gradually ramping up the intensity and complexity of the exercises while managing the goalkeeper’s workload.

Tips for building your goalkeeper warm-up

Plan ahead

If a goalkeeper warm-up isn’t planned ahead of time, it will be easy for it to fall by the wayside on matchday.

Make sure you have a clear idea of what the warm-up is going to be and how it is going to be executed. 

Plan it with the same detail as you would a warm-up for your outfield players.

Understand your limitations 

Think about the space you have available – can you warm up on the field or must you be off it? Can you warm up in a goal or are there no goals available?

It is also very important to think about the time you have available. The answers to these questions can help dictate what the warm-up should look like.

Consider your equipment

What do you need to make the warm-up successful?

Balls and gloves are obvious. Things like flat markers, cones and poles may also be useful. If, for example, you can’t warm up on the pitch, poles can be used to give keepers a goal reference, while flat markers can be used to set out a penalty area.

It’s best to be fully prepared with everything you may need – you never know what the set-up may be when you get to an away venue, or what conditions you may have to adapt to.

Know who’s taking the warm-up 

You may have a dedicated goalkeeper coach, a regular assistant, infrequent parent help, or you might coach solo. The less support you have, the more difficult it may be to warm-up the goalkeeper.

If you have an assistant, or there is a parent supporting, ask them to do it. 

If it’s just you, think about if players can do it together – whether it’s two goalkeepers, or a goalkeeper and a striker. The latter arrangement allows the striker to practise some shooting. 

There are, potentially, a few bits the keeper can do solo, too, like kicking the ball up and catching it.

Whoever does the warm-up, it’s important that they know what to do – which is where effectively planning, and sharing it, comes in.