Quattro goalkeeping

Four balls, four goals and four chances to make a save, all wrapped up with a 4v4.

This fast paced shot stopping session would even test the likes of Italian goalkeeping greats Gianluigi Buffon and Dino Zoff.

What this session is about

1. Shot stopping.
2. Improving saving techniques.
3. Good footwork.

What to think about

• Keep the goalkeepers on their toes.
• Ensure they cover the ground rapidly, using “fast feet”, to be in a “set” position and balanced before the shot.
• Have them get behind the line of the ball. Get as close to the attacker as possible to cut down the angle.
• Emphasise the correct diving and saving techniques. Get the goalkeeper to hold the shot if possible.
• Encourage strong wrists and hands.
• Make sure the goalkeeper returns to his feet to immediately react to the next shot.

Set-up

Arrange four goals (you can use cones or poles) in a square. Place four cones outside the square, each one approximately 15 yards from the centre of each goal.

Use one goalkeeper, four servers and three ball boys.

What you get your players to do

The goalkeeper stands in one goal and faces a shot from the facing server positioned at a cone. After reacting to the shot, the goalkeeper moves clockwise to the next goal and gets in position for the next shot. This fast-moving drill continues in a clockwise direction for about a minute.

The drill is repeated in an anti-clockwise direction, and the speed of shot is quickened to increase difficulty.

Switch the goalkeepers, servers and ball boys.

The goalkeeper saves from the server and quickly moves in a clockwise direction to the next goal to face another shot.

Development

• Place a cone in the centre of the square. After each attempted save, the goalkeeper must run around that cone before heading to the next goal. This improves footwork and changes the angle of approach.
• Make it competitive – the goalkeeper conceding the fewest goals over a set period of time wins.

After repeating anti-clockwise, continue with the goalkeeper making a save and running around a cone before moving to the next goal.

Game situation

Play 4v4 plus two goalkeepers, with no offsides, on a pitch approximately 30 yards by 20 yards.

Place the goals on the longer touch lines, making the pitch wide, and condition the game so both sides can only take, say, a maximum of three touches before shooting.

If the goalkeeper makes a save and the ball leaves the pitch behind the goal, immediately serve a ball to an attacking player so that they can shoot straight at goal rather than take a corner.

If the goalkeeper deflects the ball behind, you pass a ball to the attacking team for a quick shot. How does the goalkeeper react?

What to call out

• “Keep on your toes”
• “Get in line with the ball”
• “Up! Up!”