Recovery saves

There are situations in games where goalkeepers are required to make several saves within a short space of time, just a few seconds. This session encourages your goalkeeper to react quickly and adjust their position to make the next save.

What this session is about

Improving footwork, shot stopping ability and recovery time.

What to think about

• Fast feet – cover ground as fast as possible to get to make save.
• Get into line with the ball – getting in line with the shot makes it easier to read and reduce the size of the target.
• Handling – priority should always to be to catch ball, but if not, where do you deflect the ball too?
• Reactions – get back on your feet and react to next save immediately.

Set-up

Using 6 yard area,1 goal and a supply of balls.

Warm up	Session	Developments	Game Situation	Warm Down
10-15 minutes	10 minutes	15 minutes	10 minutes	10-15 minutes

What you get your players to do

Server 1 calls and shoots low at goal. The goalkeeper reacts to the call and narrows the angle before making the save (A).

As the save is made, server 2 calls and the goalkeeper must react to deal with a high ball from the opposite side (B).

The goalkeeper returns the ball to server 2 and gets back into the centre of the goal to save a driven shot from server 3 (C).

Repeat the drill from both sides.

Set up with three serving stations around the 6 yard area.

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Development

Vary the angle and pace of delivery and switch the order so that the goalkeeper must react to different scenarios.

The goalkeeper must deal with 3 balls in a short space of time.

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Game situation

Play a small sided game with a supply of balls ready. If the goalkeeper makes a save and the ball leaves the pitch, immediately serve a ball to an attacking player so that they can shoot straight at goal rather than taking a corner.

Encourage more shots by replacing corners with quick delivery from the coach.

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What to call out

• “On toes”
• “Fast feet”
• “Get into line with the ball”
• “Get up quickly”