Scoop save

Any shot that is traveling towards a goalkeeper’s legs at pace is difficult to deal with. Young goalkeepers in particular have problems with these and often opt for kicking the ball away, or end up with the ball hitting, or even worse, going through their legs into the goal.

What this session is about

1. Providing goalkeepers with a reliable alternative for saving difficult shots that are driven straight at the legs.
2. To minimize mistakes and rebound opportunities for opposition strikers.

What to think about

• Make sure that your goalkeepers understand that using the hands is a more effective way to save a centred shot than using the feet.
• Encourage your goalkeepers to use their feet to get into line / down the line of the ball.
• Make sure they are “on their toes” and ready throughout the session.

Set-up

1. 15 x 15 yard playing area.
2. One goal each end.
3. Goal approx 4 – 6 yards wide.
4. One GK works, while the other serves.

What you get your players to do

• The server must initially just pass the ball straight to the GK`s feet. As the GK warms up, the server begins to shoot at the GK’s legs with force.
• Encourage GK to step “into line / down the line” of the shot.
• Bend knees to form a “k” shape with legs, leaning into the direction of ball .
• Scoop ball with both hands into chest.
• Drop on top of ball to cover the ball and prevent it spilling from the hands and creating rebounds.
• After each save, the GK becomes the server for the GK at the opposite end.

Front view – this is the stance your GK should adopt.

Development

The GK starts at one post, and on toes moves laterally from post to post.
When the GK gets into the centre of the goal, the server strikes the ball at the GKs feet, who then uses the correct technique to make the save.

Make sure they adjust their feet to move into line with the ball.

Game situation

Using the same playing area the GKs play a competitive game, attempting to score against
each other. Each GK has 5 serves before the other GK serves. The GK who concedes the fewest goals is the winner.

Make sure they fall on top of the ball to prevent rebounds.

What to call out

• “On toes”
• “Into line / down the line”
• “Cover ball”