Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Reaction Saves - balls in the air

Screen 1

Set-up & Equipment

Full-sized goal

6 balls

1 cone or coaching stick

2 or more goalkeepers

Description of Activity

Goalkeeper (#2) starts standing behind end line about 1-2 yards wide of goal

Working goalkeeper (#1) is in goal

Coach or 3rd goalkeeper about 4-6 yards away

Goalkeepers are not using the full goal, they are only defending a space roughly 1/3rd of the goal, use cone and post to mark out the target area.

To start, working goalkeeper (#1) has ball in their hand standing at the post.

GK1 hands ball to GK2 who immediately serves an underhand toss to the coach (C)

Coach half volleys shot at GK1 who has made a dropstep off post and is center of the small goal

Coach tries to drive volley past GK1

If GK1 saves the ball, hands to GK2 and exercise continues

Goal is scored, ball is out of play, or save knocks ball out of the area, GK2 grabs another of the remaining balls and continues

Exercise ends when all 6 balls are in the goal or out of play.

Coaching Points:

1. GK stays as big as possible as long as possible

2. Focus is less on good technique and more on bravery - any save is a good save in the scenario

3. GK steps off the line as ball moves to Coach, reduce angle, is set as ball is volleyed

4. Keep body square, don't turn away or change angle of deflection inside of post

Pace of exercise should be high, GK under constant pressure.

Services should be realistic but keep in mind potential for injury, look for firm placement over power