GOALKEEPER ACTIVITES

U10 through U16

**Keep in mind that we do want our goalkeepers to have quick reactions, being able to respond
to multiple shots. But, throughout all goalkeeper activities, allow the goalkeeper to get into
proper position and have their eet set beore having them respond. !his will allow the
goalkeepers to ull" develop their skills.**
U10 GK ACTIVITIES
Handball #plit the $K%s into two teams. Keep possession b" passing to teammates with round
house throw, taking a ma&imum o three steps when holding the ball. Keepers must catch the
ball in the air past the end line in order to score. ' ball hits the ground, it is the opposite team%s
ball. (an deend opponents within an arms length awa" rom them. )*a&imum activit" length+
,0 minutes-
2v2 to goal ,v, to two goals )or lag.cone
goals- on a /0120 "ards long b" 00 "ards wide
ield. 3ield pla"ers should be divided into two
teams )each team at a goal standing in a line at
each corner lag-. 3irst pla"er in each line
comes out to make it a ,v, game. ' a team
scores, the two pla"ers sta" on the ield, turn and
receive a new ball passed in rom their team
standing in lines on the post, and attempt to
score another goal. ' scored on, rotate out. '
ball goes out o bounds, both teams rotate o.
Mini GK a!" 4 'n an area /0 "ards long b" ,0 "ards wide, use two cones or corner lag goals
acing each other, one $K in each net, with a halwa" line marked o. $K%s can round house
throw, baseball throw or bowl to score on each other. Ball must bounce in other pla"ers hal or
the goal to count. ' scored on, ne&t $K rotate in
)about / $K%s per goal on one o the posts.- ' no
goal is scored within a 11, minute time period, both
$K%s rotate. 5ncourage proper technique when
distributing and diving. )*a&imum activit" length+
,01,0 minutes
GK a!"4 'n an area ,01/0 "ards long and ,01,0
"ards wide )ad6ust i necessar"-, with a goal at either
end, and a hal wa" line marked o b" a line o
cones. $K%s can shoot, hal volle", bowl, baseball
throw or round house throw the ball into the opponents net to tr" and score, not going over
halwa" line. ' scored on, ne&t $K rotate in )about / $K%s per goal on one o the posts.- ' no
goal is scored within a 11, minute time period, both $K%s rotate. )*a&imum activit" length+ /0
minutes-
S#ot" on Goal7ave two servers )coaches-, each
centrall" located at the top o the 18 "ard bo&.
5ach $K should handle 2 shots total, alternating
rom each server then rotate out. !he irst ew
rounds the shots should be at the goalkeepers,
warming them up and building their conidence,
then begin to challenge them. 9otate quickl" to
keep the keepers active. *a&imum 0 goalkeepers
per goal. )$oalkeepers should handle about ,0
shots or more each-
Colo! S#ot" : !here are dierent colored
cones or 6erse"s on a central arc about 161
,0 "ards outside o a goal, each with a
server and several balls. ;ne $K starts in
net and as the coach calls out a color, the
$K must ad6ust their positioning and be
read" or the shot, based on what color the
coach calls. 9otate ater 0 shots. 5ach
goalkeeper should rotate through at least 2
rounds o saves.
T$o Sav%" :$K%s in groups o three with
two cones 6 "ards apart. ;ne $K stands
between the cones, the others are about
10 "ards awa" on each side o the cone
goal. $K aces one server who shoots
the ball at the keeper to make the save.
<hile this is happening, server , is
moving their ball so ater working $K
makes 1
st
save the" must turn to server
two behind them and ind the new
positioning o the ball to make the save.
Keeper immediatel" turns and inds the
other ball and shooter who has moves
again. 5ach keeper makes about 8 saves
successull" then rotate. !o start, the
service can be a roundhouse throw, then progress to a oot service )shot- rom the ground. =llow
the $oalkeepers to have two rounds with service rom a throw, then two rom the ground.
Pa!tn%! Cat&#ing ' (i"t!ib)tion :!wo lines
o pla"ers, each in between a cone goal, acing
each other with one ball )ma&imum pla"ers
per line is /-. $K = B;<># )and then
ollows their service- to $K B who scoops it
up and brings it in to their bod". $K B then
B;<># to the $K behind $K = to continue
the c"cle. =ter several rounds, balls should
be B=#5B=>> !79;<, then
9;U?@7;U#5 throw at head level, then to
high balls. Version 2+ <ithin each round, have
the server put slight pressure on the working
$K. Version 3: ?ow the keepers have to
shule through 0 cones in a vertical row in
ront o their net, and set or the service. 5ach goalkeeper should make about 8110 saves per
round o distribution. )bowl, baseball throw, roundhouse-
U12 GK ACTIVITIES
1v1 G!id C#all%ng% =n attacking line with
ield pla"ers sets up centrall" at one end o the
grid )10wide&,0long- and the $K line at the
opposite end. !he $K rolls ball to the attacker
who must dribble over the opposite endline )the
goal the $K is protecting- with possession or a
point. Keep track o goals scored or a
competition. *a&imum 2 pla"ers in each the
attacking line and $K line, rotate ater each shot.
$K should be looking to cut down the angle and
orce the attacker to one side. )*a&imum length
o activit"+ ,0 minutes-
*)+b%! #ig# ball" 4 =ll $K%s in the 6 "d bo&
with a number )*a&imum 6 $K%s-, coach is
outside the 18 "ard bo& centrall" with balls.
(oach "ells out a number and serves a high ball
towards the top o the 6. !he $K must work
their wa" through traic and get the ball at the
highest point, using the proper leg or protection
calling out AkeeperB. Version 2: (oach can
move to the outsides and serve rom there so the
$K%s now have to deal with balls served in rom
the lank. (oach can also call out two numbers so the $K%s have to compete or it. )*a&imum
length o activit" ,0 minutes-
C!o""%", GK-1v1 ;ne keeper in goal plus one deender
and one attacker )gra"-. (oach or server is on the lank
be"ond the side o the CK area serving crosses. =ter about 01
8 repetitions, pla"ers switch rolls. !hen rotate to the other
side. 5ach keeper should get threeD 018 repetition rounds per
side. $K must be loud in "elling AkeeperB or Aawa"B.
5ncourage the $K%s to test their range. =lso, have them
recogniEe on a driven ball, their range will not be as ar out as
i the ball is loted into the bo&. Keep score or a competition
or how man" balls dropped or scored upon. 3ield pla"ers are
passive at irst and then begin to increase pressure.
T$o ball Ci!&l% :$K%s stand in a 10110 "ard
diameter circle with one ball involved that can be
passed at the shoulder height level to an"one
e&cept the pla"er ne&t to "ou. = second ball can
be added once a rh"thm is obtained. !hen
progress onto to skip balls, and rolling balls with
pace. 'nstill into the pla"ers proper ootwork to
get their bod" behind each ball. !here should be
a high amount o communication between the
keepers. 'nstill proper, accurate distribution.
)*a&imum activit" length 101,0 minutes-
Moving ball . three or our pla"ers are on
the arc around the 18 "ard bo& )centrall"-
passing one ball while the working $K is
using their ootwork to constantl"
reposition themselves to be read" or a shot.
=t an" point, a server can take a shot,
especiall" i the" think the keeper is out o
position. 9otate ater 0 shots. 5ach
goalkeeper should get at least our rounds in
the net. #ervers should look to move the
ball quickl" to make it challenging or the
goalkeeper.
S+all Goal Sav%" .. !wo lines o pla"ers, each
in between a cone goal, acing each other with

one ball and e&tras on the sides. )ma&imum pla"ers per line is /- $oals should be about /0120
"ards apart with a 10 "ard buer Eone in the middle. Keepers are now tr"ing to score on each
other b" either throwing or bowling it but the ball must bounce on the opponents hal beore a
goal is scored. $K gets a point or a goal. ;nce a $K gets scored on, ne&t person in line hops in.
)*a&imum activit" length+ ,0 min-
2v2 to goal ,v, to goal on a /0120 "ards
long b" 00 "ards wide ield. 3ield pla"ers
should be divided into two teams )each team at
a goal standing in a line at each post-. 3irst
pla"er in each line comes out to make it a ,v,
game. ' a team scores, the two pla"ers sta" on
the ield, turn and receive a new ball rom their
team standing in lines on the post, and attempt
to score another goal. ' scored on, rotate out.
' ball goes out o bounds, both teams rotate
o.
2/ 0a!d "#ooting 4 , servers, about ,0
"ards out pass back and orth )quick
passes- then at an" point a server can
take a touch towards goal or a shot or
breakawa". $K has to read the pace on
the ball and the pla"er and make a
decision to come o their line or be
read" or a shot. 9otate the $K%s ater
about 0 repetitions. 5ach goalkeeper
should handle at least ,0 shots.
Colo! S#ot" : !here are dierent
colored cones or 6erse"s on a central
arc about 161,0 "ards outside o a
goal, each with a server and several
balls. ;ne $K starts in net and as the
coach calls out a color, the $K must
ad6ust their positioning and be read"
or the shot, based on what color the
coach calls. 9otate ater 0 shots. 5ach goalkeeper should rotate through at least 2 rounds o
saves.
U11 GK ACTIVITIES
T#!%% Sav%". !hree servers on the top o
the 18 "ard bo&, one centrall", one on
each corner o the 18. 5ach server has a
number )1, , or /- and "ells out their
number when the" are going to shoot
ne&t. $K%s need to make sure to cut down
the angle and set their eet beore each
shot and are not still moving when the
ball is struck. !ake about 018 repetitions
and then rotate the goalkeepers. 5ach
goalkeepers should have at least 2 rounds.
E2t%n"ion (iving 3o! #%ig#t :<ork in pairs, one server, one $K. !he keeper kneels with one
knee on the ground, one knee up )this is the side the" are diving to-. #erver holds ball in palm o
one hand about head height a ew "ards awa" rom the keeper and a bit in ront. Keeper pushed
hard with the near leg and drives to the ball, catches o server%s hands and lands properl".
<orking goalkeeper perorms about /10 dives each side, then rotate. $oalkeepers should go
through about / rounds total.
Pa!!0ing ov%! t#% ba!: 7ave goalkeepers
come o o one post, touch a cone about 6
"ards in ront o the center o the goal, and a
ball is served rom the about the 16 "ard line
over their head to one side. Keepers now must
do the proper ootwork )drop step, then either
a shule or crossover step-, the" should use
their opposite hand to delect the ball upwards
over the crossbar. =t irst, indicate the
direction beore the throw. =s the keepers get
more comortable, increase the diicult o the
throws b" making them more direct and at a
aster pace. Keepers should go one at a time,
ma&imum three keepers per goal. $K%s should
get at least 10 repetitions per side.
1v1 G!id C#all%ng% =n attacking line with ield pla"ers sets up centrall" at one end o the
grid )10wide&,0long- and the $K line at the opposite end. !he $K rolls ball to the attacker who
must dribble over the opposite endline )the goal the $K is protecting- with possession or a
point. Keep track o goals scored or a competition. *a&imum 2 pla"ers in each the attacking
line and $K line. $K should be looking to cut down the angle and orce the attacker to one side.
)*a&imum length o activit"+ ,0 minutes-
2/ 0a!d "#ooting 4 , servers, about ,0
"ards out pass back and orth )quick passes-
then at an" point a server can take a touch
towards goal or a shot or breakawa". $K
has to read the pace on the ball and the
pla"er and make a decision to come o
their line or be read" or a shot. 9otate the
$K%s ater about 0 repetitions. 5ach
goalkeeper should handle at least ,0 shots.
Handball #plit the $K%s into two teams. Keep possession b" passing to teammates with round
house throw, taking a ma&imum o three steps when holding the ball. Keepers must catch the
ball in the air past the end line in order to score. ' ball hits the ground, it is the opposite team%s
ball. (an deend opponents within an arms length awa" o them. )*a&imum activit" length+ ,0
minutes-
Colo! S#ot" : !here are dierent colored
cones or 6erse"s on a central arc about 161,0
"ards outside o a goal, each with a server
and several balls. ;ne $K starts in net and as
the coach calls out a color, the $K must
ad6ust their positioning and be read" or the
shot, based on what color the coach calls.
9otate ater 0 shots. 5ach goalkeeper should
rotate through at least 2 rounds o saves.
2v2 to goal ,v, to goal on a /0120 "ards
long b" 00 "ards wide ield. 3ield pla"ers should
be divided into two teams )each team at a goal
standing in a line at each post-. 3irst pla"er in
each line comes out to make it a ,v, game. ' a
team scores, the two pla"ers sta" on the ield, turn
and receive a new ball rom their team standing in
lines on the post, and attempt to score another
goal. ' scored on, rotate out. ' ball goes out o
bounds, both teams rotate o.
Pa"" ba&4 $K in net, server is centrall"
about ,0 "ards out with all o the balls.
!argets at hal ield )or closer- near the touch
line in a 10 "ard bo&. #erver passes a ball
back to the working $K who takes two
touches and connects to one o the grids.
Fersion ,+ ;ne touch the ball rom the server
and connect to targets. Fersion /+ 7ave a
deender put pressure on working $K,
starting their run rom the 18 "ard line so the
$K has to make the right decision to pla" to
the let or right, one touch or two touch. !he
goalkeepers should take about 101,0
repetitions per round. )two touch, one touch, with deender-
U15 and abov% GK ACTIVITIES
6o)! Co!n%! S#ooting4;n a ield ,0 "ards long
b" ,0 "ards long, position two goals at each end.
#plit pla"ers into two teams )each team at a goal
standing in a line at each corner lag- !he coach
is positioned at the midield line, outside the ield,
with all the soccer balls. <hen the coach kicks a
ball into the ield, the irst person in each o the
our corner lines enters the ield to pla" a ,v,
game plus goalkeepers. Cla" continues until the
ball goes out o bounds or a goal is scored. <hen
this happens, all pla"ers rotate out and go back to
their original lines e&cept the goalkeepers who
will rotate about ever" 0110 minutes. !he ne&t our pla"ers are
up, and the coach will serve the ne&t ball into pla".
Handling C!o""%" 111#erve balls )either kicked or
thrown- to a keeper rom the lanks, var"ing the
service+ loating, driven, short o the keeper, over the
keeperGs head, etc. !he keeper must 6udge the ball,
decide whether to use a one1 or two1handed punch or
catch the ball, call or the ball, perorm the technique.
$oalkeepers should work on getting height and
distance on their punches or catching it at the highest
point. $oalkeepers must call out AkeeperB or Aawa"B
on each service. 3ield pla"ers can be placed in the bo&
or more o a challenge, adding more pressure on the
working goalkeeper as the activit" progresses. $K%s
should take about 8110 repetitions total rom both sides, then rotate. $K%s should have at least /
rounds.
C#ann%l Ga+%111*ark out HreeH channels wide, rom the edge o the penalt" area to the touch
line. !eam = attacks the goal with team B deending. !eam = takes the ball into one o the
channels and sends in a cross, attempting to score. $oalkeeper reads the light o the ball and
either calls out AkeeperB or Aawa"B. =ter a clearance or goal, the deending team retrieves the
ball and starts the attack, with the other team now deending. Use as man" ield pla"ers "ou
have and ad6ust the space as necessar". ' an additional goal rame is available, go to two goals
and make it a continuous 0v0I6v6Ietc game with the requirement that beore a goal is scored,
the attacking team must bring the ball into the channel and cross the ball in.

7!%a4a$a0 Ga+% 111Cla" a small1sided )/v/ or
2v2- game with two goals, a goalkeeper in each
net. @ivide the ield into thirds )horiEontall"
across width o the ield-. =ll pla"ers start in the
middle Eone, and no pla"er on either team ma"
enter a goal Eone until ater the ball does. !his
arrangement encourages through balls and
breakawa"s. ' necessar", "ou can add a restriction
that onl" one or two deenders ma" enter their
deensive Eone. Keepers must decide whether the"
should come out immediatel" when a ball comes
through and intercept it, come out and challenge
the ball carrier, or sta" on the line.
Sav% and Pa"" ba&4 $K in net, server is
centrall" about ,0 "ards out with all o the
balls. = shooter is centrall" about ,0 "ards out
as well. !argets at hal ield )or closer- near
the touch line in a 10 "ard bo&. #hooter takes
a touch and a shot. =ter the keeper makes a
save, the server passes a ball back to the
working $K who takes two touches and
connects to one o the grids. Fersion ,+ ;ne
touch the ball rom the server and connect to
targets. Fersion /+ 7ave a deender put
pressure on working $K, starting their run
rom the 18 "ard line so the $K has to make
the right decision to pla" to the let or right,
one touch or two touch. !he goalkeepers
should take about 811, repetitions per round. )two touch, one touch, with deender-
Colo! S#ot" : !here are dierent colored
cones or 6erse"s on a central arc about 161
,0 "ards outside o a goal, each with a
server and several balls. ;ne $K starts in
net and as the coach calls out a color, the
$K must ad6ust their positioning and be
read" or the shot, based on what color the
coach calls. 9otate ater 0 shots. 5ach
goalkeeper should rotate through at least 2
rounds o saves.
2v2 to goal ,v, to goal on a /0120 "ards long b"
00 "ards wide ield. 3ield pla"ers should be divided
into two teams )each team at a goal standing in a
line at each post-. 3irst pla"er in each line comes
out to make it a ,v, game. ' a team scores, the two
pla"ers sta" on the ield, turn and receive a new ball
rom their team standing in lines on the post, and
attempt to score another goal. ' scored on, rotate
out. ' ball goes out o bounds, both teams rotate
o.
1v1 G!id C#all%ng% =n attacking line with
ield pla"ers sets up centrall" at one end o the
grid )10wide&,0long- and the $K line at the
opposite end. !he $K rolls ball to the attacker
who must dribble over the opposite endline )the
goal the $K is protecting- with possession or a
point. Keep track o goals scored or a
competition. *a&imum 2 pla"ers in each the
attacking line and $K line. $K should be looking
to cut down the angle and orce the attacker to
one side. )*a&imum length o activit"+ ,0
minutes-