GK Handling

Set-up

The drill requires an area approximately 40 feet long by 25 feet wide. At one end, place a full-sized goal or, for home use, use two cones, jumpers, or garden canes spaced about six feet apart to mark a target area. The player acting as goalkeeper stands directly on the goal line, centred between the posts or markers. The person serving the ball (the parent or another player) stands approximately twelve large paces (about 30-35 feet) in front of the goal, directly facing the goalkeeper. Ensure there is clear space around the goal to prevent collisions.

What you need

• Balls
• Goal

The ground: 40 × 25 ft (about 12 × 8 m). One child can run it alone in a backyard. The space and equipment check lists every drill that fits the ground you have.

How to run it

1. Set up. A goal or two cones, keeper on the line, server about twelve steps out.
2. Set position. Feet shoulder width, weight forward on the balls of the feet, hands up ready.
3. W hands. Thumbs almost touching behind the ball for anything above the waist.
4. Body behind. Get the whole body behind the ball, not just the hands.
5. Low balls. Down on one knee for anything rolling, so nothing squeezes through.
6. Count clean. Ten low, ten waist, ten high. Count how many were held with no rebound.

Coaching points

• Set position early, feet planted before the shot rather than as it arrives. A keeper still moving when the ball is struck is a keeper diving late every time.
• Hands in a W behind the ball, thumbs almost touching. The W is what stops the ball slipping through, and a spilled shot is nearly always hands that were beside the ball rather than behind it.
• Get the body behind the hands. A ball that beats a keeper cleanly usually beat the body first — the hands are the catch, the body is the insurance.

What to watch: Hands in a W behind the ball, and the body behind the hands. A ball spilled is a ball that beat the body, not the hands.

Common mistakes

• Moving feet upon shot: The goalkeeper shuffles or adjusts their feet as the ball is struck or arrives, rather than having their feet planted and ready. This delay causes them to react slowly and often leads to a late, uncontrolled dive.
• Incorrect W-grip: The goalkeeper's thumbs are far apart, or their fingers are splayed rather than forming a tight 'W' shape behind the ball. This allows the ball to slip through their grasp, resulting in a fumbled catch and a dangerous rebound.
• Reaching with hands only: The goalkeeper extends their arms to catch the ball but fails to get their body directly behind their hands. If the ball then slips through their hands, there is no body 'insurance' to stop it, meaning a goal.
• Failing to go to one knee for low balls: Instead of dropping a knee to the ground to block the lower part of the goal, the goalkeeper merely bends at the waist. This leaves a gap beneath their body, allowing low shots to squeeze through.
• Not tracking the ball's flight: The goalkeeper takes their eyes off the ball as it travels, guessing its trajectory rather than following it all the way into their hands. This often leads to misjudged positioning and fumbled catches.
• Poor recovery after a save: After making a save, especially one requiring movement, the goalkeeper remains on the ground or slow to return to their set position. This leaves them unprepared for a quick follow-up shot or a second attempt.

What good looks like

A good target: 9 of 10 shots held cleanly with no rebound spilled.

• The goalkeeper consistently adopts a stable set position with feet shoulder-width apart and weight forward before the ball is struck.
• A clear "W-grip" is formed with the thumbs close together behind the ball for all catches above the waist.
• The goalkeeper's entire body (chest, stomach, legs) is positioned directly behind their hands, acting as a secondary barrier.
• For low balls, the goalkeeper smoothly drops to one knee, effectively closing off the space beneath their body.
• The majority of shots (at least 8 out of 10) are held cleanly without spilling a rebound or fumbling the ball.
• The goalkeeper recovers quickly to their set position after each save, ready for a potential follow-up shot.

Progressions and variations

Making it harder

• Level 1: Basic Throws: The server throws the ball gently, directly at the goalkeeper's chest and hands, allowing them to focus solely on the W-grip and body position.
• Level 2: Varying Height & Speed: The server gradually increases the speed and varies the height of the throws (low, waist, high) to challenge the keeper's reaction time.
• Level 3: Gentle Side Movement: The server throws the ball slightly to the left or right, requiring the goalkeeper to take one or two small steps to position their body correctly before catching.
• Level 4: Bounce Shots: The server gently bounces the ball a few feet in front of the goalkeeper, introducing a different trajectory and requiring quick adjustments for the catch.
• Level 5: Kicked Shots: The server replaces throws with gentle kicks from the same distance, increasing the ball's speed and unpredictability slightly.
• Level 6: Repetitive Saves: The server quickly delivers two or three shots in succession (e.g., low, then high, then waist), challenging the goalkeeper's recovery and readiness.
• Level 7: Varying Server Distance: The server moves closer (e.g., 8 paces) to increase the speed of the shots, demanding faster reactions and sharper technique.
• Level 8: Multiple Shots from Different Angles: Introduce a second server or have the main server move to different angles (e.g., 45 degrees to the goal), requiring the keeper to adjust their initial position and face the shot.

Alone, with a sibling, or in a group

• Solo: throw against a wall and catch the rebound in a W grip, working close range for reaction and further out for handling.
• Sibling: one serves and one keeps, swapping every ten. The server calls high or low before throwing.
• Co-op: a shooting queue with the keeper rotating out every five shots so nobody tires into bad habits.

For the parent running it

• Serve balls at a comfortable pace and let them get their body behind every one. Catching cleanly matters more than diving spectacularly.
• Praise effort, not just perfection: Encourage and praise your child's attempts and commitment, even if the save isn't perfect. This builds confidence and makes the drill enjoyable.
• Keep it fun and short: Young children have limited attention spans. Stop the drill before they become bored or frustrated. Aim for several short sessions (5-10 minutes) a week rather than one long one.
• Be a good server: Vary the throws/kicks to keep it engaging, but always ensure they are within your child's current ability level. Gradually increase difficulty as they improve.
• Emphasise safety: Remind your child about protecting their face and hands. If they seem hesitant, return to softer balls or closer, gentler throws to rebuild confidence.
• Integrate into play: After practising, encourage your child to use these skills during casual games or scrimmages, helping them see the real-world application of their training.

On their own: Throw against a wall and catch the rebound, working through low, waist and high. Fifty clean catches.

Safety

• Finger and hand protection: Always ensure hands are warmed up. Consider using goalkeeper gloves, especially as shot power increases, to protect fingers and wrists from sprains or impacts.
• Head and face awareness: Emphasise keeping eyes on the ball at all times and using hands to protect the face when catching high balls, particularly when diving.
• Safe playing surface: Conduct the drill on a relatively even, non-slippery surface. Avoid areas with divots, rocks, or excessive mud that could cause falls or twists during dives.
• Clear surrounding area: Ensure there are no obstacles (e.g., walls, fences, other players, sharp objects) close behind or to the sides of the goal that the goalkeeper could collide with during a dive or while retrieving a ball.
• Gradual intensity increase: Start with gentle throws and gradually increase the power and speed of shots to allow the goalkeeper to adapt and prevent injuries from sudden, hard impacts.

More on training safely at home: Safety at Home.

Why it matters

This GK Handling drill is foundational for any aspiring goalkeeper, providing the essential building blocks for shot-stopping. It directly feeds into more complex goalkeeping techniques such as collapse dives, extension dives, and dealing with crosses, as it establishes the core principles of hand position, body shape, and readiness. It is a critical component of the curriculum because mastering these basics instils confidence, reduces fear of the ball, and ensures the player can competently execute the primary role of a goalkeeper: preventing goals.