Handling
The importance of handling for a soccer goalie can’t be emphasised enough. If a striker takes a shot and the goalkeeper saves it- that isn’t good enough!
The goalie needs to save the ball and hold it so that the ball doesn’t rebound for the striker to then go and score the second time around.
So the importance of handling is not in doubt. But in this page I show you the right technique to catch the ball so, that as a goalkeeper, your handling is secure.
Read all about the skills and then go out and practice catching it properly: throw it against a wall to yourself or even better get someone to throw it or kick it at you.
Let’s get going…
The W
The W refers to the shape of your hands when you catch the ball. You should ALWAYS use this method UNLESS the ball is coming into your chest or stomach.
So if the soccer ball is above your head, for example, then your hands need to be in the shape of the letter W when you catch it. This is because the W gives a strong position that should prevent the ball from slipping through. To get the W shape just practice holding the ball to start with.
Put the ball on the ground. Put your hands on top of the ball. Spread all your fingers out so you almost wrap your hands around the ball. Bring your thumbs together. Because your thumbs are angling inwards towards each other you should now be able to notice a W shape forming between your thumbs and your second fingers.
\\/\\/: if you imagine the two middle lines here are your thumbs and the two outer lines are your second fingers, then you should be able to see the shape your hand needs to be in.
Now it’s all very well holding the ball in a W, but what about catching it in one. Well here’s a step by step guide so you can learn to catch with the right technique.
1) The ball is coming towards you and will be going above your head but it will be in arms reach
2) Lift your arms up above your head and bend them at the elbow slightly
3) Put your hands up to where you think the ball is going to be
4) Make a W shape with your hands whilst they are up in the air WITHOUT taking your eye off the ball. (Spread your fingers out and angle your thumbs inwards towards each other so they are just touching.)
5) Watch the ball land into your hands- keep your wrists strong so the ball doesn’t slip through, but cushion the ball enough with your hands so it doesn’t bounce off them
6) Having caught the ball bring your arms down and clutch the ball into your chest where it is safe
And there you have it you have made the catch, stopped the goal and prevented a rebound. Result!
Into Chest
Another common way for a soccer goalie to catch the ball is to take it into his chest or stomach.
The reason for doing this is parlty that if the ball is at chest height then it makes sense to take it into your chest. But the main cause for this type of catch is that you get your body behind the ball. So if you miss the catch it doesn’t matter because your body will stop the ball going in the goal.
Again, here’s a step by step guide on how you, as a soccer goalie new or otherwise, can take the ball into your chest…
1) The ball is coming towards you at chest height
2) Put your arms out in front of you bent at the elbow
3) Watch the ball come into your chest
4) Just as the ball is about to hit your chest, bring your arms in towards your chest in a scooping movement so that you bend them even more. Your arms will cushion the impact of the ball against your chest.
5) Bring your hands upwards and cup them around the ball so that the ball is now in between your hands and your chest
6) The ball is now securely in your chest with your arms and hands locked around it.
Don’t worry. If you get the timing right this method won’t hurt you a bit because your arms take the impact away from your chest.
This way of catching is also the safest possible for a soccer goalie and should be used every time the ball comes into the body. As a general rule, if a soccer goalie has his body behind the ball then the ball is safe.
Sometimes the ball might be coming at waist of knee height. In these cases, you need to drop forwards and then take the ball into your chest in the same way as normal. You will end up with your legs behind you and your body lying down facing forwards.
Diving Catches
Although this might have been the part you were waiting for, it was necessary to show you how to catch the ball ordinarily first. Because believe it or not, the technique you use for diving catches is exactly the same as normal: if the ball is away from you then use the W and if it is in towards your body then just take it into your chest.
There really is no more to it than that. Ok so you might have to slant your hands a bit for diving at an angle, but the way you catch the ball is the same.
Now if you want to know how to dive then that is another matter. I cover diving in the shot stopping page for a soccer goalie
Taking the Ball Along the Ground
Now if the ball is hit hard along the ground and to the side of you then you will have to dive. But what about when it’s on the ground and straight at you? There are two methods you can use as a soccer goalie:
Stooping;
1) The ball is rolling towards you
2) Get in line with the ball
3) Keep your legs close together and slightly bent ( a barrier if you miss the ball)
4) Bend down from the waist
5) Stretch your arms down
6) Keep your eyes on the ball
7) Put your hand behind the ball and stop it
Kneeling;
1) The ball is rolling towards you
2) Get in line with the ball
3) Bend down and get on one knee- the knee on the ground should be sideways onto the ball and close to the other foot
4) Your feet point sideways but keep your body and face poitning towards the ball
5) Put your hands down to stop the ball- if you miss it then the barrier you have created with your knee and body should stop it. Use this technique on poor ground oe when the ball is bouncing.
This is very much a ‘bread and butter’ save for a pro soccer goalie. If you’re learning it for the first time, keep practicing and it should be with you in no time.