Soccer Geek

A soccer goalie is not expected to save a penalty- if you prevent the opposition from scoring then everyone will love you for it! (Except the opposition of course.)

Of course a penalty is just a free shot at goal from the penalty spot (twelve yards away). But special tricks apply and it’s up to you to give yourself the best chance of saving the ball.

Fabian Barthez (ex Manchester United goalkeeper and France international) used to kick his posts before the penalty was taken. It meant the kick taker was delayed and had to wait for Barthez to be ready. This meant the kick taker had longer to worry and feel the pressure, whilst Barthez could take his time and gain the edge.

Jerzey Dudek (ex Liverpool soccer goalie and Polish international) also had a special trick which he copied from Bruce Grobbelar (an old Liverpool keeper). As the kick taker ran up to take the kick he would wobble his legs frantically so his body would almost bounce up and down- this created an incredible visual distraction and helped the opponents to miss their penalties e.g. 2005 Champion’s League final between AC Milan and Liverpool.

Another trick you can try is to walk up to the ball as the kick taker is waiting to take the kick and check the ball is on the spot properly. If you think it’s not, you can move it. Then as you are about to walk back to your goal, look the kick taker in the eye with a look of confidence. This has both delayed the striker and given you the mental edge.

There are also other ways a soccer goalie can delay the striker: stop to take a drink of water, pull your socks up etc- anything that gives you the upperhand will help you to stop the striker scoring.

Now that we’ve dealt with the various tricks, it’s time to deal with how you actually save the ball when the shot does come. Here’s a step by step guide of what I recommend you do;

1) Stand in the centre of your goal with your feet a few steps apart. You should be standing half a step behind your line- this gives you the time to step forward as the ball is about to be kicked to give you momentum a moment sooner.

2) Put your arms up in the air so they are both pointing out diagonally towards the sky- this makes you look big in the goal

3) As the striker is running up try waving your arms and make eye contact with the striker- your look should asure him you will save it- but don’t lose concentration yourself!

4) Focus on the ball and get an inclination of which way it’s going to go. Take a step the other way with one foot and quickly step back again as the ball is about to be kicked. This has forced the striker into kicking it the way you want it to go.

5) Step forward as the ball is about to be kicked and dive forwards and to the side- narrowing the angle and giving you a better chance of saving the ball.

6) Make the save and try to push it round the post or over the bar

7) If playing in a match, stand up and get congratulations from your team mates who’ll be over the moon with you for making the save and maybe keeping them in the game!