Now the main thing for a soccer goalie to note about shot stopping is: get in the way of the ball and stop it going in the goal. But of course there is more to it than that, as there always is.

You need to know HOW to stop it going in the goal and for this we’ll talk about stance, catching, parrying, reflexes, diving and positioning.

So let’s get started and soon you will have got a great head start on shot stopping.

Stance

When you’re anticipating the opposition to shoot at your goal, here is the stance or ready position you need to adopt;

1) Place your feet shoulder width apart angled forwards

2) Put your weight forward

3) Bend your knees slightly so you are ready to move

4) Keep your head steady with your eyes on the soccer ball

5) Bring your arms up at waist height and bend them slightly- let your hands face the ball

Now you’ve learnt the proper stance for a soccer goalie to take, you are ready to make the perfect save! The following sections explain how you can physically make the save.

Catching

It is always better to catch the ball than to push it away because if you catch it the ball is safe- no one can get a rebound.

There are two types of catching;

1) Catch the ball with your hands in the shape of a W

2) Bring the ball into your chest using your arms and hands to cushion it

I go into these types of catching in much more detail in the page on handling for a soccer goalie so please visit this in order to improve your handling: a key element of your shot stopping ability!

Parrying

As you might be aware, or certainly will be in the future, it is not always possible to catch the ball.

1) Sometimes the ball is hit too hard

2) Sometimes on a wet day the ball is slippy and catching is too risky

3) Sometimes the soccer goalie is at full stretch so can’t get his hands around the ball

Whatever the reason you will often see goalkeepers parrying the ball (not that they are always right to do this!)

Be aware that catching should be your first port of call, but should you not be able to catch it, you need to be able to parry the ball correctly- so here’s the right way;

If the ball is hit very hard and is going over your head;

1) Move to where the ball is. This may require you to jump, dive or move your feet.

2) Put your arms up in the air above your head.

3) Put your hands close together

4) As the ball comes keep your wrists very strong

5) Angle your hands upwards so the ball deflects off them upwards

6) The ball goes over the bar and you have stopped the goal

So that’s how to tip the ball over the bar. Remeber to keep your eye on the ball and your wrists strong. If your wrists are weak then your hands will be knocked back and the ball will go in!!

If the ball is hot very hard to your side;

1) Dive across to the ball so that your body is practically horizontal to the ground and your legs are outstretched

2) Stretch your arms out in front of you

3) Put your hands very close together

4) As the ball comes keep your wrists very strong

5) Angle your hands away from you and slightly backwards so the ball does not deflect back out into the pitch

6) The ball goes round the post

Again remember the strong wrists and to keep your eye on the ball. If you have trouble with the diving part, then just read below where I show you how to dive as a soccer goalie.

Diving

I know diving is fun and spectacular, but you should only dive when it is absolutely necessary, when you can’t move across with your feet to get your body behind the ball.

Nevertheless as a soccer goalie there will be plenty of times you do need to dive so listen up because here’s how you do it;

1) The ball is hit hard some way to one side of you

2) Kick off the ground with the foot closest to the ball

3) Jump sideways into the air so that your body is almost horizontal with the ground

4) Stretch your legs out behind you so they are almost horizontal with the ground (they can be bent)

5) Stretch you arms out in front of you towards the ball

6) Decide whether you will catch or parry the ball

Note that if the shot is on the ground and you are diving for it, spread your lower hand behind the ball and bring your upper hand down on top of it to secure it.

Reflexes

If a striker shoots from point blank range, then you are going to need excellent reflexes. You need to be able to recognise the situation, judge what to do and be able to do it instinctively.

With reflexes, your quick reactions should come naturally- if I hit a ball at your face you would put your hands up to protect it: that is a reflex reaction.

If you find your reaction times are slow then don’t worry, you can still improve them. Just keep practicing. Stand a few yards away from a wall, kick the ball at it hard and then try and react to stop it. If you can, get someone else to regularly go and play soccer with you in the garden or in the park. Get them to kick it at you from close range over and over again until your reaction speed gradually increases.

Eventually you might find yourself able to fling yourself across the goal in an instant without even thinking about what you’re doing. Imagine how good that feels if you can make a magnificent save out of instinct. Give it a go- reflexes are important!

Positioning

Whilst all these lessons about shot stopping are important- you are making your task of stopping the ball very difficult if you aren’t standing in the right position to start with.

This is why positioning is so crucial to a soccer goalie and one of the secrets to their success. If you stand in the right place in your goal then you have a much better chance of saving a shot.

You might now be thinking, “well where is the right place in the goal?” And for the answer please visit my special page on positioning for a soccer goalie