How to Be a Soccer Goalkeeper: Beginner Tips & Drills

The goalkeeper is among the team's most valuable players as they are the team's ultimate line of defense, and are responsible for coordinating the defensive strategy of the team as a whole. Their unique role comes with unique challenges, as they must coordinate with the team while engaging in specialist training for agile saves.

With the right training, anyone can learn to become a goalkeeper, and maybe even become a great one. Read on as we explore the role of the goalkeeper, the unique skills needed, how to start training to become a goalkeeper as a beginner, and the essential goalkeeper equipment you need to excel.

Understanding the Goalkeeper's Role

What Does a Goalkeeper Do?

The goalkeeper is a soccer team's final line of defense. They are charged with preventing the other team from getting the ball over the goal line, and for this purpose, they are given the unique privilege of being able to use their hands in the penalty area.

But more than that, they coordinate the defense of the goal, directing the outfield players in set pieces, like penalty kicks, but also more generally. They also have an offensive role to play, often initiating rapid transitions that set up attacks. In this way, the goalkeeper is an integral player in the team's success.

Rules Every Keeper Should Know

Ball Handling Rules: The goalkeeper can use their hands to control the ball when it is inside their team's penalty area, but outside that space, the same handball rules apply as for outfield players. There are other restrictions. The goalkeeper cannot drop the ball and just pick it up again. Once they release the ball from their hands, it must touch another player before they can pick it up again.

Backpass Rule: The goalkeeper also cannot pick up the ball after a player on their own team has deliberately kicked it to them. However, they can pick up the ball if it is passed using their chest, knee, or head. They also cannot handle the ball if a teammate throws the ball directly to the goalkeeper from a throw-in.

Six Second Rule: The goalkeeper cannot control the ball in their hands for more than six seconds, therefore holding up play. If they break this rule, an indirect free kick is awarded to the other team. At the same time, an opponent cannot challenge the goalkeeper while they are in control of the ball.

Penalty Rules: During penalty kicks, the goalkeeper must remain on the goal line while the ball is kicked, face the kicker, stay between the goalposts, and not touch the goalposts, crossbar, or goal net.

While it is fairly unlikely to happen, soccer goalies also can't score a goal by throwing the ball into the opponent's goal.

Building Foundational Skills

Stance & Positioning

Goalkeeper stance and positioning are fundamental for effective shot-stopping. A good "neutral ready stance" is on the balls of the feet, with knees bent, and hands in front of you in a ready position. This allows for quick movements and reactions to shots from various angles. You must also constantly reposition yourself to stand on an imaginary line between the ball and the center of the goal to cut down shooting angles.

Catching & Ball Control

Goalkeepers must master controlling the ball with their hands, minimizing the possibilities of rebounds that fly into the goal or give the opposing side another chance at a goal kick. Goalies must have soft hands that absorb the impact of the ball. They learn W-shape catches for balls chest level and above, and M-shape hands to control low balls.

Footwork & Mobility

Goalkeepers need significant agility and fast reaction times to reposition themselves quickly as plays evolve. They need to prioritize lateral side-to-side positioning across the goal, quick changes of direction, and rapid recovery from dives. To develop quick feet, they prioritize training lateral shuffle steps that keep the legs wide and crossover steps for moving forward and backward quickly.

Diving Basics

Diving and high-ball jumping are among the most important skills that a goalkeeper must develop. A good dive includes a powerful push-off, extending the arms to reach the ball, and a controlled landing, often on the hip and shoulder, to minimize potential injury. Soccer goalies must master both side and forward diving from a variety of positions, including seated, squatting, and standing.

Communication and Game Awareness

Being the Voice of the Defense

The goalkeeper is uniquely positioned to see the entire field and therefore can guide other players on where to position themselves, anticipate opponent actions, and manage defensive strategies. This is why they are called the voice of the defense, and they provide direction both during gameplay and during set pieces such as corner kicks and penalty kicks.

Reading the Game

This means that, as well as training to defend the goal, the goalkeeper must learn to read the game, anticipating where shots at goal are likely to come from based on the positioning of players. It is also important to learn body language to anticipate how they are likely to direct the ball in penalty shots.

Physical and Mental Preparation

Conditioning for Goalkeepers

While the goalkeeper is not running up and down the field like the outfield players, they are constantly on the move throughout the match, repositioning themselves as lines of attack move. This means that soccer goalies focus their training on building agility and fast reflexes. They also need explosive power and excellent core strength to handle diving, jumping, and the quick twists of the body required to defend the goal.

Developing a Confident Mindset

Like all players, the goalkeeper must also develop mental resilience. This means playing without fear and committing to decisions. This sometimes includes deciding where to defend before a penalty kick has shown it direction, which sometimes means getting it wrong. A goalie must be able to bounce back from these kinds of mistakes and not let it affect their confidence.

Beginner Drills to Start With

Wall Ball & Hand-Eye Coordination

Simple drills for beginner goalkeepers include simply throwing a ball against a wall and catching the rebound to improve reaction time and hand-eye coordination. You can use different-sized balls to increase the challenge.

Cone Drills & Shuffle Training

Cone drills are a simple way to improve footwork. Set up cones in various formations and shuffle between them, constantly trying to increase speed. You can also incorporate elements such as dives and saves by having someone throw the ball at you during the drill.

Catch and Collapse Drills

A simple drill to learn to fall safely when defending low balls: a ball is released, the goalie steps towards the ball at an angle, catches the ball, and then goes to ground, learning to safely fall on the hip and shoulder while maintaining their arms around the ball and positioning their top leg to protect the ball.

Solo Punt Practice

Punt practice helps soccer goalies learn to kick the ball after a save. Drills include wall work, practicing different punt types, such as a loft or arc, and improving body symmetry with left and right-footed punts. Proper technique, like locking the ankle and striking under the ball, is crucial for power and accuracy.

Essential Gear for New Goalkeepers

More than for outfield players, having the right soccer goalie equipment can make a big difference to a goalkeeper's performance.

This starts with having the right goalkeeper gloves, which protect the hands and provide excellent ball grip. You also need padded goalkeeper pants and a goalkeeper jersey or a padded goalie shirt to provide protection during dives.  Shin guards are also essential, preferably a set that fits with goalkeeper leggings to provide additional abrasion protection.

Optional extras can include knee pads, turf cleats if you train or play on turf, and finger saves to prevent hyperextension while learning to properly save the ball.

 

Final Thoughts: Progress Through Practice

The goalkeeper is one of the most important players on the field, but developing the specialist skills required to dominate the penalty area can be challenging. Nevertheless, it is possible to develop those skills with consistent training that focuses on steady improvement rather than perfection. If you dream of becoming a goalkeeper, what are you waiting for? Grab your goalkeeper gloves and start training today.

 

FAQs

How hard is it to be a soccer goalie?

Goalkeeper is considered a uniquely challenging position because of the type of strength and agility that it requires to make challenging intercepts. It is also mentally taxing as the keeper must be an expert at reading the game. The position also required confidence, as when shots get through, spectators often blame the goalkeeper, who must keep their cool and maintain their head in the game.

How much do soccer goalkeepers make?

Goalkeeper salaries vary greatly, mostly depending on the league they are playing in and their experience level. The highest-paid goalkeeper is Manuel Neuer, who is both captain and starting goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and has a total compensation of $23.9 million. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has a total compensation of $10.5 million, while Manchester City's keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga earns a modest $5.2 million.

What makes you a good goalkeeper?

The best goalkeepers are flexible and agile with great reaction times. They are also experts at reading the game and understanding the body language of players to anticipate shots at goal. The best keepers are also excellent communicators who can orient their team's defense.

Do goalkeepers need to be fit?

While goalkeepers aren't running up and down the field, they need to be extremely fit as they are on the move throughout the game, as they defend the penalty area. More than stamina, they need strength for bursts of activity and quick reactions.

 

Blog Post from Storelli.com by Matt Caron on August 17, 2025

A link to the article can be seen here.