How to Look for Skills in a Beginning Youth Soccer Goalkeeper

Most goalkeeping skills are introduced at the beginner level. It helps to know those skills and to keep in mind, however, that at this level, not all of those skills are immediately used or perfected.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Balls
• Soccer balls

1. Look for a foundation in the basics. This includes the ability to stand in ready position (facing forward, up on the toes, hands to the sides), and to catch, control and secure the ball.

2. Watch for jumping to save high balls. This is a skill introduced at this level.

3. Know the basic distribution techniques. These include punting, rolling the ball, underhand passes and side-arm throws (to the side) and javelin throws (overhead).

4. Enforce basic diving. Your player can begin to learn diving by kneeling and simply falling to the left or the right. Then, a ball rolled to the keeper can be added to the exercise.

5. Look for quick reactions. A beginning keeper should be taught to catch a quick ball, which should be served to various locations and at different heights.

6. Encourage coming out of the goal. A common problem with beginners is that they stay rooted to the goal mouth. Instead, they should come out to meet attackers and to narrow the shooting angles for the opposition.

Tips & Warnings

• Check expectations. While beginning goalkeepers are taught most skills from the beginning, only on the next levels do they learn more complicated maneuvers.
• Practice with your child. Goalkeeping is one of the most fun and satisfying soccer activities for parents to practice with their children.
• Put in extra time. Goalkeepers often need extra help because they are sometimes neglected by coaches, who may be short on time or goalkeeping expertise.
• Make sure your keeper practices foot skills. Although a goalkeeper uses the hands, an often overlooked area of this position is the kicking.
• Use age-appropriate equipment. When practicing with your keeper, use the proper size ball and goals. This is not only for safety but also for duplicating skills used in competition.

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