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Goalkeeping Basics for Small-Sided Football

Training · · 6 min read · by Arjun Menon

Nobody volunteers to go in goal. These fundamentals make the job easier and far more fun on a turf pitch.

On a small pitch the keeper is involved every few seconds. Good positioning saves more goals than spectacular dives.

Stance and set position

Feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, hands in front of the body. Be set before every shot rather than moving as the ball is struck.

Narrow the angle

Step towards the shooter to shrink the goal from their view. On turf, one confident step is usually enough.

Distribution

Roll or throw the ball quickly to a free teammate. Fast distribution is the start of most counter-attacks in 5-a-side.

Tags: football, goalkeeping, training

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