Most players “claim” a position on the field when they are around age-14. In a team of 11 only one is a goalkeeper. Yet everyone should experience the position and the fun of goalkeeping – if only to find out what makes a goalkeeper tick. And then to act on that knowledge when playing the game – irrespective of position.
At the heart of the goalkeeping position is the body “Shape.”
As we see, with the ground dive, the body is on the side, hands and arms leading, upper knee pulling across to maintain the side position. The head is steady.
If not at full strectch, there is a “Concaving” of the body as the arrows show.
If we then look at the keeper catching the high ball, the body is almost identical.
In fact, if we turn the picture 90 degrees, we see a very similar position to the ground dive (Oh, dear! It looks as if the attacker has been pole-axed!).
To learn the Side Dive technique we suggest using the King’s Court game.
King’s Court
Organization
- Set out as many goals as there are goalkeepers.
- Two goalkeepers per area, one with a ball, both kneeling and facing one another five yards apart.
- Goals are four yards apart.
- Important that the players kneel in an upright position and not sit back on their heels.
- Feet are touching the back line.
- Balls must be rolled along the ground into the goal – not thrown. After receiving the ball the keeper should roll back to the kneeling position with the ball.
Game Conditions
- Play for two minutes and see who is winning.
- If scores are level use a tie-breaker (“Which hand is it in?).
- Winner at King’s Court stays up. Loser moves down to the very bottom.
- All winners (except the winner at King’s Court) move up.
- Losers stay put (other than the loser at King’s Court who goes down to the very bottom).
Good fun game and great side diving technique practice.
Everyone’s a Goalkeeper