How to Be a Great Goal Keeper or Goalie in Soccer

The Keeper is perhaps the most important and strangest position in soccer. Keepers are the only players who can use their hands to catch or block the ball, and their entire purpose throughout the game is to stay near the goal and protect it. Keepers wear gloves and often have great height and upper body strength so that they can throw the ball to their teammates. They run a risk of injury because they lean down in order to pick up balls and can be easily kicked. As a result, professional keepers will sometimes even wear helmets. Follow these tips and you can soon become a great keeper.

1. Remember your box and your goal

To a veteran player, this tip is second nature, but it is still something that can slip some keepers up now and again. A keeper is only allowed to pick up the ball within his box, which is drawn on the grass around his goal. It's important as a keeper to always remember where you in within the box and in relation to the goal. If you are caught in an awkward position, it could mean an easy goal for your opponents. To avoid this, always keep an eye on where the ball is and stay between it and the goal, even if it is far away. Remember that a long shot could happen at any moment. At the same time, you should be wary of straying too far forward from your box, since this allows the chance of a chipped shot going right over you and into the goal.

2. Don't be afraid to charge

A goalie's job is to keep the ball out of the goal, but that doesn't mean that you should stay within your goal at all times. In a one on one situation, the best thing that a keeper can do is to charge the offensive player, thereby closing the angles that he has on the goal. A keeper can often be a very intimidating figure in such a situation and can even cause the offensive player to make a simple mistake. Take advantage of your ability to grab the ball with your hands, but be mindful that the offensive player could at any moment shoot or try to dribble around you.

3. Go to the outside when that's the only good option

During a goal kick or whenever you have the ball, it can be difficult to decide where to throw or kick it. Most of the time, this just requires a gut decision on your part, but there are a few things that you should also keep in mind. Whenever you look down the field and cannot find a good option, it's often a good idea to pass the ball wide to a capable defender. Remember that in a goal kick the ball must reach the outside of the box, though. By passing wide, you change the shape of your opposing team and allow more of a chance to move the ball up the field.

4. Watch out for the waiting striker

Many times, the person intending to score is not the person with the ball but someone else near the goal who is just waiting to shoot. Keep an eye on this person and prepare for them to try to score. You can call a nearby defender over to guard him or try to intercept a midair pass that is intended for him. As a keeper, you must remember that the enemy is trying to score in your goal, but you are the only one able to grab the ball; use that to your advantage.

5. Dive when you need to dive

Keepers sometimes need to dive and the best keepers do so. It is important not to dive if you don't have to because this will often we a waste, but a well placed dive can really save the day for your team. During a penalty kick, for example, there is a large change that the kicker will go for one of the upper corners. If you are prepared and dedicated, you can make a stop by diving for it. Another different opportunity to dive is when you see the ball out in the open in your box. By jumping on it, you completely make the ball in your possession and change the direction of the game. The thing to remember with diving is to show no fear and you will be on your way to being an amazing keeper.