Between the goal posts is a fairly solitary world. Every single save is your responsibility alone, which makes you the guardian for your team. One of the single best things you can do for yourself is to practice alone, helping you commit to true self-improvement. Without teammates or the structure of drills, it allows you to personally master and sharpen your skills that are often overlooked yet absolutely crucial to what you do on the pitch. What strategies and drills can you use to begin to grow on your own as a goalkeeper? Take a look at a few options.
Cone Dribbling
The goal here is to improve your footwork and agility. You can do this anywhere that you have plenty of space like your back garden or a green space in a park. You’ll want a series of cones set up in a straight line about a third of a metre from each other. Begin at one end of the line of cones. Using quick, precise footwork, navigate through the cones forward. Then, bring the ball back in the same manner. Your goal here is not only to improve on the time it takes you to get through the series of cones, but also to maintain your balance throughout the drill and stay as light on your feet as possible.
Wall Throws
One key to your job on the pitch is to handle the ball well and react quickly. This drill will help you achieve that. You’ll want a solid wall to throw against. The outside wall of your home might work well here. You’ll want to stand about five feet away from the wall with a ball in your hand. Throw the ball against the wall, then position yourself to catch the rebound. You want to focus particularly on catching with the fingers of both of your hands. Use as many varied heights and angles as you possibly can.
Target Passing
Better distribution gives your team a distinct advantage, and this drill will help make that possible. Using cones or other markers, set up targets in different areas. With a bag full of balls, practice accurately throwing and punting to hit each target consistently. As you work, though, be sure you’re varying the distance and the trajectory as much as possible. Remember that your goal is accuracy, so until you can hit each target consistently, don’t stop!
Adding a Partner Might Help!
While solo drills are a great way to work on your skills any time, adding a partner can be a serious help if you have someone willing to work with you. Having a training partner can help you replicate more realistic game scenarios because they can help you work on various shooting angles, distances, and the unpredictability of the ball, which makes every training a bit more like the real match. It also helps you learn to more effectively communicate with defenders and teammates. As you work with a teammate, you get an opportunity to practice vocal communication, organising the defence, and coordinating movements to deal with different situations. It also means more feedback. A training partner can provide instant feedback on the quality of shots, passes, or saves. That means you can make real-time adjustments to technique and positioning as you practice.
Practice Any Way You Can!
Whether you have a partner or not, the bottom line is to practice as much as you possibly can. When you begin working on your skills, remember to focus on quality rather than quantity during every drill. Pay attention to technique, and gradually increase the intensity and complexity as you become more comfortable with each skill. Additionally, regularly incorporating these drills into your training routine will contribute to continuous improvement and mastery of various goalkeeping facets. The key to the position is just to familiarise yourself with every aspect, and if that means working more on your own in the back garden, then do what you can to make that happen.