To follow up on our post about the importance of a proper warm up for a goalkeeper, I’ve created a video with an example. Below the video you’ll find more detail on each aspect.
Step-by-step goalkeeper warm up
- Physical warm up: Goalkeeper can take part in team warm up to get body going.
- Volleys: Be sure goalkeeper gets plenty of clean catches. Increase power as confidence goes up. Focus on keeping body in line with ball, being light on feet and tracking the ball all the way in.
- Diving: Get used to hitting the ground. I add in a one or two touch pass so goalkeepers are working both aspects of their brain at the same time.
- Opening up: (optional) If you expect your goalkeeper to receive pass backs, then having them get comfortable with their first touch when opening up to switch the play is a good idea.
- Reaction: First time shots allow your goalkeeper to work on deciding which type of save to make. Start in close and then start to stretch them; you can always go back to saves to the body if need be.
- Balls from distance: Serve balls from outside the 18-yard box. Start with skipping or dipping balls and progress to high balls and tips.
- Shots: Your focus should be on the goalkeeper and their needs. The shooter’s desire to score top corner doesn’t belong in a goalkeeper’s warm up. The goal here is to finish feeling confident and ready to go. Start with shots close to the body and then progress to further away.
Always end on a positive.
Warm up doesn’t need to be long or intense; it needs to get your keeper ready to play.
