Football
Coach Hub

Goalkeeping

Goalkeeper Low Diving Saves

Dive safely and land on the correct side

Goalkeeping
Premium

Goalkeeper Low Diving Saves is a 15-minute goalkeeping drill for 2-6 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

Back to drill library
Goalkeeping
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Small Group
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Diving Technique
Goalkeeper Only
Handling

Duration

15 min

Players

2-6

Pitch size

10 x 6 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Low Diving SavesGKCS12310 x 6 yards

Goalkeeper Low Diving Saves — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · 10 x 6 yards

Step 1 of 3Start from the knees rolling the ball wide for a collapse save.

  1. 1. Start from the knees rolling the ball wide for a collapse save.
  2. 2. Progress to a standing set position and a firm roll.
  3. 3. Six saves each side then swap keepers.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Full goal
  • GK = goalkeeper
  • C = coach serving, S = second server
  • Ball
  • Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
  • Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
  • Keeper distributes back to the server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Dive safely and land on the correct side
  • -Get the bottom hand behind the ball
  • -Recover to the feet immediately after the save

Setup

  1. 1Two cones three yards apart as a mini goal.
  2. 2Keeper kneeling or standing in the middle.
  3. 3Server two yards in front with a ball.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Start from the knees rolling the ball wide for a collapse save.
  2. 2Progress to a standing set position and a firm roll.
  3. 3Six saves each side then swap keepers.

Coaching points

  • -Bottom hand behind the ball, top hand on top
  • -Land on the side, not the front or the elbow
  • -Head steady and eyes on the ball throughout
  • -Ball gets pulled into the chest on landing

Common mistakes

  • -Landing on the elbow
  • -Reaching with the top hand only
  • -Turning the head away from the shot

Where this drill fits

Related drills

Pitch set-up: Playing Out From The BackGKCS123Two thirds of a pitch
Playing Out From The Back

Playing Out From The Back

Build calmly from the keeper under pressure

25 min 10-18Intermediate / Advanced
Under 10 to Adults
Playing Out From The BackPossessionTeam Shape
Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Handling & DistributionGKCS123Penalty area
Goalkeeping

Goalkeeper Handling & Distribution

Handle shots and crosses safely

18 min 2-8Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Under 8 to Adults
GoalkeepingPlaying Out From The BackTechnical Practice
Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Footwork & AnglesGKCS123Penalty area
Goalkeeping
Premium

Goalkeeper Footwork & Angles

Move efficiently across the goal

15 min 2-6Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Under 8 to Adults
GoalkeepingSpeed & AgilityTechnical Practice
Pitch set-up: 1-to-1 Goalkeeper HandlingGKCS123Goal area
Goalkeeping

1-to-1 Goalkeeper Handling

Sharpen handling and set position

15 min 1-2Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Under 8 to Adults
GoalkeepingSpeed & AgilityTechnical Practice
Pitch set-up: Build Up From Goal KicksGKCS123Half pitch
Playing Out From The Back

Build Up From Goal Kicks

Play out from a goal kick under pressure

22 min 8-20Intermediate / Advanced
Under 10 to Adults
Playing Out From The BackGoalkeepingPossession
Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Angles & Set PositionGKCS123Penalty area
Goalkeeping

Goalkeeper Angles & Set Position

Learn the set position and how to narrow the angle

15 min 2-8Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Under 8 to Adults
GoalkeepingShootingTechnical Practice