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Goalkeeping

Goalkeeper Reaction & Reflex Wall

Sharpen reaction speed to unpredictable balls

Goalkeeping
Speed & Agility

Goalkeeper Reaction & Reflex Wall is a 10-minute goalkeeping drill for 1-4 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate level. You need balls, cones, rebound boards. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Goalkeeping
Speed & Agility
Warm Up
Beginner
Intermediate
Small Group
Rebound Boards
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Reactions
Goalkeeper Only
Handling

Duration

10 min

Players

1-4

Pitch size

8 x 6 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Reaction & Reflex WallGKCS1238 x 6 yards

Goalkeeper Reaction & Reflex Wall — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · 8 x 6 yards

Step 1 of 3Server fires the ball into the board so it kicks up unpredictably.

  1. 1. Server fires the ball into the board so it kicks up unpredictably.
  2. 2. Keeper reacts and saves or blocks whatever comes back.
  3. 3. Thirty seconds of work then thirty seconds rest, six rounds.
  • 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
  • Rebound board
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Sharpen reaction speed to unpredictable balls
  • -Keep hands strong through the save
  • -Warm the body up for keeper specific work

Setup

  1. 1Rebound board or wall two yards from the keeper.
  2. 2Mini goal behind the keeper marked with cones.
  3. 3Server with three balls behind the keeper.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Server fires the ball into the board so it kicks up unpredictably.
  2. 2Keeper reacts and saves or blocks whatever comes back.
  3. 3Thirty seconds of work then thirty seconds rest, six rounds.

Coaching points

  • -Small, bouncy feet in the set position
  • -Strong wrists and firm hands on contact
  • -Track the ball right into the hands
  • -Recover to set instantly after each save

Common mistakes

  • -Flinching and turning away from the ball
  • -Feet planted so nothing is reachable
  • -Soft hands letting the ball through

Where this drill fits

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