Back Pedal Catch

Objective

• -Wake up footwork and body control
• -Practise back pedalling safely
• -Prepare for saves moving backwards

Setup

1. 1Lay out four or five cones in a straight line.
2. 2Goalkeepers work in pairs or small groups.
3. 3A coach stands at one end with balls.

How to play

1. 1The goalkeeper moves away from the coach using short back-pedalling steps.
2. 2At the coach's call, the goalkeeper stops, sets, and receives a gentle catch or save.
3. 3The next repetition uses a different movement back to the start.
4. 4Swap directions after a few turns.
5. 5Keep the speed moderate and technique clean.

Progressions

• +Set Position Check: serve early to shorten the set time
• +Blind Serve: add a deflection off a mannequin
• +Distribution Exit: coach calls the target after the save
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Set Position Check: announce the serve so the keeper can prepare
• -Blind Serve: serve slower and from further out
• -Distribution Exit: one fixed target every time
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Set Position Check — The keeper must be fully set — feet split, hands ready — before every strike.
• -Blind Serve — The keeper starts facing away or with a screen blocking sight of the strike.
• -Distribution Exit — Every save or catch must be followed by a chosen distribution: throw, side-volley or pass to a full-back.
• -Handling Volume — Ten unbroken repetitions per set with clean handling — a drop means the set restarts.
• -1v1 Situation — A live attacker runs onto the ball, so the keeper must decide to close, hold or spread.
• -Cross Claiming — Serves come as crosses from both sides with a passive attacker in the six yard box.
• -Fatigue Finish — Finish each set with three saves in ten seconds to work handling under fatigue.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Crossing feet too much
• -Leaning too far back
• -Not freezing into set position