Football
Coach Hub

Goalkeeping

Goalkeeper Handling Station: Set Position Check

Build clean, secure handling

Goalkeeping
Premium

Goalkeeper Handling Station: Set Position Check is a 14-minute goalkeeping drill for 1-6 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. 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
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Shot Stopping
Technique

Duration

14 min

Players

1-6

Pitch size

Penalty area

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Goalkeeper Handling Station: Set Position CheckGKCS123Penalty area

Goalkeeper Handling Station: Set Position Check — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · Penalty area

Step 1 of 5Server feeds low, mid and high balls in sequence.

  1. 1. Server feeds low, mid and high balls in sequence.
  2. 2. Keeper secures every ball into the chest.
  3. 3. Sets of ten with rest between.
  4. 4. The keeper must be fully set — feet split, hands ready — before every strike.
  5. 5. Rotation: Rotate as servers.
  • 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

  • -Build clean, secure handling
  • -Work low, mid and high catches
  • -Develop confidence with the hands

Setup

  1. 1Keeper in goal with cones marking the working line.
  2. 2Server eight yards away with a supply of balls.
  3. 3Spare keepers rotate as servers.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Server feeds low, mid and high balls in sequence.
  2. 2Keeper secures every ball into the chest.
  3. 3Sets of ten with rest between.
  4. 4The keeper must be fully set — feet split, hands ready — before every strike.

Coaching points

  • -Hands behind the ball in a W shape
  • -Get the body behind the line of the ball
  • -Secure the ball before moving
  • -Small adjusting steps, then set
  • -Weight on the balls of the feet, hands in front

Common mistakes

  • -Hands to the side of the ball
  • -Catching with straight arms
  • -Not getting the body behind it

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