Part 3: U13-U15 training programme

The ability to read the flight of the ball involved in different types of delivery into the penalty area from a number of angles is a fundamental skill for goalkeepers to develop. Indeed, it is only once they have mastered this skill that they are able to command their penalty area and instil confidence in their defenders.

This session focuses on the fundamentals required of a goalkeeper to successfully anticipate the flight of the ball, which include reading the flight of the ball, body shape in relation to the destination of the ball and quick footwork. Clear communication is another key aspect that enables a goalkeeper to command their penalty area and claim the ball with confidence.

The session is led by FIFA Technical Expert and elite goalkeeping coach Thierry Barnerat, who presents a varied series of exercises designed for young goalkeepers. The first exercise involves a lofted ball played towards goal that requires the goalkeeper to judge its flight. Subsequent drills introduce additional challenges and scenarios that increase the demands on the goalkeeper when it comes to reading the flight of the ball.

Key coaching points

Anticipating the flight of the ball and judging its destination.
Positioning and body shape when dealing with aerial balls from different angles.
Analysing the areas in which a goalkeeper should claim aerial balls.
Analysing situations in which a goalkeeper should stay in their goal or allow the ball to go out of play.
Loud and clear communication to ensure the goalkeeper has accurately judged the flight of the ball.
Quick footwork to ensure that the goalkeeper takes up the right position and adopts the right body shape.

Exercise 1: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball

Exercise 2: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball

Exercise 3: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball and adjusting footwork

Exercise 4: Anticipating the flight of the ball within a larger area

Exercise 5: Anticipating the flight of aerial balls from different angles

Exercise 6: Pinpointing the flight of the ball

Exercise 7: Attacking transition after claiming the ball

Exercise 8: Match situation

Exercise 1: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball

This opening exercise allows the goalkeeper to hone their judgement and reading of the flight of the ball when dealing with aerial balls played towards goal. Understanding where an aerial ball is going to land enables a goalkeeper to improve the speed and quality of their decisions.

The exercise requires a minimum of 1 goalkeeper and a coach, who acts as a server.
Place goalkeeper 1 on the goal line.
Place goalkeeper 2 approximately 15m outside the penalty area, facing the goal (as per the graphic).

The coach plays a lofted ball towards goal.
As the ball is coming towards them, goalkeeper 1 has to assess its flight and decide whether it will enter the goal without bouncing.
Goalkeeper 1 has to communicate their decision by shouting “Yes” or “No” in response to whether it will enter the goal without bouncing.
If the ball ends up in the goal, goalkeeper 1 is asked to retrieve it and roll it out to goalkeeper 2.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the coach’s foot.
The goalkeeper must communicate their decision loudly and clearly.

Exercise 2: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball

Rather than judging whether the ball will end up in the goal without bouncing, this exercise presents the goalkeeper with additional outcomes to assess. Being faced with the prospect of the ball landing in a number of zones allows the goalkeeper to practise their judgement skills and pinpoint the exact location and moment in which to come and claim the ball.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach, who acts as a server.
Set up three 3x3-metre coloured zones along the goal line and another three 3x3-metre zones directly in front of them along the edge of the goal area.
Number the zones from one to six.
Place goalkeeper 1 on the goal line.
Place goalkeeper 2 outside, and towards the left edge of, the penalty area.
Place goalkeeper 3 beside the coach, who is positioned at a ball station situated approximately 15m outside the penalty area.

The coach plays a lofted ball towards goal.
As the ball is coming towards them, goalkeeper 1 has to assess its flight and decide in which of the six zones it will land and call out the relevant number.
Once the goalkeeper has communicated their decision and collected the ball, they play an overarm throw-out to goalkeeper 2, who passes the ball to goalkeeper 3.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the coach’s foot.
The goalkeeper must communicate their decision loudly and clearly.
Ask the goalkeeper to be as accurate and quick as possible in their decision-making.
Assess the flight of the ball on deliveries played towards the left, centre and right of goal.
Ask the goalkeeper to throw the ball out quickly and accurately.

Exercise 3: Anticipating the flight of an aerial ball and adjusting footwork

This exercise adds a layer of complexity for the goalkeeper when it comes to judging the flight of an aerial ball delivered into the penalty area. In this drill, instead of calling out the number of the zone where they anticipate the ball will land, the goalkeeper is asked to move quickly to take up a position in the zone where they anticipate it will land.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach, who acts as a server.
Set up three 3x3-metre coloured zones along the goal line and another three 3x3-metre zones directly in front of them along the edge of the goal area.
Number the zones from one to six.
Place goalkeeper 1 in the middle of the grid comprising the six zones.
Place goalkeeper 2 outside, and towards the left edge of, the penalty area.
Place goalkeeper 3 beside the coach, who is positioned at a ball station situated approximately 15m outside the penalty area.

The coach plays a lofted ball into one of the six zones marked out in front of goal.
As the ball is coming towards them, goalkeeper 1 has to decide in which of the six zones it will land.
The goalkeeper communicates their decision by taking up a position in one of the zones.
The goalkeeper should not look to claim the ball, but instead take up a stationary position in the relevant zone before the ball reaches it.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the coach’s foot.
The goalkeeper should move quickly into the zone where they anticipate the ball will land.
If the goalkeeper decides that the ball will not land in any of the zones, they should remain in their starting position.
The quality of the goalkeeper’s movement and body shape are key to ensuring that they reach the zone on time. Once they have made their decision, they should move with real purpose.

Exercise 4: Anticipating the flight of the ball within a larger area

This exercise involves more zones, which challenges the goalkeeper to assess additional outcomes in terms of the destination of the ball, thereby demanding more accurate decision-making. This drill also involves the goalkeeper assessing, and moving within, a larger space within their penalty area.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach, who acts as a server.
Set up a grid comprising nine 3x3-metre coloured zones within the penalty area (as per the graphic).
Number the zones from one to nine.
Place goalkeeper 1 in the middle of the grid.
Place goalkeeper 2 outside, and towards the left edge of, the penalty area.
Place goalkeeper 3 beside the coach, who is positioned at a ball station situated approximately 15m outside the penalty area.

The coach throws an aerial ball into one of the nine zones, varying the weight of the delivery each time.
As the ball is coming towards them, goalkeeper 1 has to decide in which of the nine zones it will land and call out the number of the zone loudly and clearly.
Goalkeeper 1 is then asked to play an overarm throw-out to goalkeeper 2.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Instead of calling out the number of the zone where they anticipate the ball will land, the goalkeeper is asked to take up a position in that zone.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the coach’s hands.
The goalkeeper must communicate their decision loudly and clearly.
The goalkeeper must move as quickly as possible into the zone where they anticipate the ball will land.
If the goalkeeper decides that the ball will not land in any of the zones, they should remain in their starting position.
The coach should vary the speed and length of the deliveries played into the grid.
Ask the goalkeeper to make accurate decisions when reading the flight of the ball.

Exercise 5: Anticipating the flight of aerial balls from different angles

This exercise adds another dimension for the goalkeeper to consider when assessing the flight of the ball. Rather than anticipating deliveries from a single station, the goalkeeper has to deal with deliveries from three stations and adjust their positioning and body shape accordingly.

The exercise requires a minimum of 3 goalkeepers and a coach.
Set up a grid comprising nine 3x3-metre coloured zones within the penalty area (as per the graphic).
Number the zones from one to nine.
Place goalkeeper 1 slightly ahead of the goal line.
Place goalkeepers 2 and 3 outside the penalty area, with goalkeeper 2 in a position almost opposite the near post and goalkeeper 3 situated to the goalkeeper 1’s left, approximately 5m outside the penalty area.

The coach and 2 goalkeepers take it in turns to throw the ball towards the grid in front of goal from their respective stations, varying the weight of the delivery each time.
As the ball is coming towards them, goalkeeper 1 has to decide in which of the nine zones it will land and call out the number of the zone loudly and clearly.
Where possible, goalkeeper 1 should retrieve the ball and roll it back to the coach or one of the 2 goalkeepers.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Instead of calling out the number of the zone where they anticipate the ball will land, the goalkeeper is asked to take up a stationary position in that zone. Rather than occupying a starting position slightly in front of the goal line, the goalkeeper begins the sequence in the middle of the grid.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the server’s hands.
Ask the goalkeeper to make a decision as early as possible.
The goalkeeper must adjust their body shape in response to the angle of delivery.
The goalkeeper must communicate their decision loudly and clearly.
Ask the goalkeeper to make accurate decisions when reading the flight of the ball.
The goalkeeper’s ability to adopt the right body shape is key in this exercise.

Exercise 6: Pinpointing the flight of the ball

With a view to further enhancing the goalkeeper’s accuracy when reading the flight of the ball, this exercise introduces a hoop that the goalkeeper must get the ball to drop through. This challenges the goalkeeper to read the flight of the ball with even greater accuracy, requiring them to position themselves directly under the ball to ensure it drops through the hoop.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach.
Set up an 8x8-metre grid approximately 3m in front of the goal line.
Place goalkeeper 1 inside the grid and give them a hoop.
Place goalkeepers 2 and 3 outside the penalty area, with goalkeeper 2 in a position almost opposite the near post and goalkeeper 3 situated to the goalkeeper’s left, approximately 5m outside the penalty area.

The coach and 2 goalkeepers take it in turns to throw the ball towards the grid from their respective stations, varying the weight of the delivery each time.
Goalkeeper 1 has to anticipate where the ball will land and move to get the ball to drop through the hoop.
Rotate the goalkeepers.

Read and assess the flight and pace of the ball as soon as it leaves the server’s hands.
Emphasise the importance of the goalkeeper’s first step, which should always reflect their reading of the flight of the ball.
Ask the goalkeeper to read the flight of the ball accurately, which involves combining speed of movement and the reading of the flight of the ball to ensure that they are in the right position when the ball drops.
Once they have made a decision about the flight of the ball, the goalkeeper must remain stationary with their hoop held out and not move the hoop to get the ball to drop through it.

Exercise 7: Attacking transition after claiming the ball

This exercise challenges the goalkeeper to read the flight of the ball across several types of delivery into the penalty area from a number of angles. This drill places particular emphasis on the goalkeeper’s actions once they have caught the ball to transition into attack.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach.
Place goalkeeper 1 inside the goal area.
The coach takes up a wide position outside of the penalty area (as per the graphic).
Place goalkeeper 2 level with, and approximately 5m to the right of, the goal area.
Place goalkeeper 3 level with the penalty spot and in line with goalkeeper 2.
Place a mini-goal directly opposite the full-size goal and on the edge of the penalty arc.
Place a second mini-goal towards the corner of the penalty area and at a 45-degree angle to the full-size goal.

The exercise involves the following three-step sequence:

1) Goalkeeper 2 throws a high curved ball into the penalty area. Goalkeeper 1 catches the ball, before quickly rolling it into the mini-goal positioned towards the corner of the penalty area.
2) Goalkeeper 3 throws a high curved ball into the penalty area. Goalkeeper 1 catches the ball, before quickly playing a volleyed clearance to the coach’s feet.
3) The coach plays a lofted ball into the penalty area. Goalkeeper 1 catches the ball, before quickly rolling it into the mini-goal positioned directly opposite the full-size goal.

Once they have caught the ball, the goalkeeper must roll it quickly and accurately into one of the mini-goals.
Once they have caught the ball, the goalkeeper must play an accurate volleyed clearance to the coach.
Focus on the goalkeeper’s footwork and ability to play with their feet.
Emphasise the importance of the goalkeeper’s first step, which should always reflect their reading of the flight of the ball.
Once they have caught the ball, the goalkeeper should immediately set up an attacking transition.

Exercise 8: Match situation

This final exercise allows the goalkeeper to apply all of the key principles they have practised throughout the session as they are asked to catch the ball when faced with opposition, before immediately transitioning into attack.

The exercise requires 3 goalkeepers and a coach, who acts as a server.
Place all 3 goalkeepers on the edge of the goal area.
The coach takes up a wide position at a ball station outside the penalty area.

The coach plays a lofted ball into the penalty area.
The 3 goalkeepers compete to catch the ball.
As soon as one of the goalkeepers has caught the ball, the other 2 goalkeepers sprint out of the penalty area, with one heading towards the left flank and the other towards the right flank.
The goalkeeper who caught the ball then rolls it out to either of the other 2 goalkeepers, who combine in a passing sequence before playing the ball back to the coach.

Competing for the ball against opponents simulates a match scenario.
Apply all of the key aspects practised in the previous exercises.
Once they have caught the ball, the goalkeeper should immediately set up an attacking transition.
Ask the goalkeeper who catches the ball to vary the destination of their throw-outs in the attacking transition.
It is important to always end sessions with a fun, game-like exercise.