| The theory behind being a great soccer goalie is very | | | | the pitcher's hand and football receivers are taught to |
| simple. All you have to do is put some part of your | | | | follow the flight of the ball all the way into their |
| body between the ball and the goal as quickly as | | | | hands. The good soccer goalie should learn to do the |
| possible. To that end there are two time related | | | | same thing. Practice concentrating completely on the |
| elements involved in saving a penalty shot or any | | | | ball and follow it's path from the shooter's foot into |
| shot for that matter. The first is the time it takes to | | | | your hands. Over time, your mind will start to |
| visually find the ball in the air. The second involves the | | | | calculate the direction of the shot almost instantly |
| time it takes for the mind to compute the direction | | | | and you will begin to react to the shot much faster. |
| of the shot and for the body to react in whatever | | | | Incorporating this technique into your arsenal will |
| manner it has been trained. Shortening either of | | | | improve your chances of moving to the exact place |
| these response times will raise your chances of | | | | where the shot is going instead of just diving in one |
| making the save. Below are two tips and a drill that, | | | | direction or another and trusting to luck. |
| if practiced, will raise your chances of saving more | | | | Tennis ball drill. I was introduced to this drill by one of |
| penalty shots. | | | | my first coaches who had been a soccer goalie his |
| Crouch lower. If you are a goalie that stands upright | | | | entire career. Do this drill once every practice and |
| before a penalty shot, you are using up valuable time | | | | you will improve your ability to pick up the ball in flight |
| bending your knees before you can dive for the ball. | | | | and react accordingly. The drill is incredibly simple. Just |
| When defending a penalty shot, bend your knees as | | | | get a bucket of tennis balls and have someone stand |
| low as comfortable before the shot is taken. You will | | | | about 2 to 3 yards farther out than the penalty spot. |
| be in better position to handle a low ball and you will | | | | Have them throw the balls close in to begin with then |
| already be in position to dive if required. | | | | progressively further out to the side. The balls should |
| Concentrate only on the ball. Trying to "guess" where | | | | be thrown fast - not just lobbed. Alternate sides. |
| the penalty shot is going by watching the shooter's | | | | Throw a ball to one side and when you are back on |
| eyes, hips, plant foot etc. will work sometimes. | | | | your feet immediately have the ball thrown to the |
| However, even if you guess the correct side, you still | | | | other side. Try to make the save the same as you |
| have to wait and see if the shot is going low or high. | | | | would with a soccer ball. When you can visually find |
| A better technique is to start focusing completely on | | | | the ball as soon as it leaves the thrower's hand and |
| the ball and shutting out everything else. Baseball | | | | follow it all the way into your hands then a size 6 |
| players are taught to find the ball just as it leaves | | | | soccer ball will start to look huge. |