Goalkeeping tactics: positioning, anticipation, shot-stopping and communication

1Why this matters

The goal is 3 m wide and 2 m high, and no goalkeeper can cover all of it. Tactics decide which part of the goal the shooter actually sees. A well-placed goalkeeper makes the open space small, and a good defence in front of her makes it smaller still. This lesson shows how.

2Positioning: cutting the angle

Imagine two lines from the ball to the two goal posts. The shooter can score only between them. The goalkeeper stands on the line that splits this angle in half, the angle bisector, so both sides are equally covered. Stepping forward off the goal line along the bisector makes the gaps on either side smaller.

Figure 3. Cutting the angle. The goalkeeper stands on the bisector (red dashed line), a step off the goal line. Diagram: Ganzaa.

• As the ball moves, move along a small arc in front of the goal, staying on the bisector.
• Against a wing shooter at a narrow angle, stand tight to the near post: the far side is already partly hidden by the angle.
• Do not come out too far. A shooter who sees the goalkeeper far off the line can lob the ball over her head.

3Anticipation

Anticipation means reading the shot before it happens. Watch for:

• the shooting arm: high arm, high shot is common; a dropped arm often means a side-arm or low shot;
• the shoulders and hips: they often point where the ball will go;
• habits: many players have a favourite corner. Note it during the game.

Move late. A goalkeeper who dives before the ball is released gives the shooter the other side.

4Shot-stopping

• Stay big and stay on your feet as long as possible.
• Attack the ball: move towards it, not back into the net.
• Control the rebound: push the ball wide of the goal or catch it.
• After a save, look up at once: a quick throw starts the counter-attack.

5Communication

The goalkeeper sees the whole attack and must talk: short, loud calls such as "Shooter!", "Pivot left!" or "Watch the wing!". The most important agreement is between the goalkeeper and the defender who blocks a back-court shot with raised arms. The block covers one side of the goal, and the goalkeeper takes the other. If both cover the same side, the other side is empty.

6The 7-metre throw

At a 7-metre throw the goalkeeper may come forward as far as the 4 m mark, which keeps her 3 m from the thrower. Coming forward reduces the angle; staying back gives more time to react. Good goalkeepers vary it, so the thrower cannot plan.

Worked example

A left back jumps to shoot from 9 m. Your defender Gatete raises both arms, covering the shooter's route to the right side of the goal from your view.

Decision. You shift slightly to cover the left side. Gatete takes one side, you take the other, and the shooter sees almost no free space.

Practice

Solution. In the middle of the goal, a step or two off the line: the bisector from a central shooter runs straight to the centre of the goal.

Solution. Tight to the near post. The narrow angle already hides most of the far side, so the near post is the main open target.

Solution. A lob, a high soft shot over her head into the empty goal behind her.

Solution. The left side. The block and the goalkeeper split the goal between them.