5 tips from goalkeepers to help you keep a clean sheet

A successful match and a clean sheet is a dream for many goalkeepers in both big football and small-sided games. But dreaming alone isn't enough; if you really want to win, you need to have the physical and mental attributes, refined technique, and very quick reactions. How can you improve in all these areas? Here are 5 tips from goalkeepers who go home with a clean sheet.

1. Think like successful goalkeepers

Make the penalty area your home, it's your territory where you should act boldly and confidently. And this includes one-on-one duels, including penalties, which are critical moments for goalkeepers. At the same time, you need to stay alert, play tactically, and anticipate your opponent's behavior.

2. Fortune favors the prepared

Tips from both small-sided and full-sized soccer goalkeepers also include pre-game routine, which helps you get into the game faster. You can, for example, listen to music while visualizing the game or do some stretching like real professionals. Not only will you stretch, but you'll also get in the right mindset for the upcoming match. Besides, this is the time for a detailed analysis of your opponent. Focus mainly on their best players and preferred tactics.

3. Stay focused and communicate with your team

No matter which half of the field your team is on, keep other players in sight, communicate with them, cooperate, and control the situation. You never know when an unexpected shot might come, and you need to be ready because no one else will back you up. Likewise, you have many chances to start a quick counterattack, and it would be a shame to waste them. So, you need to stay focused from the first to the last minute of the match.

4. Intense training requires plenty of rest

Good physical and mental condition is the foundation of your sports career, so you should constantly train your speed, agility, and strength and overall test the limits of your body. Various jumps and squatsare very useful, as they will give you strong legs and a solid lower body, allowing you to quickly change direction or catch a ball while falling.

On the other hand, you also need to get enough rest and after each match, think about recovery. Quality sleep and a balanced diet are essential, and as a bonus, treat yourself to regular massages like professional footballers do. We also recommend engaging in exercises that serve as prevention against possible injuries.

5. Work on catching the ball

But soccer isn't just about speed and strength; it's mainly about technical ball skills in various situations. As a goalkeeper, you have the privilege of playing with both your hands and feet. However, this also means you need to train your coordination and refine your ball-catching skills. Otherwise, you'll approach the ball differently when standing still, moving, or falling to the ground. It is always important to have a quick reaction and a correct estimate of the height and distance of the ball. Especially in the beginning, focus on these basic techniques, which you will eventually automate:

Basket – you should already know this basic technique as a beginner. You will use it especially when the ball is coming to you at a height from the knees to the chest, either directly or from close range. You need to dampen its energy with your arms and chest and quickly cover it with gloves. This is a basic technique that even a poor goalkeeper must master!

Fingers – Here, the main role is to dampen the ball in your hands. When standing or falling, keep your thumbs close together and spread the other fingers apart. On the other hand, gently relax your arms so that they essentially survive when catching. This way, you will hold onto a powerful shot, and the ball won't slip out of your gloves.

Digger – When the ball is coming directly at you or from close range along the ground. It can be caught well while falling onto the front of your body. However, you must not cushion the fall with your knees or elbows; it’s important to land on your entire front body at once to avoid a painful or even dangerous impact. So you catch the ball while still falling, not after landing, and you secure it with your body the whole time.

Punching the ball – For hard-to-reach balls, you need to punch them away forcefully to prevent immediate and subsequent threats to the goal. And if you’re unsure where to safely punch it, the basic rule is to get it as far away from the goal as possible, preferably to the side. But watch out for challenges from opponents; therefore, besides speed, strength and resilience also matter.