      A keeper needs to make 100% of all the easy saves. This has to be the starting point for working with goal keepers. The easy saves don't look flashy, but failure to make the easy save leads to lost games. First, of course, because failure to make the easy save gives the attacking team a goal. More important, however, is the fact that failure to make the easy save causes the rest of the team to lose confidence in the keeper and causes the keeper to lose confidence in herself. Once confidence is lost, everything goes downhill from there.

     The major causes of missed easy saves are:

Poor catching technique

Poor foot work

Poor positioning

Lack of concentration

Fatigue

     Fatigue often leads to poor technique and lack of concentration. The tired keeper finds it difficult to concentrate. Conditioning work is needed to make sure that the goal keeper is able to make the critical save at the end of the game. We'll add conditioning drills soon. Click here for a conditioning drill.

     Keepers should be challenged at the end of practice when they are tired. Have the keeper work on some of the catching drills we'll post near the end of practice when she's tired. Nothing destroys technique and concentration like fatigue.

     Note that most of the drills we plan to post are aimed at making the easy save and at identifying and correcting faults that result in failure to make the easy save.

     Constant work every practice is necessary to ensure that the keeper masters catching technique and foot work. We've posted a simple catching drill and two foot work drills to get things started. We'll add more as time goes on.

     Please let us know what you think about our goal keeper corner. If you have a drill that you want to share with the rest of us, drop Les Sparks a note at less@ntrnet.net.