Question about goalkeeping technique

[superdave]

When I was young, I played baseball, and I played for a very serious, well-coached Little League team. And we were taught that, if we had to go to our left for a ball, to take that first step with the right foot and crossover. We were taught NOT to take a short step with our left foot and shuffle.

But when I watch GKs in the top leagues, I always see them shuffle along the line. And that obviously slows them down in their efforts to get a shot in the upper 90.

So that's my question...why aren't GKs taught to cross over with their first step?

[IASocFan]

Baseball players (particularly outfielders) are farther from the ball and frequently have longer to react and farther to run when compared to a goalkeeper. A soccer shot can come at any time, while a baseball hit only comes after the pitch. Therefore a goal keeper must keep moving and not crossing the legs. Have you ever tried to kick-save after crossing your far leg in front of the near leg!

The cross over might come in handy with the keeper on one post, and the ball is crossed high to the far post. Since keepers learn to keep their legs closer, then which foot to start on, doesn't matter much.

[helmzgk]

For shots we're coached to do the shuffle because it provides much more balance, therefore letting us catch the ball better. I was coached to do the shuffle on crosses, that way I'm knocking people down and not being stopped because of my momentum. Also, it let's us get out faster for crosses and our leap will be a little bit higher.

[CUS]

The power for a dive to the side is provided by the leg you are diving towards. IE, if you are diving to your left, you are pushing off with your left leg.

If you have your legs crossed you will just fall over.

Also, this will keep you facing the play and less likely to get turned around.

[Shaune]

Another factor with shuffling is you make your body as big as possible (squared off to the ball). This is a huge factor in goalkeeping. Once you start crossing over steps for the most part you'll be sideways and a player diving for the ball will end up landing on their stomach.

I've always been taught, and I pass this on to the kids I help, that you shuffle and square off to the ball. This way if your hands miss the shot your body is still there to block the ball and keep it out of the goal. At practice our focus is always on technique. I'm not worried about how many saves the kids make I focus on the proper technique so that it's second nature in the game to them.

Of course there is always an exception to the rule. If an upper 90 save is required I've also been taught to turn my hips and work my way across the goal (e.g. - upper 90 shot coming left to right, GK is at right near post) as quickly as possible. There's no real crossover step you just turn your hips and go. Some very good demo.'s of this technique are done on Tony DiCicco's goalkeeping tape/DVD series. I was really impressed with how he worked everything step by step.

One last factor - Upper 90 saves require good technique as well as good positioning. Teach them how to cut down the angle and make the goal smaller. No matter how young they are. It takes a long time to understand, but once a GK understands it's a lifesaver.

[faizalenu]

Another this to consider is that if you cross your feet, your knees get in the way of your hands.

That is why you will see goalies fall forward on a low shot. Keep in mind that:
* A soccer ball is bigger that a baseball.
* A keeper does not have to get up quickly to throw to first base.

[Frans]

don't know much about baseball, but crossover with the right to get to a ball coming from the left doesn't even seem right there. why would anyone have an easier job, in any sport, crossing one leg over another to get somewhere?

[ERIMUS]

Crossing your feet will slow down how you react and could cause a mistake,im a goalkeeper with a professional club and as a goalkeeper you need quick reflexes.

[superdave]

I think there's some misunderstanding here. Let's say you're squared off to an attacker 25 yards away, and he blasts one to the upper 90 to your left. Why do GKs, in that circumstance, take their first step with their left foot, when the length of that step is limited? They'll cover more ground if they take their first step with their right foot, crossing over their left.

[GKbenji]

Originally posted by superdave
Let's say you're squared off to an attacker 25 yards away, and he blasts one to the upper 90 to your left. Why do GKs, in that circumstance, take their first step with their left foot, when the length of that step is limited? They'll cover more ground if they take their first step with their right foot, crossing over their left.

Because a well-positioned goalkeeper has to cover, usually, just four yards or less (the goal is eight yards wide). A goalkeeper can easily take one step (about a yard) and cover the rest of the goal witha dive.

Also, a 60-MPH shot from 25-yards out arrives at the goal line in just .85 seconds -- there simply isn't time to do a crossover step.

Goalkeepers do use a crossover step in other circumstances, like when moving to gather in a cross or high ball (much more like fielding a fly ball).
Keepers also use a crossover going backwards to get to balls hit over their head.

If you want more info on goalkeeping techniques, as well as a video clip of a parry over the bar of a high over-the-head ball, checkout my goalkeeper coaching site at http://www.frii.com/~benji/goalkeeping

(long time lurker, first time poster)