Goalkeeper Shooting Angles

Shooters spread across the edge of the penalty area take turns pushing the ball and shooting — and the keeper's job is to be set, square, and between ball and goal every time.

Positioning and angles are what make saves — correct footwork, the right line to the ball, and feet set before the shot arrives.

Ages 9+One goalkeeper, 6–8 servers15 minBalls, full-size goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: A ball for every server and your full-size goal.
Build: Nothing to build — the penalty area is the field.
Place: The keeper takes the goal; six to eight servers spread across the outer edge of the penalty area in front of it, each starting with a ball.

Show me the setup picture

A keeper in a full-size goal with six to eight servers fanned across the outer edge of the penalty area, a ball at every server's feet.

One thing to remember: Goalkeeper positioning and angles — quick footwork without crossing the feet, staying between ball and goal, setting the feet, reacting fast, and catching cleanly with good hands.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

One server at a time pushes the ball left, right, or straight and shoots — the keeper shuffles to the new angle, sets their feet, and makes the save.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put the keeper in the goal and spread six to eight servers across the outer edge of the penalty area, every server with a ball.
Coach says
Spread out along the edge of the box, one ball each. Keeper — every shot's coming from a different angle.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one rep — the server pushes the ball to the left, right, or straight ahead, then shoots on goal. The keeper adjusts as the ball moves — body between ball and goal, hips facing the ball — then sets their feet in the ready position and makes the save.
Coach says
Servers — push it, then shoot. Keeper — stay between ball and goal, hips to the ball, and be set before they strike it.
3Play▾
Coach does
Alternate the servers one at a time and keep the rhythm quick — save, reset, next shooter. Watch the shuffle (feet never crossing), the angle to the moving ball, the quick reaction, and clean catches with good hands.
Coach says
Shuffle — don't cross your feet! Set, hands ready, catch it clean!
Look for: Feet set at the moment of the shot — the keeper still and balanced when the ball is struck, not moving through it.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Work around the line of servers again and again so the keeper faces every angle, the keeper quickly setting for the next shooter each time. Reload the servers' balls as they go.
Coach says
Save it, forget it — next angle, get set!

If it's not working

If the keeper keeps getting beaten the same way, freeze it and ask where their body should be — between the ball and the goal — then send the next server.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

The push before the shot is the drill — every touch moves the ball to a new angle, so the keeper rehearses the real sequence on every rep: read the ball, shuffle to the line, set the feet, make the save.

What are they learning?

Goalkeeper positioning and angles — quick footwork without crossing the feet, staying between ball and goal, setting the feet, reacting fast, and catching cleanly with good hands.