Goalkeeper Hurdle Footwork

Quick feet over a line of hurdles, straight into keeper work — a ball at the hands, a dive right, a dive left.

A keeper's saves start in the feet — fast, clean steps with no crossing put the hands where the ball is going to be.

Ages 9+One keeper at a time (coach serves)10 min5–6 small hurdles, balls

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Five or six small practice hurdles and a supply of balls.
Build: Set the hurdles in a straight line, about a yard apart.
Place: You stand about 5 yards past the last hurdle with the balls. The keeper starts at the first hurdle.

Show me the setup picture

A straight line of 5–6 small hurdles a yard apart, the keeper at one end, the coach 5 yards past the other with a pile of balls.

One thing to remember: Goalkeeper footwork — quick steps on the balls of the feet, feet never crossing, hips pointing to the ball at all times — plus handling and diving.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

On your call the keeper works the hurdles, sets into a ready stance — then catches a ball at the hands, dives right, dives left, and walks back to go again.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Send the keeper to the first hurdle and take the ball supply about 5 yards past the last one.
Coach says
Start at the first hurdle. Eyes on me — I call the footwork.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Name the four footwork calls — single-leg steps over, single-leg hops, two-leg hops, or shuffling in and out of the hurdles — and the finish that follows every one of them — off the last hurdle, feet set, knees slightly bent, hands up.
Coach says
Whatever I call, that's your feet. Off the last one — set, knees bent, hands up.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run the sequence — drop-kick a ball at the keeper's hands to catch and return; roll one to their right side for a dive; roll one to their left. The keeper returns each ball, resets to ready, and walks back to the start after the last dive.
Coach says
Quick feet! Catch, give it back, get set — next one's coming.
Look for: Quick, clean footwork — on the balls of the feet, never crossing, hips pointed at the ball the whole time.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate keepers through and change the footwork call each trip so every pattern gets worked.
Coach says
Walk it back and breathe — new pattern next trip.

If it's not working

If the dives fall apart, strip them out for a while — footwork plus the first ball to the standing keeper only — then add the dives back.

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

Why are we doing this?

The hurdles make the footwork honest — speed and quality, no crossed feet — and rolling straight from the last hurdle into a catch and two dives makes the feet serve the save instead of living as their own exercise.

What are they learning?

Goalkeeper footwork — quick steps on the balls of the feet, feet never crossing, hips pointing to the ball at all times — plus handling and diving.

How can I change it?

Easier: Limit the left and right dives at first and just play the first ball to the standing keeper.

Harder: Vary the serves — on the ground, mid-body, or flighted — or place a ball down and strike it at the keeper.

Next: Scooping Ground Balls — the same quick feet, now sprinting the grid and scooping.