Football · Goalkeeping

First goalkeeper games: catch and dive

Pairs play keeper wars - throw underarm at your partner's cone goal, and catch or dive to stop their throws.

K1K2
Start / 4
Time
12 min
Players
2–16
Age
U6–U10
Area
10 × 8 m per pair
Equipment
32 cones (4 per pair)8 balls (soft for the youngest)

Setup

  1. For each pair, set two cone goals 3 m wide, facing each other 8 m apart.
  2. Play on soft grass. Gloves help but aren't needed.
  3. One keeper in each goal, one ball per pair.

How it runs

  1. Warm-up: kneel in your goal; your partner rolls the ball to your side. Fall sideways, hands behind the ball, and hug it in. Five each side.
  2. Keeper wars: take turns to roll or throw underarm at the other goal. Catch it and it's your throw.
  3. First to five goals wins, then change partners.

Coaching points

  • Hands in a W, thumbs nearly touching, for balls at chest height and above.
  • For low balls, get your body behind the ball and scoop it up into your chest.
  • When you go down, land on your side, not on your elbows or tummy.
  • Hug the ball in after every catch.

Common mistakes

  • Kicking at the ball instead of getting the hands to it.
  • Diving forward onto the tummy instead of falling sideways.

Say it: “Hands in a W. Hug it in.”

Make it harder

  • Make the goals 4 m wide.
  • Bounce the throw once before it reaches the goal.

Make it easier

  • Move the goals 5 m apart and roll the ball only.
  • A catching round first - partner throws straight at you.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.