Glossary
Speak keeper
Every position has its own language. These are the words your keeper will hear at training — and what they mean.
Glossary
Every position has its own language. These are the words your keeper will hear at training — and what they mean.
The ready stance: feet shoulder-width, knees bent, weight forward, hands in front. A keeper who is set when the shot comes has already half-saved it.
Catching shape for chest-high and rising balls — both hands behind the ball, thumbs nearly touching, fingers spread like a W.
Collecting a ground ball by getting the body behind it and folding it into the chest — the safest way to deal with low shots.
Deliberately pushing a shot away instead of catching — used when the ball is too hard, wet, or wide to hold. Good keepers parry AWAY from the goal and away from strikers.
A striker through on goal with only the keeper to beat. The keeper's job: delay, stay big, force the striker to decide first.
Making the body as big as possible in a 1v1 — arms and legs wide, attacking the ball at the striker's feet.
Owning the penalty area on crosses and corners: a loud early call of "KEEPER!", then a decisive claim or punch.
Catching a cross at the highest point of the jump, in front of everyone else.
When a clean catch is not safe in traffic — two fists through the middle of the ball, distance over style.
Restarting the attack after a save or catch: throws, goal kicks, playing out short. Modern keepers are the first attacker.
A keeper who defends the space BEHIND the defense, reading through-balls and clearing outside the box.
The goal post closest to / furthest from the ball. The keeper's rule of thumb: never beaten at the near post.
Positioning along the line between ball and goal centre to make the goal look small to the shooter.
A full match without conceding — the keeper's badge of honour.
Hear them on the pitch — FREE first session Practice them at home