How to put your goalkeeper to the test?

Recently I had a great question from one of our subscribers in regards to what kinds of exercises one should implement to help gauge a goalkeepers ability during a trial:

“What drills/exercises would you implement if you were conducting a trial for goalkeepers? What would you be replicating and what would you be looking for in a ‘good’ keeper?”

This question sparks some memories from my time trialling with Bury FC with then performance coach Jimmy Petruzzi. Over a week long assessment, Jim conducted a series of “tests” that were specific to the role of the goalkeeper.

Therein lies the key to gauging a goalkeepers “physical” ability, that is “specificity”. The components of a physical test for a goalkeeping trial should always take into account the nature of the goalkeepers role within the game of play and test these components regularly.

The other side of Jim’s understanding of my goalkeeping ability was one to one work with the goalkeeping coach at Bury. This allowed Jim to measure my “technical” ability, via regular reports back from the goalkeeping coach.

The overall aim is to gain a birds eye overview of physical ability and how the goalkeeper can work to his/her strengths whilst also taking into account their technical capabilities.

Following are a few of the key physical training metrics that I encountered at Bury FC. These exercises should give you a preliminary overview of your goalkeepers physical capability such as:

• Double leg jump

• Single leg jump

• 10×6 yard sprint

• 6 yard sprint

• 18 yard sprint

• Track their reaction time: I do a lot of cone work, with different color markers. In this situation they could be standing in the middle of 4 different color markers spaced out in a square, and as you call each color, you will be able to see the speed of their reaction and time these accordingly.

• Counter movements: Again, you can use a similar exercise as above to test their counter movements.

There are certainly other exercises that you could use, and technical capability should also be taken into account throughout the trial period.

PS…great question Enzo!

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