5 tips for beginner goalkeepers in soccer that can be copied right away

The role of a goalkeeper or goalkeeper is very important in a soccer match. The goalkeeper does not only act as the last door that the opponent must pass when scoring. A goalkeeper is often seen as the person who leads the whole team, especially the defenders, in maintaining defense. However, don't worry if you've just tried your luck in this position. Here are some tips for beginner goalkeepers that you can imitate so you can shine on the green field.

Soccer goalkeeper tips for beginners

You need to master the techniques of guarding the goal carefully. Whether it's dribbling and catching the ball, leadership techniques at the back, to jumping techniques and good reflexes. Dan Gaspar, an internationally renowned goalkeeping coach, points out that it is very important for young goalkeepers to think that every practice is a World Cup match. Apart from that, what are some important goalkeeping tips for beginners?

1. Don't let your guard down when the ball is far

Maybe you used to wonder, what do goalkeepers do when the ball is in the area of the opponent's defense? Of course the camera on the TV will cover the areas where there is the ball and not the goalkeeper.

Will he be able to sit around and relax for a moment? The answer is absolutely no. The goalkeeper must stay focused, even when the ball is in the opponent's penalty box. Losing focus for the goalkeeper is fatal.

However, if you are tired of staying focused for 90 minutes, at least use the center line of the court. You have to be ready when the ball has passed that limit. Never just start preparing when your opponent and the ball have set foot in the 16.5 meter box.

2. Confident

Mental strength plays a big role in a competition. So that confidence for every player in the team is very important. Losing confidence will affect your performance. Also, don't let one or two mistakes you make reduce your self-confidence.

To increase your confidence, you can analyze what mistakes have been made during the match and make plans and training to prevent those mistakes from coming in the future. Good preparation will increase your self-confidence.

3. Watch the ball

A common mistake for novice goalkeepers is not realizing that what they are looking at and watching is their opponent, not the ball they are playing. Remember that the main job of a football goalkeeper is to make sure none of the balls go into your goal. In other words, your focus as a goalkeeper is on the ball, not on your opponent.

You also need to think every now and then about going forward leaving the 16.4 meter box to secure the ball. Of course this is done if the circumstances allow and is the best step for you at that time. However, you must immediately return to your original position and refocus.

4. Choose the best position

What is the best position for a goalkeeper? Basically, the best position is also adjusted by the conditions in which the ball is in, the position of your opponent to the position of your defender. But you still need the best posts as your starting point. Don't be too far from the goal and don't be right on the goal line either. A distance of one meter from the goal line is a distance that is considered quite perfect.

5. Don't wait for your opponent

Sometimes, you as a goalkeeper need to know where your opponent is going and what your opponent is going to be doing next, especially the attackers. Will he immediately kick the ball, pass to his friend, or kick right away. You need to learn to start reading your opponent's movements. This ability will increase with the number of hours you fly.

When a one-on-one situation occurs, one of the biggest mistakes is when you wait too long for your opponent to get into the perfect shooting range.

Run forward before that happens and spread your body as you will reduce angle the opponent's shot thus increasing the chances of blocking his shot. In fact, by running forward, you can hold the ball before your opponent has had the chance to fire it. It can also scare off the attacker so that he will rush into taking reckless action to the point of making his own mistakes.

Those are the tips for beginner goalkeepers in soccer. For any beginner goalkeeper, it's very important to keep learning and keep a consistent rhythm of learning. Make sure the mistakes that have been made become material to improve the technique in the future. Enjoy the action on the field!