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In an age where distribution is king for goalkeepers you may expect their training disciplines and drills to be markedly different to what occurred prior.
Now viewed as an outfield player with gloves, obligated to launch attacks and always be an outlet for team-mates, pressed and harried, in possession, it is easy to imagine their training load to largely consist of exercises that improve their ability on the ball.
It would not overly surprise to learn that half of their three-hour sessions are given over to repetitive rolling, throwing, clipping, driving and passing with both feet. That half-volleys and side-volleys are consistently worked on, the ultimate aim to make their process of kicking the ball as clean, and as accurate, as possible.
To that end, short rebound passes must feature strongly, that and targeted clip procedures that has areas usually inhabited by full-backs marked out by cones.
To be clear, all of the above does take place, on a daily basis. They are fundamental elements in the construction of a modern-day number one, whatever level they compete at.
Yet, if we believe such elements are prioritised, and take up half of every session, we would be very much mistaken.
Instead, the constant refinement of distribution has simply been incorporated into a typical training programme. Like an individual seeking to get healthier by adding broccoli to their plate.
An Incremental Shift: The Same, Only Different
John Achterberg was Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach for 15 years, a period that saw the club win the Champions League and a Premier League title.
It was he who recommended Alisson to Jurgen Klopp, insisting he was worth every penny of his hefty transfer fee. Twelve months later, the Brazilian won the Yashin Trophy shortly after keeping 21 clean sheets in his debut league campaign.
When asked if goalkeeping sessions are dramatically different these days, in a post-Pep era where possession across every area of the pitch is a requisite goal, he is sceptical.
“I don’t know if it’s that much changed. The decision-making has to be quicker. Your movements have to be quicker.
But the most important thing is still to make match-winning saves. If your goalie can play with his feet, but cannot make a save, you won’t win many games. I think a lot of people forget that and obsess over the footwork.
Ninety per cent of my training is in the goal because you have to defend that goal.”
Data box – Speed drills are an essential component of a goalkeeper’s training, consisting of cone-based shuttle sprints, lateral shuffles with resistance bands, ladder drills for agility, and 180-degree turns to improve acceleration.
Now coaching at Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, Achterberg details how a typical session plays out for his roster of shot-stoppers.
“You work on 1v1, positional play in the goal, having a good process, distribution, every aspect basically. Principally, you need to be in good technical shape.
And you focus on weaknesses. If their positional play is not as good as the rest of their game you work on that. After training, extra time is allocated to it.
Mostly though, you look at the next game, and brain-train the goalie by going through exercises to recreate what will happen.”
Concerning the last point, an analytics team are entrusted to map out the tactical patterns anticipated in the next fixture, as further explained in our accompanying academy piece, How to Construct an Elite Goalkeeper.
Size Matters: Measuring Proficiency
Naturally, for all of the emphasis on goalmouth fundamentals and strategic anticipation, footwork is still a big consideration – just not as prominent as may be imagined. John duly takes us through his process.
“I always work on a full-sized pitch and you go through the movements, from playing to the full-back, then the number six, then the double-six. You clip it into the half-space. Then by repeating and practise, you improve.”
This he did a million times over with Alisson, building up a proficiency in possession that helped the Brazilian finish seventh in the 2019 Ballon d’Or voting. Presently he executes the same drills with Marek Rodák in the Saudi Pro League and it is pertinent that the former is 193 metres tall and the latter 194, because John holds a fascinating theory about the height of keepers and their subsequent ability – or lack of - to play out from the back.
“The problem is with goalies who are a little bit taller than 194, they can be wooden. In my experience they need more time to control a ball, to get to the ball. This gives you a problem if you want to play with your feet. You can easily see that everywhere, that this is an issue.
For sure you can improve it but you’re never going to make it perfect and you can put in the names yourselves, if we’re being honest.
My profile in the Premier League was between 188 and 194, for that reason. We needed an athletic goalie who can play with his feet. Who is mobile and can change direction quick. That’s how I always scouted goalkeepers to join us.”
Tech Transformation: A Whole New World
If improving on the art of distribution has been calmly integrated into a keeper’s training drills, elsewhere we have witnessed dramatic changes, namely via the advancement of technology.
Specialized software is available that helps coaches and players break down saves, analyse performances, and reassess positioning.
Virtual reality is used to provide immersive simulation of game scenarios, placing goalkeepers in controlled environments, free from the risk of injury to rehearse how to react to specific situations.
Monitoring the volume and intensity of actions such as diving and jumping is made possible by an inertial sensor system that uses gyroscopes and accelerometers.
In short, the composition of a typical training session for goalies is now distinctly different to what they used to be, and there has, in effect, been a revolution.
It’s just not of the type a layman may initially perceive.
