Keeper basics with a soft ball
Ready when: Catch and throw at the wall (b2) done and the child wants a turn in goal.
What you are learning
Goalkeeping with a soft ball: standing upright just in front of the goal line, arms out, between the ball and the goal; side steps from post to post without crossing the feet; saving with both hands; then throwing the ball out quickly to start an attack.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand just in front of the goal line, upright, arms out to the sides, knees soft.
- Side-step from one post to the other without crossing the feet.
- Reach for a slow throw with both hands and hold it.
- Throw the ball out at once to a running team-mate.
Your part while they practise
Throw gently and only to the corner you name; throw only when the keeper is ready.
Step by step
- Stand upright just in front of the goal line, arms out, between the ball and the goal.
- Side steps from post to post.
- You call high or low, left or right and throw there.
- Save with both hands.
- Throw the ball out to start a fast attack.
How much: 15 throws 8 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Save and go
After each save the keeper throws to you as you run; a point for each save and a point for each good throw.
Who plays: the keeper against you as the shooter.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Call a corner and throw softly there when the keeper is ready
- The keeper saves
- After a save, you run toward the far end; the keeper throws the ball to you
- 15 throws
- Fair play
- With a nervous keeper, roll the ball for the first 5.
- Points
- The keeper scores 1 point for each save and 1 point for a throw-out you catch on the run; you score 1 point for each goal.
- Fouls
- A point to the other player
- The shooter throws before the keeper is ready
- The keeper crosses the feet
- The keeper moves before the throw is released
- Winning
- More points after 15 throws.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 20 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Roll the ball.
Do not call the corner.
What you will see, and what to say
- the keeper moves before the throw
Wait for the release
Watch the ball leave the hand. - the keeper crosses the feet
Side steps, feet never cross
Slide, do not run.
Self-check
10 of 15 called throws stopped.
Stop and get a coach when
A ball hits the face, or a finger or ankle hurts.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains keeper position, side steps, saves, the first pass.
Basic is done when the child meets the self-checks on b1 to b6; b7 is for every child who takes a turn in goal (everyone tries, nobody is forced).
awiseathlete.com/sports/handball/handball-b7