Some goalkeepers hate 1v1s. Others love the thrill of being the last line of defence, the only thing between an opposing striker and the back of the net. However you feel about 1v1s, you’ll have to face up to them if you hope to become a successful keeper. This guide is here to help, looking at some tips and tricks to navigate 1v1s and improve your save rate. Preventing 1v1s Before we look at how to handle 1v1s, it’s worth highlighting a few quick pointers for preventing them in the first place. Ultimately, a 1v1 will only happen if an opposing player gets past all of your defenders. One way t ..read more

Distribution is a massive part of modern goalkeeping. Gone are the days when goalies simply booted the ball away at every given opportunity. Now, many keepers have a range of distribution methods in their arsenal. The roll. The throw. The short pass. The long ball. The drop kick. Each one has its risks, rewards, and best-use cases, which we’ll explore below. Rolling the Ball First, the simple roll. This is when you’ve gathered the ball up from the ground or caught it from a shot or cross. You can then roll it out to the feet of your teammates. Risks There’s not too much risk to rolling the bal ..read more

It’s easy for myths and misinformation to spread in the sporting world. Especially these days, when there’s so much media scrutiny. Unfortunately, football falsehoods and completely untrue ideas are widely accepted as fact in the modern game. This is particularly true regarding goalkeepers, who are often judged, criticised, or viewed according to inaccurate or outdated standards. Let’s bust a few of those myths today. Goalkeepers Have to Be Tall It’s easy to see how this myth came about. Naturally, being taller and broader is an advantage when you play in goal. It makes it easier to leap high ..read more

When everything is going well, there’s a lot to love about being a goalkeeper. You make big saves. You win games for your side. You control your defence and feel confident and assured. Unfortunately, it’s not always smooth sailing. There are times where playing between the sticks can feel like the hardest job on the pitch. Times when you wish you could swap positions with any of your outfield teammates. Read on to learn about some of the toughest aspects of playing in goal. The Feeling of Making a Mistake Let’s start with one of the worst parts of being a goalie: mistakes. Every goalie makes t ..read more

“Why would you want to be a goalkeeper?” If you’ve ever been asked that question, you’re not alone. After all, goalies have to deal with huge amounts of pressure and rarely get the plaudits and acclaim of their outfield teammates. In many ways, their role is a thankless one. Their errors are magnified and the blame for defeats is often laid squarely at their feet. Considering all of that, goalkeeper doesn’t sound like the most desirable position in a football team. Yet, countless young, aspiring footballers decide that this is role for them. One of the main reasons is that, despite the tricky ..read more

Andre Onana is starting to come into his own, after a shaky start to life in Manchester. We are slowly starting to see the performances that earnt him his plaudits, and got him to the Champions League final last year. Onana currently has the second most clean sheets in the Premier League and is looking more assured between the sticks every week. But what gloves does the Cameroonian trust at the highest level? Answer – Rinat’s NKAM PRO This model is made entirely to Andre Onana’s liking, who chose the construction, cut, and type of latex. After several weeks of joint work between the goalkeeper ..read more

Football is in a constant state of evolution. New styles of play. New formations. New tactics, ideas, innovations. Even new roles and positions are sometimes introduced, like full-backs who double-up as wingers or centre-backs or roam into defensive midfield. It’s that evolution that makes the game so exciting from a tactical point of view. Fans are always waiting to see what comes next, what surprising ideas coaches might devise. For players, too, it can be intriguing to learn new ways of playing the game – and not just outfield players. Goalkeepers have also seen their roles change an awful ..read more

Football is a game of highs and lows. Of course, you could say that about so many sports. But football, in particular, can feel like a rollercoaster ride every single match. One minute, everything’s going well. Your team scores a goal. You celebrate, feeling on top of the world. The next minute, everything can change. A bad tackle, a mistake, a red card, a goal conceded. It all flips in a heartbeat. This is especially true for goalkeepers, who experience some of the highest highs and lowest lows of any player on the pitch. Naturally, goalie actions tend to come under more scrutiny than those o ..read more

Many used to believe that there was only one way to play in goal. You stayed in your area. You stopped shots to the best of your ability. You booted the ball up the pitch in dangerous situations. And you left everything else to your outfield teammates. However, as time went by, the role of the goalie changed and became more flexible and versatile, with new ways to play. The sweeper keeper is one of those “alternative” goalkeeping roles. It’s less rigid than traditional keeping, with more freedom for keepers to do what they do best. In this guide, we’ll explore exactly what sweeper keepers do ..read more

Reusch first introduced their GluePrint technology in 2022, branding it a ‘new adhesive print for superior grip’. Since then, they have released over 10 different models which feature this unique style palm. How it Works Reusch’s adhesive print is applied on the palm in those areas that get in most contact with the ball. Because of this, the tackiness and grip are enhanced exactly where it is needed most! Reusch do state that the GluePrint will wear away over time, but the use of their premium Gold X latex means that it will continue to offer high levels of grip. Take a look at all of the late ..read more