Physical Components of Goalkeeping

Hey, so I’m having doing a lot of research on goalkeeping as its A Level PE position in sport, and I am having to research the physical components of goalkeeping. Now I know that a lot of the components link in with each other eg You can’t only have good reactions, cause if you don’t have the power in your legs to get your body close enough to the ball your trying to save then where is no way you’ll save it even if you have reacted quickley to it! So…

I’m basically asking for different peoples views on a rank order for the following physical components that I have come up with: (If you feel that I have missed a key component them please add it to your answer!)

1. Reactions

2. Speed

3. Power

4. Agility

5. Flexibilty

6. Balance

7. Strength

8. VO2 Max (aerobic capacity)

So I would really appreciate if you could list the above conponents in rank order of which you feel are the most important for a GK.

Thank you!

11 thoughts on “Physical Components of Goalkeeping”

  3. Flexibility
    Technique
    Reactions
    Agility
    Balance
    Power
    VO2 max
    Strength

    The Flexibility is the key thing in beeing a goali, as it allows us to stretch our arms and legs, so if we are not flexible enough the qickest reaction will not help you to get down.
    The Technique is also the main thing, as you don´t need the reaction time if you don’t have the technique to steel the ball without getting a penalty.
    But reaction is coming straight after this, because it is really important.
    Power and strength are not really important as VO2 max is, because we don’t use it, but a bit endurance would be nice if there is at one point a really hard game.
    Balance is more important then the three above, because you can’t attack a player without being stable on your toes and especially kicking will be really hard, as the ball is going high in the air all the time if you’re not stable and balanced enough.
    Hope that helped you, I am doing A2 PE and the last years practical exam went pretty good with this 🙂

  4. Reactions
    Balance
    Technique
    Agility
    Flexibility
    Power
    VO2 max
    Strength

    Also very important in goalkeeping is to steer your defence well. If you’re very good at that the balls won’t even get in the cirkle.

  5. Power
    Balance
    Technique
    Reactions
    Agility
    Flexibility
    Speed
    Strength
    VO2 Max

    If you don’t have power, how are you suppose to push off to make a basic foot save or to dive?
    If you’re off balance, it doesn’t matter how much power or anything else you have because you’ll be leaning back when you need to go forward and balls will be rebounding everywhere, including in your net.
    If you have the right technique, you make everything a whole lot easier. You don’t need the reaction, or flexibility as much if you’re in position and using an effective save technique.
    You need good reaction skills to make a save, but you have to be in a position to make that save first.
    You need the agility to move around your D, get in position to stop the ball, to deal with contact from other players, etc.
    My goalie coach, Mike Mahood, has a key rule that he’s taught me, goalies shouldn’t stretch in game. Obviously, you’ll have to make some stretched saves now and then, but if you’re in position you don’t need to make split saves every game.
    The speed is needed to get around the net quicker, but since the space is so small, the speed isn’t quite as key as the agility to get around, etc.
    A keeper needs power, more than strength, because we have to make quick movements and not sustained strength situations.
    VO2 Max is last, not because it’s unimportant, but because as a goalkeeper we don’t often have a long sustained period of activity. Even when we do have a fury of shots and action, we typically get a dead period after.

  8. 1) Power
    2) Technique
    3) Agility
    4) Reactions
    5) Balance
    6) Speed
    7) Flexibilty
    8) Strength
    9) VO2 Max (aerobic capacity)
    I Agree with MCho31, power is very important, being in the right place at the right time depends on it. Most saves not require an extraordinary reaction or streching, but a good position.
    Technique makes everything easier and frees you from a second or third instance of scoring.
    All other skills are needed to be a good goalie, but strenght and VO2 Max are less relevant. This because I never had the need in a game to use my strength and I played some games with GPS and distance of movement in a game is less than 1 km. Of course you need to have a minimum of physical condition and avoid to being “the chubby child with pads”.

  11. Im just curious if somebody could explain to me why VO2 Max for a GK is an important component? I would love to hear everyones thoughts on this component?

Leave a Reply