Additional Post 1: Hands, A New Breakdown of Positioning

During my mentorship over the summer I was watching Jeff Tackett explain hand positioning to a young goalkeeper (probably about 10 years old).  She was still in the beginning stages of her training focusing on hand positioning, foot skills, and agility.

Keeping in mind that I've been a keeper for approaching 8 years, ever since I learned hand placement, I never changed anything.  It's always worked, and if done correctly never fails.  During one training session Mr. Tackett explicitly explained the hand positioning showing her up close not only using her own hands, but also from other perpectives using his hands.

This picture shows the hand positioning for catching a ball above the waist.  This is how I learned it when I was still a kidlet.

The hands are arranged in a "W" position to give the catcher a strong hold.  With the hands in this position the ball can't continue it's forward momentum into the keepers body, or worse, the goal.

Another advantage to this hand position is that with small hands (like me and the young girl) it gives you a lot of coverage over the ball.  Your hand is touching much more of the ball than if you were to just put your hands out as if you were trying to tell a large vehicle to stop.



This hand positioning is also for catching above the waist, however, this is how many younger goalkeepers are being taught to handle the ball.

This hand positioning is more similar to catching a hand-egg (an American football).  The hands are a little further apart, but if the fingers were touching they would resemble a diamond.

I asked Mr. Tackett why he chooses to teach the younger group this style of hand positioning, and he said because it gives you even more surface area on the ball.  The positioning also has less chance of the ball going over the "W" since the hands are closer together at the top.

Although not the best choice, if a keeper decides not to wear gloves in the goal this would be the better option.  I would normally try to keep up with the changing status quo in the game of soccer, but hand positioning is something that I no longer think about.  It just happens and trying to change things messes everything up.  However, for new keepers, like the kidlets I've been helping Kim train will certainly benefit from the altered hand positioning.