Medicine Ball Training Tips for Goalkeepers

Hey Keepers!

The Select 600 GM and 1000 GM Goalkeeper Medicine Balls

Medicine balls can be a great addition to goalkeeper training.  The weighted soccer ball will improve a keeper’s handling, diving technique, and throwing power.  PLEASE NOTE: Medicine ball training will NEVER improve a soccer player’s kicking power and/or accuracy nor will it improve heading abilities.  Here are several training tips with medicine balls:

• No matter how good your 5-year-old goalkeeper is, think twice before introducing medicine ball drills. The younger soccer player has not developed his/her full hand and arm strength.  Just one missed catch can end up seriously injuring the goalkeeper.
• Use a light handling drill with a medicine ball as a break – it can be a great addition to a fitness training circuit.  A drill as simple as having the goalie on his/her knees and catching a light volley can be great.  The keeper has to be extra focused on his/her catching technique because he/she is tired and the ball is weighted.  It’s the perfect active rest.
• Before using the medicine ball to improve the goalkeeper’s throwing strength – have him/her practice throwing a regulation ball.  Improper technique with a weighted ball can put extra stress on a goalkeeper’s shoulder and can do some serious damage.
• Use a medicine with pressure training!  It really makes a huge difference and helps the goalkeeper build anaerobic endurance.

Don’t have a medicine ball?  I would recommend buying the Select 600 GM or the Select 1000 GM medicine ball.  You can find them for under $60 and they last very long.  They have the same paneling as your typical soccer ball, so they won’t ruin a goalkeeper’s gloves.