Any goalkeeper will tell you, Keeper Wars is the best drill and best game for goalkeeper training. Or maybe you’ve learned it as Goalie Wars or even Goalkeeper Wars. If you’ve never played the game or never heard of it, it’s a must for a goalkeeper training regime. There are few variations of this game, but this post will describe the simplest form – 1 on 1 Goalie Wars.
Goalie wars is a fun and competitive game that tests goalkeeper distribution and shot stopping. All variations of the game require at least two goalkeepers, at least one soccer ball (although we’d recommend a few more), and two goals (cones or corner flags will also work).
The simplest version of goalkeeper wars requires two keepers, one in each goal. Goals can be spread anywhere between 15 to 25 yards apart depending on the goalkeepers’ skill level.
- Goalkeepers take turns trying to score one another. Goalkeeper A begins with the ball and tries to score on Goalkeeper B. If Goalkeeper B saves and holds the shot or if the shot misses the goal, Goalkeeper B gets to try to score on Goalkeeper A.
- If Goalkeeper A scores, Goalkeeper B gets possession of the ball.
- If Goalkeeper B deflects the shot out of bounce, Goalkeeper A is awarded possession of the ball.
- Goalkeepers can score by any form of distribution – punt, drop kick, side volley, roll, throw, and a traditional shot/goal kick. However, they cannot take more than 3 steps from where they save the ball.
- All rebounds are live, goalkeepers do not have to wait for the opposing goalkeeper to be in a ready position.
- You can penalize shots that miss the target by awarding the a goalkeeper 1 goal for every 3 shots the other goalkeeper shoots off target.
The variations you can use on the above version of goalie wars are types of scoring (throwing only, non-dominant foot only, cannot use same form of distribution two times in a row, etc). You could also make a ‘no diving’ rule to enforce goalkeeper footwork.