High Balls in Traffic
FineSoccer Drills Newsletter - High Balls in Traffic
Today's subject deals with being able to use two hands on high balls in traffic. First, the first 16 Speed and Agility Sessions are now online in the Full Season Speed Sessions.
When there are a lot of players around the keeper (especially opponents) it's important for the keeper to make sure their hands and arms don't get caught under anyone. This can happen accidentally or occasionally an opponent will intentionally try to pin the keepers arms down to make it as difficult as possible for the keeper to make the save. While there is no question that intentionally holding a keepers arms down is against the laws of the game of soccer, it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen occasionally and the keeper that prepares for this situation is most likely going to be more successful.
The way a keeper would prevent their arms from getting pinned down is for the keeper to hold their arms up and away from their body whenever in traffic. Too often in this situation the keeper allows their arms to dangle by their body, which makes it too easy for the arms to get pinned against the body. If the arms are held up and out (the hands about head height and the elbows away from the body) when in traffic, it makes it much more unlikely for a keepers arms to get caught under someone else's.
This might seem like a small thing but it's the type of thing that can make the difference between a keeper making a save and a keeper giving up what appears to be a weak goal. Remember, when in traffic, keep your arms up and away from your body to prevent your arms getting pinned under something or someone.