Table of Contents
- What is a goalie in soccer?
- What skills does a good soccer goalie need?
- What number does a soccer goalie wear?
- Why do soccer goalies wear different jerseys?
- Can soccer goalies score?
- Where can a soccer goalie use their hands?
- Is the soccer goalie position easy?
- What about soccer goalie gloves?
- The verdict: The soccer goalie position explained
The soccer goalie position is often overlooked, but it’s extremely important to the success of any team.
After all, if you don’t have a good goalie, you will struggle to keep the ball out of your net, and it will be much more difficult to win matches.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know about the soccer goalie position, so you can understand what the goalie is responsible for and what the role actually entails.
What is a goalie in soccer?
A goalie is a player on a soccer team responsible for stopping the other team from scoring goals. They stand in the goal for most of the match and are allowed to use any part of their body (including their hands) to stop the ball from entering the goal.
In fact, soccer goalies are the only players allowed to use their hands when the ball is in play, and it is often regarded as the most specialist position on a soccer field for this reason.
Every soccer team must play with a goalie, regardless of the formation that they’re playing – it is the only position on the field that is deemed compulsory by the laws of the game.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the soccer goalie position and whether it’s a good option for you.
What skills does a good soccer goalie need?
As the soccer goalie is a specialist position, a player requires a different set of skills and attributes than those who typically play in the outfield. If you’re keen to become a good goalie, it’s helpful to have the following attributes:
Handling
While outfield players are known for their skill with their feet, soccer goalies are more renowned for their skill with their hands. As such, they need good hand-eye coordination and should be able to catch and punch the ball well.
If you have experience of playing American football and are good with your hands, you could have what it takes to play as a soccer goalie.
Agility
Full-sized soccer goals are big (8ft x 24ft), and it’s not easy to stop a shot that is traveling fast at goal. Therefore, goalkeepers need to be agile and capable of reaching the far corners of the goal to prevent the opposition from scoring.
While height certainly helps a goalkeeper, agility is equally as important, and it’s something that all coaches look for in quality goalies.
Communication
The goalie in soccer has a great view of the field and can see what is happening in front of them. The best goalies are excellent communicators and use their position to instruct their teammates about the danger in front of them.
Goalkeepers who communicate well tend to keep more clean sheets than those who remain quiet, so it’s important to speak up and use your voice if you’re playing in goal.
Kicking
Although a goalkeeper is judged on how they use their hands, they need to be relatively good footballers, particularly in the modern game. Goalies need to be able to pass the ball to their teammates and kick the ball long when there is danger.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola famously ditched England goalie Joe Hart because of his poor kicking, highlighting just how important kicking is for goalies in soccer today.
Players with the above skills and attributes could be well suited to playing in goal, so bear this in mind if you’re planning to take part in soccer tryouts in the near future!
What number does a soccer goalie wear?
Traditionally, a team’s goalkeeper wears the number one jersey. This is because the goalie is the first name on the teamsheet and the person that serves as the last line of defense.
That being said, soccer goalies also wear number 12 and number 13, as well as a whole host of other numbers.
There is nothing in the laws of soccer to say which number a goalie has to wear, so you can pick the number that means something to you if you aren’t happy with wearing number 1.
Why do soccer goalies wear different jerseys?
If you’ve watched or played in a soccer game, you will know that soccer goalies wear different colored jerseys to their teammates.
The reason for this is to help them stand out, and we have written an entire article on this topic if you would like more information about this rule.
Can soccer goalies score?
Yes, absolutely! Any player on the soccer field can score a goal, and although it doesn’t happen very often, soccer goalies are permitted to score goals for their team.
We recently wrote an article introducing you to the highest-scoring goalies of all time, and there are some legendary names in the piece.
You can also find out more about the curious story of Rogerio Ceni, a Brazilian goalkeeper who was known more for his goalscoring than his goal-stopping during his illustrious career!
Where can a soccer goalie use their hands?
A goalie is the only player on a soccer field permitted to use their hands when the ball is in play. However, they can’t handle the ball in all areas of the pitch.
In fact, a soccer goalie can only use their hands within the eighteen-yard box, which is clearly delineated on a soccer field.
If the goalie handles the ball outside of the eighteen-yard box (also called the penalty area), they concede a free kick and are likely to be cautioned or sent off for handball.
Is the soccer goalie position easy?
Contrary to what some people might think, the soccer goalie position is actually one of the most difficult to master. It requires a lot of concentration and a completely different set of skills than those required by outfield players.
One of the reasons why being a goalie is so difficult is that if you make a small mistake, it is likely to lead to a goal, which isn’t usually the case with outfield players.
Therefore, the stakes are much higher for goalies, and they are often judged harshly for making mistakes. So, if you plan on playing as a soccer goalie, be prepared for criticism if you let the ball slip into the net behind you!
What about soccer goalie gloves?
One of the most important pieces of soccer equipment for a goalie is a pair of gloves. Made of synthetic materials, soccer goalie gloves help goalies grip and hold onto the ball while offering protection to their fingers and hands.
If you’re looking for a quality, affordable pair of goalie gloves that are used by professional players, you can check out this article, where we introduce you to the best goalie gloves online.
The verdict: The soccer goalie position explained
The soccer goalie position is specialist and requires a specific skill set, but the main job of a goalkeeper is to prevent the opposition from scoring.
Soccer goalies are allowed to use their hands inside their eighteen-yard box to help them keep the ball out of the goal, but they can use any part of their body to try and keep a clean sheet.
If you think you have what it takes to be a soccer goalie, we wish you luck, as it’s often the goalkeeper that gets blamed when things aren’t going well for a team!