Master the High Shot: The Handball Goalkeeper’s Guide to Perfect Positioning
Let’s be honest: nobody loves practicing high shots. It’s the technique goalkeepers often ignore, but it is also the one that gives you the biggest advantage on the court.
Many coaches and keepers overlook the biomechanics of defending the top corners, but the concept isn’t complicated. If you can master your body position, you stop chasing the ball and start blocking it.
Here is how to master basic positioning for high shots and stop getting beaten in the corners.
Keep Your Hips Up
The most common mistake when moving laterally for a high shot is dropping the hips. When you step to the side, gravity naturally pulls you down. If you drop, you lose height, making it much harder to reach the top corner.
Instead of jumping, focus on pushing your hips up. You need to extend your leg to keep your hips at the same level—or even higher—than your starting position.
If you maintain your height during the lateral movement, you don't have to fight gravity to reach the ball.
The Secret to Stability: Foot Alignment
Your leg position dictates your balance. When you step out to make a save, the front of your foot needs to be in line with your heel.
Why does this matter?
Forward Center of Gravity: If you step backward, your weight shifts back. This causes your hands to drift backward, away from the ball.
Reaction Speed: Keeping your toes and heel aligned keeps your weight forward, allowing you to react instantly.
If your foundation is wrong, your hands can’t save you. Stability starts in the feet.
Open the Hip to Unlock Range
Biomechanics are key here. When you move to the side, you must open your foot and hip.
If your foot stays pointing forward, your hip remains closed. This physically blocks your knee from extending laterally. It’s like trying to bend your elbow the wrong way—it just locks up.
By opening the hip, you free up your knee joint. This allows you to extend your leg fully, giving you the maximum range needed to cover the goal.
Simplify Your Hand Movement
Don’t overcomplicate what your hands are doing. You don’t need a windmill motion or a complex swing.
Just push the elbow. Simply straighten your elbow toward the ball.
Stay forward. If you swing your arms around, you will be late.
Timing is everything. Do not extend your arm too early. Keep your arm ready and extend it at the very last moment. If you extend too early, the shooter sees it, and the ball slips past you.
Avoid the Rotation Trap
When attempting a two-handed save on a high ball, many keepers accidentally rotate their trunk.
If you rotate your shoulders, your outside hand naturally pulls back. Even if you see the ball, that backward rotation pulls your hand away from the trajectory, and the ball goes in.
To fix this, push both hands forward. Fight the urge to turn your body. If you push forward, you stay square to the ball, blocking the angle completely.
Synchronization is Speed
Finally, you cannot move your legs and hands separately. It has to be one fluid motion.
Think of it like driving a car. If you step with your legs but your hands are late, it’s like pressing the gas pedal while holding the handbrake. You are fighting your own momentum.
Move your hands and legs at the exact same time. This synchronization creates explosiveness, ensuring you get to the corner fast enough to make the save.
Conclusion
Effective goalkeeping isn't just about reflexes; it's about efficient movement. By keeping your hips up, opening your foot, and synchronizing your limbs, you make the save before the ball even reaches you.
Don't settle for "good enough" positioning. Focus on these details in your next training session.
Next time you are in training, film your movement on high shots. Check your feet—are you opening your hips? Are you dropping too low? Analyze the footage and make the adjustment!
