In soccer, the goalkeeper is a designated player with the job of directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by defending the goal. To get a good soccer goalkeeper for your team, remember this: the bigger the goalkeeper, the better. Bigger goalkeepers can cover more ground in front of the net. Most of the good pro goalkeepers are six feet or taller. But they must be quick and nimble as well.
Traditional keepers stay close to the goal and don't wander outside of the penalty area or race into the midfield with or without the ball and wind up as part of the attack. Yet, a new generation of keepers is so adept at handling the ball that they become part of the attack. And yes, some goalkeepers have scored goals.
Some say goalkeepers are like wine, meaning that they get better with age. The more experienced they become, the more knowledgeable about the game they are; most professional keepers, in fact, don't hit their prime until they are into their 30s.
Making saves isn't just knocking the ball out of harm's way. If a keeper can hold onto the ball, the opposition has no way to score.
When the opposition is attacking, the keeper should be prepared to grab the ball out of the air or pounce on it. For starters, the keeper should be standing with his hands at his side and palms facing the ball while his feet should not be wider than his shoulders.