It’s important for young soccer players to get a taste of every position on the field — including, when they’re ready, goalkeeper. Typically, keepers aren’t part of the game until kids are a little bit older and more experienced, around age 9 or 10. By then, the idea is that they’ve mastered at least some of the fundamentals, and can move on to positions.

Goalkeepers need to have many of the same basic skills as other soccer players — from ball control to understanding the overall flow of the game. But as the last line of defense, the keeper’s role is a unique one. These 101s help developing goalkeepers master the art of stopping the goal and distributing the ball.