Goalkeeper Parrying Drills: 8 Drills to Push Shots Wide and Safe

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Not every shot can be caught. A ball struck hard and low to the corner, a deflection that changes direction at the last moment, or a shot that skids on a wet pitch often has to be pushed away instead. That is what parrying is for. A good parry is not a lucky touch; it is a planned decision to send the ball somewhere safe: wide of the post, over the bar, or away from attackers waiting for a rebound.

Many young goalkeepers parry by accident and back into danger. They palm the ball straight back into the six-yard box, where an attacker is ready to score. In this guide we explain when to parry instead of catch, how the technique works, and eight drills you can use to teach keepers to parry with control.

Why parrying matters

The first job of a goalkeeper is to stop the ball going into the goal. The second job is to make sure the danger is over. A save that bounces back into the middle of the box only solves the first problem. A controlled parry solves both, because it moves the ball out of the area where attackers can follow up.

Parrying is also a safety skill. When a keeper tries to catch every ball, including ones that are too hard, too wide or too awkward, they often fumble. Knowing that a parry is a good option takes pressure off the hands and helps keepers make calm decisions under pressure.

Catch or parry? A simple decision rule

We like to give keepers a simple order of priority:

• Catch if you can get your body behind the ball and the shot is at a comfortable height and pace.
• Parry wide if the shot is too hard, too far from your body or too low to hold safely.
• Parry over if the ball is high and dipping under the bar, especially when you are moving backwards.
• Never parry into the middle. If the ball cannot be held, it goes towards the side of the goal, past the post or out of play.

The decision has to happen early. A keeper who decides to parry halfway through the dive usually ends up with a weak, half-hearted touch.

Parrying technique: the key details

• Strong hand, firm wrist. Use the palm or the base of the fingers with a firm wrist. A soft wrist lets the ball bounce back into the middle.
• Angle the hand. The hand works like a wall at an angle. Turn the palm slightly towards the post or the touchline you want to send the ball to.
• Lead hand for low shots. On low shots, the bottom hand usually makes the parry, with the hand moving towards the ball, not waiting for it.
• Top hand for high shots. On high shots to the side, the top hand often gives the best reach and the cleanest contact.
• Recover quickly. After every parry, get up and get set again. The play is not over until the ball is out of danger.

Safety first

Parrying drills involve a lot of diving and ground contact, so plan them carefully:

• Use soft grass or mats for every diving drill. Do not dive on hard, dry or unsuitable surfaces such as concrete.
• Start from kneeling or sitting positions and build up to full dives over several sessions.
• Begin with throws by hand before moving on to kicked shots, and raise the pace gradually.
• Teach keepers to land on the side of the body, never head-first, and keep the head away from the post.
• Use padded or moveable goals for young players, and keep the area clear of balls and cones.
• With children, keep the number of dives low, take breaks often, and stop if anyone feels pain.

8 goalkeeper parrying drills

1. Kneeling palm push

The keeper kneels on a mat facing the coach, who throws the ball firmly to one side at hip height from about 4 metres. The keeper pushes the ball with an angled palm towards a cone placed wide of the post. Five balls each side, then swap.

• Coaching points: firm wrist, palm angled towards the target cone, push through the ball rather than slapping it.
• Regression: throw softer and closer to the body, so the keeper can focus on hand shape only.
• Progression: throw further away so the keeper has to lean and reach, while still sending the ball to the cone.

2. Target gates

Place two small cone gates, one on each side of the goal, about two metres wide of the posts. The coach serves shots by hand or volley. The keeper must parry each ball through one of the gates. A parry that goes straight back to the coach scores nothing.

• Coaching points: decide early, angle the hand, aim for the gate on the same side as the shot.
• Regression: make the gates wider and serve by hand only.
• Progression: make the gates narrower and serve with the foot from a little further away.

3. Low shots from the set position

The keeper starts in a good set position on the goal line. The coach strikes low shots towards the corners from 10–12 metres. The keeper uses the bottom hand to parry the ball wide of the post. See our goalkeeper diving drills for the full dive progression.

• Coaching points: step towards the ball, keep the hand moving forward and stay low to the ground.
• Regression: the keeper starts from a crouched or kneeling position and the shots are slower.
• Progression: add a short side shuffle before the shot, so the keeper has to get set while moving.

4. Over the bar

The keeper stands two to three metres off the line. The coach throws or chips high balls that drop under the crossbar. The keeper takes a backward drop step and uses the top hand to tip the ball over. Use a full-size goal with a safe, padded crossbar or a portable goal for younger keepers.

• Coaching points: turn sideways and move with drop steps, reach with the top hand, push the ball up and over.
• Regression: start closer to the line and use slower, higher throws.
• Progression: start further off the line, or add a quick first save before the high ball.

5. Rebound runner

The coach shoots from 12 metres while an attacker waits at the edge of the six-yard box. If the keeper catches, the drill ends. If the keeper parries into the middle, the attacker can run in and score. If the parry goes wide, the keeper gets up and gets set before the attacker reaches the ball.

• Coaching points: the parry must go away from the attacker, then a fast recovery to a new set position.
• Regression: the attacker walks in and only follows up when the parry goes very central.
• Progression: add a second attacker on the other side, so there is no completely safe side.

6. Screened shots

A mannequin or a passive player stands in front of the keeper. The coach shoots past either side. Because the ball is seen late, the keeper often has no time to catch and must parry wide.

• Coaching points: move the head to see the ball, stay set, react with a strong hand.
• Regression: the screen stands to one side so the ball is seen earlier.
• Progression: move the screen closer to the keeper, or add a second screen.

7. Deflection reactions

Place a rebound board, a bench on its side or a mannequin about five metres in front of goal. The coach shoots at the obstacle so the ball changes direction unpredictably. The keeper must react and parry the ball out of danger. For more ideas, see our goalkeeper reaction drills.

• Coaching points: stay balanced, keep the hands up and in front, react late and strong.
• Regression: use softer shots and a smaller obstacle.
• Progression: shoot harder and add a second ball soon after the first.

8. Parry game: 2 v 1 with a keeper

Play a small game with two attackers against one defender and a keeper in a 25 x 20 metre area. Attackers score one point for a goal and two points for a rebound goal. The keeper earns a point for every parry that goes wide or over and is safely cleared.

• Coaching points: make the catch-or-parry decision quickly, communicate with the defender, recover after every save.
• Regression: make it 1 v 1 plus the keeper, with fewer shots.
• Progression: make it 3 v 2 and give attackers a short time limit to shoot.

Tips for coaching parrying

Teach catching first and parrying second. Keepers need to know how to hold the ball before they learn when to let it go. Then give parrying a clear place in your sessions: a short technical block, followed by drills with a rebound attacker so keepers can see why direction matters. Praise good decisions, not just spectacular saves. A calm parry wide of the post is a great result. Keep the number of dives sensible and finish with a game, so the skill is used in real situations.

Plan your session with KEEPIX

We built KEEPIX to help goalkeeper coaches plan clear sessions in minutes. Use the KEEPIX session designer to draw target gates, rebound attackers and shot positions, and add the coaching points for each parry drill. For more ideas, download our 50 Essential Goalkeeper Drills free PDF, follow our daily GK drills on Instagram, and keep a record of each keeper’s progress in KEEPIX Diary. You can find all our guides on the goalkeeper drills hub.

Key takeaways

• Catch when you can, parry when you must.
• Always parry wide or over, never back into the middle.
• Use a firm wrist and an angled palm to control the direction.
• Bottom hand for low shots, top hand for high shots.
• Get up and get set again after every parry.
• Train on soft surfaces, build up from kneeling, and keep dives sensible for children.

Frequently asked questions

When should a goalkeeper parry instead of catch?

When the shot is too hard, too far from the body or too awkward to hold safely. If the keeper cannot get behind the ball, a controlled parry wide or over the bar is the safer choice.

Where should a goalkeeper parry the ball?

Wide of the post, over the crossbar or out of play. The ball should never be pushed back into the middle of the box, where attackers can score from the rebound.

How do you teach parrying to young goalkeepers?

Start on soft grass or mats from a kneeling position with gentle throws. Focus on a firm wrist and an angled palm, then build up to standing saves and kicked shots slowly over several sessions.