Windy Weather Goalkeeper Drills: 8 Drills for High Balls, Long Shots and Kicking in the Wind

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Wind is one of the hardest conditions a goalkeeper faces. A cross that looks routine suddenly drifts towards the far post. A long shot that seemed to be going over the bar dips under it. A goal kick into the wind stops in mid-air and lands at the feet of an opponent. Many keepers train only on calm days, so the first time they deal with these problems is in a match, when it matters most.

In this guide we share eight windy weather goalkeeper drills that help keepers read the flight of the ball, choose a smarter starting position, decide when to catch and when to punch, and distribute the ball safely when the wind is strong. Each drill has coaching points, a regression and a progression, so you can use it with young keepers or experienced ones. The best time to run these drills is, of course, on a windy day, so keep this plan ready for when the weather turns.

Why goalkeepers need to train in the wind

The wind changes the ball in three main ways. When it blows towards the goal, behind the attacker, shots and crosses carry further and arrive faster, and long balls can dip late. When it blows into the attacker’s face, the ball holds up, slows down and often drops shorter than the keeper expects. When it blows across the pitch, the ball drifts sideways, especially on long crosses and high clearances. A keeper who understands these patterns can adjust the starting position before the ball is even struck.

Wind also affects decisions. On a gusty day, a keeper may need to punch a cross they would normally catch, or stay a step deeper for long shots. Good communication becomes even more important, because defenders also misjudge the ball. If you also coach in the rain, our wet weather goalkeeper drills cover slippery balls and skidding shots, and our goalkeeper crossing drills build the basic technique for high balls.

Safety first

• Warm up for at least ten to fifteen minutes before diving or jumping, and keep keepers moving between drills, because windy days are often cold.
• Train diving and high-ball work on soft grass. Land on the side of the body, never on the elbows or the stomach.
• In crowded high-ball drills, keep the knee up for protection, lead with the hands and never go head-first into a crowd of players.
• Check that goals are anchored or weighted. Strong wind can move portable goals, and a falling goal is a serious danger.
• Start with soft serves and build the pace slowly. Gusts make the ball less predictable, so give young keepers more time.
• Make sure keepers wear warm layers and well-fitting gloves, and stop if anyone feels pain or gets too cold.

8 windy weather goalkeeper drills

1. Flight-reading throws

The coach stands about fifteen yards away and throws high balls to the keeper, first with the wind, then against it, then across it. The keeper’s only job is to watch the full flight of the ball, call ‘keeper’ and catch it at the highest point. Between serves, ask the keeper what the ball did: did it hold up, carry or drift? This simple drill teaches keepers to watch the ball for longer before they move.

• Coaching points: watch the ball from the server’s hand all the way into the gloves, move late rather than early, take small adjusting steps, and catch with the hands behind the ball and the fingers spread.
• Regression: use underarm throws at a lower height so the wind has less effect.
• Progression: throw higher and from further away, or mix in a punch call when the coach shouts ‘away’.

2. Crosses in a crosswind

A server crosses from one side of the box while the wind blows across the pitch. Before each cross, the keeper decides where to start. If the wind is blowing the ball towards the far post, the keeper starts a step towards the middle of the goal and leans that way, ready to move with the drift. After five crosses, switch the server to the other side so the keeper learns how the same wind changes the ball from each wing.

• Coaching points: check the wind before every cross (look at flags, nets or grass), start where the ball is likely to end up, attack the ball late and from the side, take off from one foot with the knee up, and catch at the highest point.
• Regression: the server throws the crosses by hand from closer in, so the drift is smaller and easier to read.
• Progression: add one passive attacker and one defender, or ask the server to mix inswinging and outswinging crosses.

3. Catch or punch decisions

The coach serves high balls into the six-yard box, some floated and some driven. On calm days a keeper would catch most of them, but in strong gusts the safest choice is often to punch. The keeper must decide on every ball and call it early: ‘keeper’ for a catch, ‘away’ for a punch. Count good decisions, not just clean catches.

• Coaching points: decide early and commit, punch high, far and wide with two fists when the ball is moving a lot, catch only when the ball is coming straight and steady, and keep the call loud and clear.
• Regression: the coach tells the keeper which technique to use before each serve.
• Progression: add a passive attacker who stands in front of the keeper, or serve two balls in quick succession from different sides.

4. Long shots with the wind behind

The coach strikes long shots from about twenty-five yards with the wind blowing towards the goal. These balls often carry further and can dip late. The keeper starts a step or two deeper than normal, sets before the strike and is ready to move back. When a ball is going over the head, the keeper turns side-on, uses cross-over steps to move back and tips the ball over the bar with the hand nearest the goal.

• Coaching points: start a little deeper on windy days, stay set at the strike, turn side-on to move backwards (never run backwards facing the ball), and tip with an open, firm hand.
• Regression: the coach throws lobbed balls by hand from inside the box at a slow pace.
• Progression: shoot from different angles, or add a second ball straight after the tip so the keeper must recover and set again.

5. Shots into the wind

Now turn the drill around so the wind blows into the shooter’s face. Shots and lofted balls slow down, hold up and often drop shorter. The keeper practises coming forward to meet the ball rather than waiting on the line, and getting the body behind low, skidding shots that slow down in front of them.

• Coaching points: be ready to step forward, attack the ball rather than letting it come to you, get the body behind the ball, and catch or smother it before an attacker can follow in.
• Regression: the coach rolls and bounces balls at a slower pace from a shorter distance.
• Progression: add a follow-in attacker who chases any loose ball, so the keeper must hold on or push it wide.

6. Distribution into the wind

Set up two target zones near the halfway line, each with a teammate inside. The keeper distributes into the wind: low, flat throws, driven side-foot passes and low driven kicks instead of high punts. A high kick into the wind can stop, drift and fall to an opponent, so the keeper learns to keep the ball low and choose short, safe options. Then turn around and practise distributing with the wind behind, where the ball travels further than expected.

• Coaching points: keep the ball low into the wind, strike through the middle of the ball, use throws when the target is close, and with the wind behind use less power so the ball does not run out of play.
• Regression: make the zones bigger and closer, and use only throws.
• Progression: a defender tries to cut out each ball, or the keeper must play within three seconds of receiving a back-pass.

7. Live crosses with attackers

Bring everything together in a crossing game. Two wide servers cross alternately, two attackers attack the ball and two defenders help the keeper. The keeper must read the wind, choose the starting position, communicate with the defenders and decide whether to catch, punch or stay. Change ends halfway through so the keeper faces the wind from a new direction.

• Coaching points: organise the defenders before the cross, call early and loudly, come only when you are sure, and protect yourself with the knee up when jumping among players.
• Regression: use one attacker and one defender, and cross by hand.
• Progression: add a third attacker, or award attackers a point for any ball the keeper drops or punches into the middle.

8. Two-ends small-sided game

Play 4v4 or 5v5 on a small pitch with a keeper in each goal. Play two halves and swap ends at half-time so both keepers spend time with the wind behind them and against them. Give the keepers bonus points for good decisions: a clean catch in the wind, a safe punch, or a low throw that starts an attack.

• Coaching points: keep checking the wind, adjust the starting position with every change of ball position, stay set at the strike, and choose safe distribution.
• Regression: play 3v3 on a narrower pitch so there are fewer long balls.
• Progression: allow shots only from outside a marked zone, so the keepers face more long shots and lofted balls.

How to use these drills in a session

Start with a warm-up that includes footwork and handling, then use drill 1 so the keeper can feel the wind. Choose one main topic, such as crosses (drills 2, 3 and 7), long shots (drills 4 and 5) or distribution (drill 6). Finish with the small-sided game so the keeper uses the topic under match pressure. Keep each block short, with rest between reps, and keep the keepers warm. Our goalkeeper session plan shows how to fit these blocks into a full session.

Plan your session with KEEPIX

We built KEEPIX so goalkeeper coaches can plan clear sessions in minutes. Use the KEEPIX session designer to draw these windy weather drills with keepers, servers, attackers and target zones, add your coaching points, and share the plan with your keepers or staff. For more ideas, download our 50 Essential Goalkeeper Drills free PDF, follow our daily GK drills on Instagram, and keep track of every session in KEEPIX Diary. You can find all our guides on the goalkeeper drills hub.

Key takeaways

• Wind changes the ball: it carries with the wind, holds up against it and drifts across it.
• Check the wind before every cross and long shot, and adjust the starting position early.
• Watch the full flight of the ball and move late rather than early.
• In strong gusts, a high, wide punch is often safer than a risky catch.
• Keep distribution low into the wind and use less power when the wind is behind you.
• Train on soft ground, check that goals are secure, keep keepers warm and never go head-first into a crowd.

Frequently asked questions

How should a goalkeeper position for crosses on a windy day?

Check the wind before each cross. If it is blowing the ball towards the far post, start a step towards the middle of the goal and be ready to move with the drift. Attack the ball late, from the side, and catch at the highest point.

Should a goalkeeper catch or punch in strong wind?

Catch when the ball is coming straight and steady. When the ball is moving a lot in the gusts or there are many players around, a high, wide punch with two fists is often the safer choice. Decide early and call it loudly.

How do you kick a goal kick into the wind?

Keep the ball low. A driven kick through the middle of the ball, a side-foot pass or a low throw stays under the wind. High punts into the wind often stop and fall short, so choose short, safe options when the wind is strong.