Goalkeeping in Modern Football: Current Positional Demands and Research Insights

Abstract

The goalkeeper (GK) in association football arguably presents a critical playing position within a modern game that often appears to be highly dynamic, unpredictable, and constantly changing. Because of the privilege in using the hands and FIFA’s “back-pass law,” the list of GK tasks extends to a wide range of responsibilities in possession of the ball and when defending the goal and space. With the aim of providing an applied overview of the complex GK demands in the modern football game and consequences for position-specific coaching, the following article presents current practical advances on the various areas of physical, tactical–technical, mental/psychological, and social GK development. To further showcase complex GK tasks and actions, a framework of tactical–technical areas in goalkeeping is introduced and linked to recent empirical research in the field of goalkeeping and coaching. This understanding of position-specific demands may support future development of individualised, athlete-centred training interventions, coaching approaches, and match performance analysis. Along the way, the article offers several avenues for future research contributions to this unique field within football studies and further aims to stimulate readers’ and coaches’ thoughts about various matters related to specialist and individual development coaching.