Let's Dance

Objectives

A warm-up and fitness exercise for goalkeepers concentrating on footwork.

Organization

• Depending on numbers, place one, two or three markers 6 yards apart and put players in line with 3 yards distance between players, front to back.
• Leaders take a front position; becomes the "mirror" to which all others must respond.
• The players do everything that the leader does but in reverse to reflect the leader's actions.
• Keep the routine going for 12 minutes.

Coaching Points

• All movements forward, backward and sideways must be goalkeeper-style with shoulders to the ball (the leader).
• Leader should vary movements and speed of movement to keep players on their toes and reacting quickly.
• See Footwork for reference to goalkeeper movements across goal.

ABILITIES DEVELOPED	KC's EMPHASIZED
Goalkeeper endurance, balance and feet/body coordination.	Alert and Alive, Open, Shape.

Additional Information

The "Let's Dance" routine can be performed by as few as two or as many as 200, all at the same time. It can, and on occasions should, be combined with the Shadow Goalkeeping outlined on the next page.

Although primarily designed for goalkeepers, there is no reason why "Let's Dance" should not involve the whole team. The routine is excellent for developing footwork, whether a field player, tennis player, boxer - or dancer!

Two or three goalkeepers working together can go through the routine in isolation if the field players are practicing a more specific field type activity, such as passing and control.

Twelve minutes is the recommended time for accomplishing the goalkeeping endurance requirement. It is the equivalent of the field players' Cooper Run .

With young goalkeepers under 14 years of age, don't be surprised if they are distressed after 3-6 minutes. All the more reason to implement this exercise on a regular basis. The inability to stay "Alert and Alive" and "Dancing" throughout the game is a shortcoming of younger goalkeepers.

Age Suitability

Age	Suitable	Comments
6-11	YES	Do not use for 12 minutes - 3-4 minutes will be ample.
12-15	YES	Involve all players occasionally; 6 minutes with all the players; 12 minutes with goalkeepers only.
16+	YES	Essential warm-up and fitness activity for goalkeepers - with or without supervision.