Reflex Goalie: Balls from Behind the Mat

A standing mat hides the thrower, so the goalie only sees the ball once it is already coming. Everyone tries the goalie role and trains reaction, ready position and saving with hands and legs.

How to play

1. Explain the goalie's ready position: feet wide and knees bent, arms up in a W (3 min).
2. In pairs, save tennis balls thrown by hand from 4 m: high, low and to the sides (4 min).
3. Mat station: two classmates hold a mat upright 5 m away and the thrower throws over or around it (6 min).
4. Real goal: shots with a tennis ball or soft ball from 6 m to the four zones (5 min).
5. Rotate roles and reflect: which zone is hardest to save? (2 min).

Rules

• Only tennis balls or soft balls at the goalie.
• Never throw at the head.
• The thrower waits for the goalie to say "ready".
• Rotate every 10 shots.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visually impaired students: use a sound ball rolled along the floor, goalball style.
• Limited mobility: seated goalie in a narrower cone goal.
• Afraid of the ball: start with foam balls from farther away.

Learning goals

• Adopt the goalie's ready position.
• React quickly to an unexpected stimulus.
• Lose the fear of the ball.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tennis balls: 30
• mats: 4
• goals: 2
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

Many students hate playing goalie out of fear; with tennis balls everyone gives it a try. No mats that stand up? A bedsheet held by two people works.

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