Playing in goal at 5-a-side can feel like a thankless task. The pitch is small, the shots come thick and fast, and you’ll probably touch the ball more than anyone else on the team, whether you like it or not. But if you get it right, you can be the difference between a narrow win and a thumping defeat.
Unlike 11-a-side, the role of a 5-a-side keeper is constant, intense, and unpredictable. You’re facing everything from toe-pokes to thunderbolts, all in quick succession. That’s why it pays to sharpen up on the basics and learn a few tricks of the trade.
Here are some of the best tips to help you boss it between the posts.
1. Stay on Your Feet
One of the biggest mistakes keepers make at 5s is going to ground too quickly. In 11-a-side, you’ll often see goalies diving or sliding in to smother the ball – but in 5-a-side, it’s a different game. Things happen faster, the angles are tighter, and the space to recover is minimal.
Staying on your feet gives you a much better chance to make a save. If you drop too early, you’re basically inviting the attacker to lift the ball over you or slot it past into an empty net. Keep your knees bent, your body weight slightly forward, and be ready to spring in any direction.
It might feel unnatural at first, but keeping upright helps with both shot-stopping and reacting to second balls.
2. Get Your Positioning Right
The goal in 5-a-side isn’t huge, but that doesn’t mean you can just stand on the line and hope for the best. Good positioning can make an average keeper look brilliant, and poor positioning will get you punished fast.
Try stepping out a yard or two when the ball’s in shooting range. This narrows the angle for the attacker and makes the goal look a lot smaller. Don’t overdo it, you don’t want to get caught too far out if they decide to square it, but a small step forward can make all the difference.
As a rule of thumb: the closer the ball is to the edge of the area, the further off your line you should be.
3. Use Your Hands and Feet
In 5-a-side, you’ve got to use every part of your body to make a stop. Your feet, legs, chest, even your face might come into play at some point. And that’s not even mentioning your hands.
Because the shots come from close range and often through a crowd of players, your feet become just as important as your gloves. Practice spreading yourself and making blocks with your legs, especially when one-on-one. You’re not diving across the goal in dramatic fashion – most saves will be scrappy, reactive, and instinctive.
Don’t worry about making it look pretty. If you keep the ball out, that’s your job done.
4. Distribute Quickly (But Wisely)
One of the most underrated parts of goalkeeping in small-sided football is your distribution. At 5s, the keeper often acts as the starting point for most attacks. A sharp roll-out or accurate throw can put your team on the front foot and turn defence into attack in seconds.
Scan the pitch as soon as you make a save. If a teammate is in space, get the ball to them quickly, but only if it’s on. Don’t try and force a risky throw across the middle just because you’re trying to play fast. That’s how goals are gifted away.
If nothing’s on, hold it. Let your team reset. It’s better to wait five seconds than to concede a sloppy goal.
5. Work on Your Reflexes
You won’t always have time to set yourself and get into a perfect stance. In 5s, shots come from just about anywhere – through legs, off walls, on the half-volley. Often, you’ve got half a second to react.
Improving your reflexes is essential. You can do this with some simple reaction drills like having someone throw a ball at you from close range, using a rebound board, or even just catching tennis balls in a quick-fire sequence. Anything that sharpens your hand-eye coordination will help.
It’s also worth practising parrying. You won’t always be able to catch a shot cleanly, so learning to push the ball away from danger, not just back into the mixer, is key.
6. Keep Talking
You can see everything from the back so you need to let your teammates know what’s going on. Shout early, shout clearly, and keep it simple. Call out when an attacker’s unmarked, when a pass is on, or when someone needs to step up.
A vocal keeper is a valuable one. It keeps the team organised, helps your defenders stay switched on, and builds trust. You don’t need to scream non-stop, but regular communication makes a huge difference, especially when everyone’s getting tired and the game’s stretched.
Just how backing the right operator GGBet can give you an edge off the pitch, having a keeper who stays vocal and switched on can give your team the edge on it.
7. Deal With One-on-Ones Calmly
You’ll face loads of one-on-one situations in 5-a-side, that’s just part of the game. The key is to stay calm, stay big, and don’t dive in.
Rushing out wildly is a gamble. Instead, edge forward slowly, make yourself as large as possible, and force the attacker into making a move. Often, they’ll rush their shot or try to take it early. That’s your moment.
Use your feet if you need to. A well-timed block with the legs can be just as effective as any diving save.
8. Stay Mentally Switched On
Being a 5-a-side keeper isn’t just physically demanding, it’s mentally draining too. You’ve got to stay switched on for the full match. One lapse in concentration and the ball’s in the back of the net.
Even when the play is up the other end, don’t switch off. Always expect a quick counter or a stray shot to come your way. Stay light on your feet and in a ready position so that you’re never caught flat-footed.
Final Word
Being a 5-a-side keeper is a unique challenge. It’s fast, chaotic, and intense – but it’s also one of the most rewarding positions on the pitch. You’re involved in almost every phase of play, from shot-stopping to starting attacks, and your performance can make or break the match.
Focus on the fundamentals: stay on your feet, get your positioning right, and keep the communication flowing. Add in sharp reactions and confident decision-making, and you’ll become a proper asset to your team.
So chuck the gloves on, stand tall between the sticks, and embrace the madness. You might just love it.
