GOALKEEPER ANGLES
The Triangle Concept & More

A goalkeeper should almost never be frozen in one spot. As the game changes, the keeper is constantly adjusting side to side and forward and backward. The ball moves, the keeper moves — both across the goal and up or down the field.

The goalkeeper’s “home base” is always the space between the two goalposts, but they should shift left and right as the ball shifts left and right, and adjust their depth based on how close the ball is to goal. The goal is to stay connected to the play, not anchored to the goal line.

If the ball is on the left side of the field, the keeper slides left.
If the ball is on the right, the keeper slides right.

This keeps the keeper lined up with the most likely shot and prevents a large open space at the far post. Depth works the same way — as danger increases, the keeper adjusts their position to stay involved and prepared.

A helpful way to understand how side-to-side movement and depth work together is the triangle rule.

The Triangle Rule (how keepers think about positioning and depth)

Imagine drawing a triangle on the field:

the top point of the triangle is the ball
the base of the triangle is formed by the two goalposts

As the ball moves around the field, the shape of that triangle constantly changes.

Now imagine drawing a straight line from the ball down to the middle of the goal (the center point between the two posts). That line passes through the triangle.

Where that line runs through the triangle is where the goalkeeper should stand.

When the keeper is on that line:

they have equal space to cover on both sides of the goal
neither side is more open than the other
their movement to make a save is balanced and efficient

If the keeper drifts off that line, one side of the goal becomes harder to cover — which is why shots often sneak in at the far post.

How depth fits into the triangle

How far forward or backward the keeper stands also matters.

The farther back the keeper stands (closer to the goal line), the wider the triangle becomes, which means:

more space to cover on each side
harder saves
less reaction time

As the keeper steps forward toward the ball, they move higher up the triangle, and:

the space on each side shrinks
the shooting angle gets smaller
saves become easier and more controlled

This is why keepers should usually be a few steps off the goal line, not standing on it — especially when the ball is outside the penalty area (AKA the box).

What depth should look like during play

Depth should change naturally as the ball moves up and down the field.

Ball in the opponent’s half
The keeper can be higher in the penalty area, closer to the top of the box. This allows them to stay connected to the team, communicate with defenders, and be ready to clear long balls played behind the defense.
Ball near or crossing midfield
The keeper should drop a bit deeper into the box, staying balanced and alert while continuing to shift side to side with the ball.
Ball in the attacking third / near shooting range
The keeper should be set, balanced, and a few steps off the goal line — close enough to react, but not so deep that the goal feels huge.

The common mistake at this level is standing on the goal line too early. That usually makes saves harder, not easier.

Depth on breakaways

On breakaways, many young keepers instinctively retreat to the goal line. In most cases, the opposite is true.

When a single attacker is coming in on goal, the keeper should:

come forward under control
stay centered on the ball
make the shooter’s angle smaller

By stepping up, the keeper moves higher in the triangle, which reduces the amount of goal the attacker can see. Retreating too early gives the attacker more space and more time to pick a spot.

The key is commitment. If the keeper comes, they should come decisively. If they hesitate, that’s when problems happen.

When keepers understand the triangle concept…

…their positioning starts to make sense naturally:

they move side to side with the ball
they adjust depth as danger changes
they step up when it’s safe
and they stay balanced between the posts

Instead of memorizing spots on the field, they learn how to read space — which is exactly what good goalkeeping is.

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