In the modern game, footwork and passing have become increasingly important amongst goalkeepers, too. If a coach is looking to dominate possession for long periods, they will expect their goalkeeper to be able to control and pass the ball with speed, accuracy, and efficiency, even when the opposing team is pressing high up the pitch. When it comes to outfield players such as center-backs, full-backs, or midfielders, there’s a lot of overlap in terms of which skills are needed in each position. However, the goalkeeping role requires a specific set of skills that other outfield players simply don’t need to have. It’s for that reason that goalkeepers are separated from their teammates during most training sessions at professional clubs.
