Safety and limitations
Quality, control and safety always come before speed. A parent or guardian runs every safety check and supervises every session.
What this product never does
- It does not diagnose injury and does not provide medical clearance. Readiness answers only decide whether today's home session runs.
- It does not replace team training, a qualified goalkeeper coach or game-based learning.
- It does not teach full-extension or airborne diving at home.
- Tennis-ball activities build visual tracking, attention switching and hand-eye coordination. They are not presented as a direct substitute for match anticipation.
Before every session
- Confirm that the player has no current pain, dizziness, headache or injury restriction.
- Clear at least two metres around the player.
- Remove stones, holes, furniture, toys, hoses and slippery objects.
- Use a wall without windows, shelves or breakable objects.
- Use secure footwear outdoors and a non-slip surface indoors.
- Check that the total football schedule allows a short additional session.
Surface rules
| Surface | Allowed training |
|---|---|
| Soft, dry and level grass | All standing drills and the prescribed low ground-contact progressions. |
| Carpet or non-slip indoor flooring | Handling, distribution, visual coordination and low-speed body-control work. |
| Driveway or concrete | Standing passing, handling and controlled footwork only. No ground contact or diving. |
| Tiles, wet grass or slippery flooring | No training. |
Low ground-contact foundation
The programme uses the term low ground-contact foundation until a qualified coach has assessed the player's diving mechanics. It is available only on soft, dry, level grass with a parent actively supervising, and never within 24 hours of a match.
- Begin from the prescribed low starting position.
- Load the leg nearest the intended push.
- Push towards the ball rather than falling directly down.
- Lead with the hands and meet the ball in front of the face and chest.
- Distribute ground contact along the outside of the lower leg, thigh and side of the torso.
- Avoid landing directly on the point of the hip, elbow or knee.
- Keep the chin slightly tucked and eyes on the ball.
- Secure the ball before recovering.
- Recover through one knee and finish back in a balanced standing position.
- A quiet landing indicates control. Stop when landing becomes heavy or fearful.
Never at home
- Full-extension or airborne diving at home.
- Diving on concrete, tiles, wet grass or uneven ground.
- High-volume repetitive diving.
- Training through pain, fear, dizziness or deteriorating technique.
Stop immediately after
- Pain rather than normal effort.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea or visual disturbance.
- Wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee or ankle discomfort.
- Fear during landing practice.
- Two consecutive repetitions with unsafe technique.
- Heavy breathing or fatigue that prevents normal conversation.
Parent coaching standard
- Use one short cue at a time.
- Ask what the player saw before giving the answer.
- Praise accurate observation, control and appropriate regression.
- Do not force the player to complete a score.
- Film only when it does not distract from supervision.
Managing total load
- Count this programme as additional football training.
- When the player already completes three or more organised football sessions in a week, begin with two home sessions.
- Do not complete a home session immediately before a match.
- Avoid low ground-contact work on the day before or after high-volume goalkeeper training.
- Use the optional session only when the player is pain-free, motivated and moving well.
- Reduce the session after rapid growth, disrupted sleep, illness or unusual fatigue.
- Finish while the player could still perform several technically good repetitions.