Saves of Wing Shots: Understanding Angles, Timing, and Positioning
Among all goalkeeper situations in handball, saves of wing shots often create the biggest gap between inexperienced and well-coached goalkeepers. From the outside, saves of these shots can look simple. But on the court, they are fast, unpredictable, and heavily influenced by angles that shift literally in milliseconds.
The good news is that wing shot saves can be systematically taught when we understand what shapes these situations. It’s all about geometry, timing, footwork, and tactical reading of the wing shooter’s body and arm position, jumping angle, and direction of the jump. Once a goalkeeper understands all these layers separately and together, the wing position becomes far less threatening and far more manageable.
Wing shots are one of the most complex situations a handball goalkeeper will face, and still most training sessions barely touch the depth and importance required to master them. Understanding saves of wing shots is about reading the shooter, managing angles, stepping forward at the right moment, and building a stance that protects the goal in a smart way. When these elements come together, wing shot saves become structured, teachable, and reliable. This blog post breaks down some of the most important concepts every goalkeeper and handball goalkeeper coach should understand.
Key Takeaways
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Angles shape everything – The topic of saves of wing shots improves immediately when goalkeepers understand how shooting angles change during the attacker’s jump and adjust their position accordingly.
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A proper wing stance and position reduces unnecessary movement – When the goalkeeper is positioned properly, and when the stance is stable and aligned with the shooting hand, the goalkeeper covers more space without relying on dramatic or unpredictable reactions.
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Reading the shooter gives the goalkeeper crucial extra time – Shoulders, jump direction, and arm position reveal the shot before the release. Goalkeepers who learn to read these cues feel more in control during wing shot situations.
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The first step forward can decide the outcome – Stepping forward at the right moment shrinks the angle, forces faster decisions from the attacker, improves access to the back post, and also helps in covering a bigger area of the goal.
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Consistency comes from understanding and having structure – Wing shots require a specific training progression. Isolated work on wing stance, positioning, targeted footwork for lateral corrections of position, and good technique for height-specific save reactions build reliable saves of wing shots under pressure.
Why Saves of Wing Shots Are So Often Misunderstood
Many coaches assume that wing shots are mainly about reflexes or fast reaction, so they focus on improving speed, explosiveness, and reaction drills. But saves of wing shot situations challenge the goalkeeper in far more complex ways. The difficulty comes from how much in a shooting situation changes in a split second.
A wing player does not just simply jump and shoot. They basically “shape” the shot while they are in the air. Their jump direction creates new angles and options of scoring. Their shoulders rotate to open or close options. Their arm can extend far outside their body line, expanding the area which the goalkeeper needs to defend. And all of this happens within a moment where the goalkeeper has very little time to process information.
This is why reacting only to the final ball release is rarely enough. By the time the ball leaves the shooter’s hand, most of the important cues have already happened. The goalkeepers who are successful in saves of wing shot situations are the ones who learn to observe the entire sequence: the run-up, the jump takeoff point, the position and angle of the shoulders, the height of the elbow and hand with the ball, and the rhythm of the jump.
When goalkeepers understand how these elements shape the shot, then positioning and timing become powerful tools. They no longer react too early, or wait passively for the ball. They place themselves in the right position, at the right moment, so the final reaction becomes faster, and far more efficient. This is where wing shot saves transform from “scary”, chaotic situations into controlled, readable moments.
Understanding Wing Shooting Angles
One of the most important foundations in saves of wing shot situations is understanding how shooting angles shape everything that follows. A goalkeeper can have great save reactions and technique, but without a sense of the angle the attacker is creating, those reactions often come too late or in the wrong direction. Shooting angles guide positioning, timing, and the choice of movement, so learning to read them is a major part of developing reliable wing shot saves.
In this photo you can see the preview of the wing shooting angle from the perspective of a ball (and that angle is changing together with the change of position of shooter’s arm, hand, body, and jump) and you can see where in the goal the ball can go from that shooting position.
This means that if the wing shot comes from a small angle- the goalkeeper has to just position properly, observe and wait for the shot! There is NO NEED to make a step forward when the shot comes from a small angle! This is where even many senior level goalkeepers make a mistake when it comes to reactions to the wing shots – in stepping forward unnecessarily when the wing shot comes from a very small angle. By stepping forward in that situation, we are opening the goal and opening the angle of shooting for the shooter, thus making it easier for them to score.
Small Angle of Shooting
This is the smallest angle wing player shoots from. From this position, the wing player sees only a very small portion of the goal, which means the goalkeeper does not need big or complex movements or reactions. Instead, the goalkeeper’s focus is on holding a strong and stable wing stance, protecting the front post, and resisting the temptation to go out, or to jump away from the ball, or to lift up leg too early. In saves of wing shot situations from this angle, the most important things are proper position and patience. It is an active choice that prevents unnecessary movements and keeps the goalkeeper balanced.
Normal Angle of Shooting
This is the angle goalkeepers get wing shots most often. The shooter receives the ball in the most common takeoff area from 6 meters, creating a wider but still manageable scoring angle. Here, the goalkeeper needs to step forward at the right moment and position with intention and strategy. This step is not only about closing the distance but also about matching the shooter’s jumping angle and shooting arm position. When this alignment is correct and good, the goalkeeper can read the jump more clearly and stay centered with the shooter’s hand. Saves of wing shot situations from the normal angle reward goalkeepers who understand and work on timing and positioning.
Big Angle of Shooting
A big angle of wing shots appears when the attacker jumps from wider wing positions, or it happens when sudden wide shooting situations open up in defense. This kind of shooting angle opens the goal dramatically, and the goalkeeper needs to adjust quickly. In this case, the stance or the goalkeeper position alone is not enough. The goalkeeper has to step forward, and read the jump direction, and use more active lateral steps to correct the position and properly cover the angles in the goal. The longer and wider the wing player’s jump is, the more the goalkeeper must be prepared to move and position with purpose.
Also, to each of these 3 segments (small, normal, or big angle of shooting) you want to add 3 different levels of shots:
- high
- middle and
- low shots
And in the end you want to work with each level of shots depending on whether the shot comes to the front or to the back corner of the goal.
Putting It All Together
The size of the angle determines how much the goalkeeper moves.
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A small angle demands precision, patience, and control.
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A normal angle demands a well-timed step forward and saving reaction.
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A big angle demands adaptability and active movement in order to correct the position based on the wing shooter’s jump direction.
Understanding these differences allows a goalkeeper to approach saves of wing shot situations with confidence and clarity instead of guessing. Angles tell the story of the shot long before the ball is released, and once a goalkeeper can read that “story”, their reactions become smarter, faster, and far more effective.
Building a Strong Wing Stance
Every goalkeeper wants to make impressive saves, but in saves of wing shot situations, the foundation is far less “dramatic” than many expect or think. A strong wing stance creates the structure that makes every later reaction quicker, clearer, and more efficient. When the stance and position are right, the goalkeeper is already covering a surprising amount of space without needing to move much at all.
A solid wing stance is not about being rigid or tense. It is about preparing the body in a way that supports efficient reactions. When the stance is stable, movement and reactions become a natural extension of good positioning.
For young goalkeepers, this stance often feels too simple. Many try to make saves of wing shot scenarios look more dramatic than they need to be. They jump too early, stretch too wide, they lift up a leg, or shift their weight in ways that actually expose the goal. In small-angle situations especially, most of the save comes from not overreacting. The proper stance itself already removes several shooting options from the wing player.
Technical Features of the Wing Stance
When we are working with young goalkeepers on how to save wing shots in handball, then the first thing we need to work on will be the wing stance. The wing stance of a handball goalkeeper is used as a preparatory proper position for saves of shots from the wing position.
Before you start to work on wing saves with your young goalkeepers, it’s important to understand that there are different ways to position and to react on wing shots depending if the wing shot comes from a different width of a shooting angle. In my work, I like to split it on work on 3 different shooting angles: small, normal, and a big angle of wing shooting.
Now, it’s very important for me to say that this is not the only way to work on saves of wing shots! Every coach has own coaching philosophy, own way of understanding the whole concept of goalkeeping, and own way to coach different aspects of goalkeeper game. Also, in my work – I will not always apply the same principles and the same steps of teaching, it will always depend on many other aspects, but mostly on what kind of a goalkeeper am I working with. So please take all ideas that I share with a “grain of salt”, knowing that there are always different approaches and different ways, and that I share some parts of my work, just so that other coaches, goalkeepers and parents can find an additional understanding and inspiration to discover their own coaching (or goalkeeping) genius!
Understanding the wing stance conceptually is important, but goalkeepers also need to know the specific body positions that make it work.
Leg Position and Weight Distribution
The legs are slightly separated, but not as wide as in the basic stance. A good reference is keeping the space between your feet no wider than the size of a handball. This narrower base makes sense because the shooting angle from the wing is smaller, and the goalkeeper doesn’t need to cover as much lateral space.
The body weight sits primarily on the leg that is closer to the post. This is a deliberate choice. It means the other leg is freed of weight and can move quickly during the save reaction. The hip of this “free” leg is in external rotation, which means the foot is slightly rotated outward, toward the shooter. This positioning prepares the leg for quick lateral or forward movement without needing to reposition first.
Arm Position
The hand closer to the post is bent at the elbow and raised above or in front of the head. The forearm stays movable and protects the head while defending the upper corner of the goal directly above the goalkeeper. Many young goalkeepers neglect this arm or let it drop, which opens up an easy scoring option for the wing player.
The other hand, the one further from the post, is raised and bent at the elbow at around 90 degrees. This hand controls the upper back corner. It also works together with the leg to defend middle-height shots aimed at the back corner. When both arms are positioned correctly, the goalkeeper already covers a significant portion of the goal before any save reaction even happens.
Important Note for Young Goalkeepers
If you have a very young goalkeeper who is not tall enough yet to effectively cover the upper front corner with the arm position described above, you can adjust by using a higher basic stance arm position instead. The principles stay the same, but the execution adapts to what the goalkeeper’s body can realistically cover. As they grow and develop, you can gradually introduce the full wing stance positioning.
Reading the Shooter: Shoulders, Jump Direction, and Hand Position
A major part of mastering saves of wing shot situations is recognizing that the shot starts long before the ball leaves the shooter’s hand. A wing player communicates their intentions through their jump, their shoulders, and the orientation of their shooting arm. When goalkeepers learn to read these cues, they gain time, clarity, and control in a situation that usually feels rushed and stressful.
If the player jumps straight toward the goal
In this case, the shooting angle remains tight.
There is no reason for the goalkeeper to jump away, shift or move aggressively, or create unnecessary movement. Staying aligned with the shooting hand and trusting the proper position and stance is enough. Overreacting often opens the goal instead of closing it.
If the player jumps wide toward the penalty line
Now the picture changes entirely.
A wide jump immediately increases the attacker’s reach and expands the angle they can shoot from. When this happens, the goalkeeper needs to adjust with purpose. That could mean stepping forward, correcting the position with a small lateral movements, or preparing for a more active save reaction. Saves of wing shot situations from these wider wing positions require a balance of goalkeeper’s patience and mobility.
If the shooter rotates their shoulders mid-air
This is one of the most deceptive actions in wing shots.
The jump direction may look harmless, but the rotation of the torso and shoulders can suddenly open access to the back post. A goalkeeper who watches only the ball gets surprised here. A goalkeeper who watches the upper body anticipates it.
Reading the whole “story”, not only the final moment
In saves of wing shot situations, reading the shooter is the difference between reacting and understanding. Reactive goalkeepers wait for the release. Intelligent goalkeepers observe the entire sequence: the run-up, the lift-off, the direction of the jump, the shoulder angle, and the positioning of the shooting arm and elbow.
When a goalkeeper trains their eyes to see these details, saves become less about ‘chasing the ball” and more about predicting and anticipating where the shot is heading. This level of reading turns wing shot saves from unpredictable moments into manageable situations where the goalkeeper feels “one step ahead” instead of “one step behind”.
The First Step Forward: Timing That Changes the Entire Situation
In saves of wing shot scenarios from a normal angle, the first step forward can completely reshape the outcome of the action. Many young goalkeepers focus on the final reaction, but the step that happens before the shot often determines whether the save reaction will succeed or not. Stepping forward is not just a movement. It is a tactical decision that influences the shooter, the available space, and the goalkeeper’s reach.
Why the step forward matters
When the goalkeeper steps forward at the right moment, several things happen at once:
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The shooting angle becomes smaller. The attacker suddenly sees less of the goal, which limits their scoring options.
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The scoring space becomes smaller and more predictable. This helps the goalkeeper control the situation rather than react to chaos.
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The wing player must decide faster. Pressure increases, which often leads to rushed or less accurate shots.
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The rhythm of the action shifts. The goalkeeper takes initiative instead of staying passive.
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Reaching the back post and saving shots to the back post becomes easier. The reduced distance improves both range and reaction time.
These advantages combine to create easier saves of wing shot situations and fewer “random” movements.
When the step should happen
One of the most important things when using the step forward is the timing of the step. Goalkeepers need to understand when they should make the step forward. And that will, of course, be different in different shooting situations. But the main principle of timing needs to be understood.
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If the goalkeeper’s step forward is too early, the shooter sees it and adjusts effortlessly, gaining the advantage.
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If the goalkeeper’s step forward is too late, the goalkeeper loses balance and reacts from a compromised position.
Consistent timing makes a goalkeeper feel more confident in normal-angle wing situations because they are working with the rhythm of the attacker instead of trying to “chase” the ball.
Towards where the step forward should be directed
One of the most important things in saves of wing shot training is the direction of the step forward that the goalkeeper is making.
Many young goalkeepers instinctively step toward the corner, parallel with the goal line, believing that they are covering more space. In reality, that movement takes them away from the actual shooting line and angle, and opens the back post even more.
The step should always be directed toward the shooter’s takeoff point and toward the shooter’s hand.
This alignment keeps the goalkeeper in the middle of the wing shooter’s angle and prevents the misalignment that leads to late or incomplete reactions.
Once goalkeepers understand this and apply it consistently, their wing shot saves start improving. The movement becomes purposeful instead of instinctive, and the step forward transforms from “guessing” into a structured part of their tactical game and their technique.
Video – Step Forward in Saves of Wing Shots
In this video, you can see a demonstration of the step forward for saves of wing shots and how it affects goalkeeper positioning.
One of the most common challenges I see with goalkeepers is not having a clear idea or plan for how to react to different kinds of wing shots. Without that clarity, they surrender to automated responses that are often wrong or too early, without patient follow-through. Understanding when and how to step forward makes a significant difference in performance.
A Few Important Reminders
The step forward is a powerful tool, but it’s not always the right choice. When the shot comes from a small angle, there is no need to step forward. Doing so actually opens the goal and gives the shooter more options.
Also, keep in mind that stepping forward toward the shooter is not the only way to position or react to wing shots. There are many varieties and approaches depending on the situation, the shooter’s jump direction, and the angle of shooting. What you see in this video is one important option that works well in normal-angle wing situations, but it should be combined with the other principles we’ve covered in this article.
Patience and deep understanding of this topic will make a huge difference in your saves of wing shots.
Video – How to React on Wing Shots – See, Decide, Do – Reading the Wing Shooter’s Flight Path
One of the concepts I return to constantly in my coaching is the difference between “see/do” and “see/decide/do.”
Many young goalkeepers see the wing player taking off and immediately do something, without a clear idea about why they did it or how they should do it. This reactive pattern leads to early movements, poor positioning, and frustrated goalkeepers who don’t understand why they keep conceding from the wing.
What we want to develop is different: the goalkeeper sees the visual input, then decides what and how to respond based on what they observed, and only then executes the save reaction. This sequence takes practice and patience, but it transforms wing shot saves from guessing into purposeful action.
What You’ll See in This Video
In this video, you can see a goalkeeper saving a shot from a normal wing angle. Watch the full sequence:
The goalkeeper makes the first step forward toward the shooter’s takeoff point, leading with the leg closer to the post. Then the other leg joins to establish a balanced stance. From there, he follows the shooter’s flight path with small side steps, staying aligned with the hand holding the ball. Throughout all of this, he remains patient and calm, waiting for the shooter to reveal the shot before reacting.
This calmness is a weapon. The more composed the goalkeeper stays, the more the wing player has to think about how to score. Compare this to the usual mistake young goalkeepers make: reacting too early, committing before the release, and opening up space that the shooter will gladly take.
Remember: This step forward approach applies to normal-angle wing shots. When the shot comes from a small angle, there is no need to step forward. And stepping forward is not the only way to react to wing shots. There are many approaches depending on the situation. But this video shows one effective method that every goalkeeper should understand and practice.
Front Post or Back Post? Choosing What Your Body Covers
One of the most decisive skills in saves of wing shot situations is knowing which part of the goal your body should naturally cover, and which part of the goal demands an active save reaction. Many goalkeepers try to defend everything at once, and that usually leads to protecting nothing well. This is where strategy becomes just as important as technique.
Front Post Saves
In wing shots from smaller wing angles, covering the front post should be the priority for young goalkeepers.
When the goalkeeper stands correctly and reads the shooter with patience, the front post is protected almost automatically. What surprises many coaches is how little movement this actually requires. It is more about posture, angle, and trust in the stance than about the movement, reactions, and effort. Small details, like shoulder alignment, foot orientation, and weight distribution, decide whether this part of the goal feels covered or exposed.
These details are exactly the kind of adjustments that create instant improvement once goalkeepers understand them, yet they are rarely taught in full depth and detail.
Back Post Saves
Covering the back post brings a completely different challenge.
This is where the situation becomes more dynamic and where the goalkeeper’s decision-making under pressure really matters. To cover the back post effectively, while being properly positioned on the first post as well, the goalkeeper needs a combination of:
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A well-timed step forward
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A clear read of the jump direction
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A shot height and direction appropriate reaction technique
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Control of own body rotation and balance
Each of these elements influences the others. If the step forward is great but the timing is late, the chance to save is gone. If the reading of the situation is correct but the technique does not match the shot height and direction, the ball slips through. If the goalkeeper’s body collapses backward or rotates too far, even strong reactions lose their structure.
What makes this part of saves of wing shot work so exciting is how all these pieces fit together. Once a goalkeeper understands how to combine reading, timing, positioning, and footwork, the back post stops being a “problematic area” and becomes a space they can control with confidence.
Why This Decision Matters So Much
Choosing what your body covers and what your movement covers shouldn’t be “guessing”. It is a teachable system. When coaches and goalkeepers understand the principles behind this decision, saving shots from the wing positions becomes far more predictable and manageable than it looks.
And this is exactly why I was inspired to make my Level 2 Video Course for coaches. The video course explains and breaks down this topic in practical detail, shows how to coach it step by step, and explains how young goalkeepers can progress from basic understanding to advanced reading of the game. The course turns a complex decision into a repeatable habit, and that shift is what elevates a goalkeeper’s performance on the wing dramatically. This article gives an insight, a taste of the concept, and the video course shows how to master it.
Correcting the Most Common Mistakes
Even talented goalkeepers struggle with saves of wing shot situations when their saving technique is performed in a wrong way. These mistakes are not signs of a goalkeeper lacking potential. They simply show that the wing position demands clarity and structure. Once these patterns of early adopted mistakes are corrected, goalkeepers often experience a big improvement in both confidence and consistency in performance.
Here are some of the mistakes that happen most often in goalkeeper training around the world:
1. Twisting backward during the save
This movement shifts the goalkeeper’s center of gravity away from the shot and opens the far post. It also slows down the arms reaction, making even the correct reaction ineffective.
2. Stepping forward toward the corner instead of toward the shooter’s shooting arm
This is one of the most widespread mistakes in saves of wing shot scenarios. This idea can make some kind of sense at first for some goalkeepers or coaches, but it takes the goalkeeper out of alignment with the shooting hand and makes the back-post reaction significantly harder to protect. A simple correction here often transforms the entire wing performance.
3. Reacting too early (or too late)
Goalkeepers sometimes reveal their intention before the shooter has even released the ball. Players read this instantly. A premature weight shift, leg lift, or arm drop gives the attacker exactly the opening space and angle they need to score. If goalkeepers react too late, players already used the advantage of their jump and arm angle and open space.
4. Lifting the reacting leg too high
Especially against low shots, this mistake creates the gap that wing players aim for. Many young goalkeepers automate this habit early. They feel like they are “attacking” the ball if and when they lift up their foot or leg. They don’t understand that they are actually opening the space and making it easier for shooters to score. A high leg might feel powerful sometimes, but in these situations it usually works against the goalkeeper rather than helping them.
5. Using identical save reactions for front-post and back-post shots
Covering and closing the front or the back post of the goal do not require the same movement. The angle, distance, timing, and biomechanics are different. When a goalkeeper uses one same save reaction for every wing shooting scenario, the attacker easily gains a clear advantage.
Why Addressing These Mistakes Matters
Fixing these patterns early creates a strong technical base that supports all future development. But understanding how to correct them and how to teach the corrections to young goalkeepers takes real understanding of the topic and real structure in coaching work.
Once again, my Level 2 Video Course doesn’t only list these mistakes. It shows coaches how to work on them, how to coach them, and how to help a goalkeeper build consistent, repeatable habits for saves of wing shot situations. The difference between reading about these mistakes and seeing the drills, watching the demonstrations, and hearing the detailed coaching cues is big and valuable.
Why Coaches Should Train Wing Saves Separately
Many coaches group wing shots together with general shooting drills, assuming the goalkeeper will somehow “discover” the solution through repetition. In reality, saves of wing shot situations require far more precision and awareness than most combo drills can provide. The wing position has its own logic, its own movement patterns, and its own demands. Treating it as “just another shot” often leads to frustration for both the goalkeeper and the coach.
To perform well on the wing, the goalkeeper needs a clear explanation, and a combination of skills that do not show up naturally in standard training:
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A stance and position designed specifically for the size of the shooting angle
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A clear sense of how wing shooting angles open and close
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Timing that matches the attacker’s jump and flight pattern, not only the ball release
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A different approach to the first step forward
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Separate reaction techniques for high, middle, and low wing shots
Each of these elements requires deep understanding and focused practice. When a young goalkeeper works only in “blended shooting scenarios”, they rarely get the repetitions needed to build these habits. They may have a few lucky saves, but consistency stays out of reach.
This is why isolating and working on saves of wing shot techniques is so important. It gives the goalkeeper a controlled environment to understand the mechanics first, without the pressure of reading the entire attack. Once the foundation is solid, integrating these skills into game-like situations becomes much easier and far more effective.
In my Level 2 Online Course for coaches, the training structure follows a clear progression:
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First the wing stance and position, so the goalkeeper knows how to position with confidence.
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Then the concepts about the first-step forward, which shape the timing of every wing save.
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Next – the reaction saving techniques, matched to shot height and angle of shooting.
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Finally, the integration, where everything is combined into realistic saving situations.
This layered process is what turns wing shot saves from unpredictable moments into something repeatable and controlled. This blog post gives an overview of why all of this matters. But since wing shots are a complex and demanding tactical topic, the Level 2 Video Course shows how to understand and coach it in a way that makes your goalkeepers noticeably stronger in this position.
To Summarize – A Few Tips For Saving Wing Shots
Here are few tips you should keep in mind when working on saves of the wing shots:
-> Re-learn to position properly.
-> Don’t just stay in one place while the wing player is “flying”.
-> Follow properly every millimeter of shooter’s movement.
-> Don’t react too early.
-> Don’t step out too early.
-> Don’t react always in the same way.
-> Have more self confidence about where you are standing and what you are covering.
-> Offer one part of the goal.
-> Make them shoot where you want them to shoot.
-> Practice different ways to position and react.
-> Practice proper timing of your movement forward.
-> Film yourself and analyze your movement.
-> Create your own game concept for wing saves – the more you understand, the better you will be!
Conclusion: Wing Shot Saves Are Built Through Reading, Timing, and Smart Movement
Saves of wing shot situations can look chaotic and very complex from the outside, but once the goalkeeper understands the most important principles and elements that shape them, the entire perspective changes. What felt unpredictable becomes a logical sequence they can read and understand. What at some point felt stressful, becomes something they can manage with patience.
Strong performance on the wing comes from a combination of skills working together, such as:
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Seeing the shooting wing angle clearly and understanding how it changes during the jump
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Building a wing stance and position that supports timely and efficient reactions
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Reading the attacker’s shoulders, shooting arm, body, and jump direction
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Stepping forward with proper timing
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Choosing reactions based on shot height and direction instead of random guessing
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Balancing front-post security with confident movement toward the back post, or vice versa
When all these pieces align, saves of wing shot situations stop feeling like random moments of luck. They become the result of informed decision-making, tactical understanding, and purposeful technique.
This blog post offers the essential framework, but it only scratches the surface of what is possible when these concepts are trained systematically. Inside my Level 2 Video Course, each element is broken down with demonstrations, progressions, and coaching cues that show exactly how to build these wing save elemnts in young goalkeepers. The Level 2 Video Course gives coaches a full system for teaching wing shot saves with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
I hope this blog post was valuable for you, and it will give you some ideas and motivation for your coaching work.
Video – How To Save Wing Shots
In the video below you can find a short description and example of the way how I start working with young goalkeepers to understand how react on wing shots that are coming from different angles:
Video: How to React on Wing Shots From a Small Angle of Shooting
In this video, you can see examples of how a goalkeeper should react to wing shots that come from a small shooting angle.
The key principle here is restraint. When the shooting angle is small, the goalkeeper’s job is to position properly, observe the shooter, wait for the shot, and then react accordingly. There is no need to step forward. In fact, stepping forward in this situation would open the front post unnecessarily and give the shooter more space to score.
This is one of the most common mistakes I see, even with senior-level goalkeepers. They feel like they need to “do something” and end up making a movement that actually works against them. From a small angle, patience and trust in your positioning are your biggest advantages. The shooter already has limited options. Your job is to not give them more.
Watch how the goalkeeper in this video stays composed, maintains proper stance, and reacts only when the shot is released.
Video – Wing Shot Save By Nikola Portner
In this video, you can see an excellent example of a wing shot save by Nikola Portner that demonstrates several key principles we’ve discussed in this article.
Watch how Portner maintains proper positioning throughout the entire sequence. He doesn’t commit too early or guess where the shot will go. Instead, he follows the shooter’s hand with the ball and tracks the flight path as the wing player moves through the air. This is exactly what we mean by reading the shooter.
What stands out most is his patience. Many goalkeepers would have reacted before the shooter even released the ball, giving away their intention and opening up space. Portner waits, stays aligned, and lets the shooter reveal the shot before making his move. The result is a clean, controlled save that looks almost effortless, but is actually the product of excellent positioning and timing.
Video telestration in the video sponsored by Coach Paint – ChyronHego.
This is a great example to study and learn from.
Video – Wing Shot Save By Jelena Grubišić
In this video, you can see another excellent example of a wing shot save, this time by Jelena Grubišić.
Notice how she applies the same principles we’ve been discussing: proper positioning before the shot, patience while the shooter moves through the air, and constant tracking of the shooter’s hand with the ball. She doesn’t rush or guess. She waits for the right moment and then commits fully to the save reaction.
What makes saves like this look smooth is actually the discipline that happens before the reaction. The positioning is correct, the reading is accurate, and the timing is patient. By the time she moves to make the save, most of the work is already done.
This is a great example to watch alongside the Portner save to see how these principles apply across different goalkeepers, both male and female, at the highest level.
Video telestration in the video sponsored by Coach Paint – ChyronHego.
Video – Side Jump Middle Wing Save Reaction
In this video, you can see one of the exercises I use for practicing the so called “side jump” middle save reaction for wing shots from normal or big angles.
What to Focus On
The main focus of this exercise is on the additional lateral load for the outside leg and on starting and ending the reaction from a proper stance. Pay close attention to the position of the hands before, during, and at the end of the reaction. These details matter more than most coaches realize, and they should be worked on deliberately.
When the stance is correct at the start and the goalkeeper returns to a balanced position at the end, the whole movement becomes more controlled and repeatable. This is what separates a lucky save from a reliable technique.
An Important Reminder
This is only one of many ways to react to wing shots. It works well for middle-height shots from normal or big angles, but it should not be the only save reaction your goalkeepers practice. As we’ve discussed throughout this article, different angles, shot heights, and situations require different responses. Build a full toolbox, not just one tool.
Video – Combo Exercise – Normal Angle and Big Angle Wing Shots
In this video, you can see a combo exercise for a double save reaction: a wing shot from a normal angle followed by a wing shot from a big angle.
Why This Combo Matters
As we’ve discussed throughout this article, normal and big wing angles require different responses from the goalkeeper. By combining them in one exercise, you train your goalkeepers to adjust their positioning, timing, and reactions quickly based on how the shooting angle changes.
This kind of training mirrors what happens in games when wing players vary their takeoff points or when the ball moves quickly between different wing situations. Goalkeepers need to recognize the angle, adapt their approach, and execute the appropriate save technique, all within seconds.
This combo exercise is just an example, and I hope it serves you as an inspiration when you’ll be creating your own combo drills and progressions.
A Note on Progression
This is an advanced exercise. Before working on combo drills like this one, make sure your goalkeepers can execute saves from both normal and big wing angles separately with proper technique. And make sure that your goalkeeper’s basic technique is good. Once those foundations are solid, combining them builds the adaptability and quick decision-making that separates good goalkeepers from great ones.
Video – Combo Shooting Exercise For Saves of Wing Shots
In the video below, you can see a combo shooting exercise for saves of four wing shots with 4 different wing shots saving techniques.
Before applying and using this shooting combo with less advanced goalkeepers, please make sure that they are able to perform separately each of these save technique movements properly.
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