By Abigail Gannaban · Last updated October 30, 2026
Claiming crosses comes down to timing the jump and catching at the highest point, then doing something useful with the ball. This drill trains both alone: throw into a soccer ball rebounder tilted back so the ball loops up, attack it, take off on one leg with the other knee driving up, catch above your head, land, and roll or throw the ball back into the net as your outlet. The catch-then-distribute sequence comes from a Schalke U19 goalkeeper session; the rebound net plays the crosser and the target.
What is the high ball catch-and-distribute drill?
It's a drill where the goalkeeper claims high balls and then immediately rolls or throws to a target. In the Schalke U19 goalkeeper session published by the FIFA Training Centre, goalkeeping coach Volkan Ünlü has keepers claim two high balls served into the six-yard box, then run forward and roll, later throw, to a mannequin the coach calls. The point is to treat a caught cross as the start of an attack, not the end of a save.
How do you run the drill alone on a ball rebounder?
Tilt the net back so a two-handed throw comes back high, start a few steps away, and repeat: serve, attack, claim, land, distribute. The table shows which parts are from the session.
| Setup item | Value | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ball rebounder | The Premier XL (PXL) Multi Sport Ball Rebounder, raised and tilted back for high returns | Our adaptation |
| Serve | Two-handed overhead throw into the upper half of the net | Our adaptation |
| Claim | Attack the ball, take off on one leg, catch above the head, land on both feet | Ünlü (FIFA Training Centre) |
| Distribute | Roll, then later throw, back into the lower half of the net as the outlet | Ünlü's sequence; net target is ours |
| Reps | 2 claims then 1 distribution, 5 rounds, alternating which side you attack from | Our suggestion |
Start with soft serves so the ball hangs; throw harder and from further back as the timing settles.
What are the coaching points for catching a high ball?
Ünlü's coaching points break the claim into four phases:
- Moving to the ball: step off with the foot further from the ball and take the most direct route.
- Jump: take off explosively from the leg closer to the ball, swing the other leg up, and drive the arms toward the ball.
- Catch: hands in front of and above the head, shoulders square to the ball's flight, hands forming a triangle around the ball.
- Claim: let the ball into the hands, pull it to the chest, and land on both feet.
For catches below the shoulders, use separate handling work; this drill is only for balls above the head.
What does the net version train, and what needs a crosser?
The net version trains the take-off, catch and distribution sequence many times in a row, alone. It can't produce a long, curling cross from the wing, traffic in the six-yard box, or the decision whether to catch or punch. Use the rebound net for the technique, then take it to team training where a server can deliver real crosses. All Ball Pro makes steel-frame, multi-sport ball rebounders, also called rebound nets, in St. Louis, Missouri; our goalkeeper rebounder guide explains why the Premier XL suits keepers.
FAQ
Which leg should a goalkeeper take off from for a high ball? In Ünlü's coaching points, the leg closer to the ball, with the other leg swinging up to support the jump.
Where should the hands be when catching a cross? In front of and above the head, forming a triangle around the ball, with the shoulders square to the ball's flight.
Can a goalkeeper practice catching crosses alone? Yes, for technique: a ball rebounder tilted back returns high balls to claim. Real crosses from the wing and traffic in the box still need a server and teammates.
Catching high balls starts with the take-off and ends with the outlet, and a rebound net lets a keeper rep both alone. See The Premier XL (PXL) Multi Sport Ball Rebounder.