Shots can come from anywhere and any direction. The first rule is to always be prepared for a shot to occur. Many goals are scored when a keeper is expecting an attacker to continue dribbling to the side and he suddenly turns and shoots, or when a keeper is out of position and an attacker takes a chance on a longer than usual distance shot.

Stay on the imaginary line between the ball and the center of the goal. Concentrate on the ball. Try to use your peripheral vision to keep track of other players while watching the ball if any possibility of a shot exists.

 Once a shot is taken, always try to get as much of your body as possible behind the ball. Relax the part of your body in contact with the ball in order to create give and reduce the risk of a rebound. If you can get your feet in front of the ball, do that instead of diving for it.

Be aware of the possibility of a richochet off of another player while the shot is on the way or a bad bounce on the turf that redirects the ball.

Low balls struck from close in may require you to push yourself towards the ground, turning your body sideways to face the incoming ball and getting your legs out of the way.

Push off with weight on the leg on the side of the ball, diving sideways, never face-down, getting your hands (and whole body if possible) in the path of the ball.

Jim Lehman pushes off to start his winning penalty kick shootout save in Germany's 2006 World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina.

Get your hands behind the flight of the ball, fingers spread wide, thumbs almost touching and then bring the ball securely into your body as soon as possible.

Notice Lehman's sideways outstretched body and his hands facing the ball in the classic W position as he dives to save the shot.

Lehman completes the save still in perfect form, keeping his bodyfacing the ball and not the ground.

With more distant shots the keeper should have time to move his whole body into the path of the ball rather than diving for it.