So yesterday this football coaching video pops up in my feed – all about Peter Bonetti, that old Chelsea legend keeper they called “The Cat”. Honestly? Never really dug deep into his techniques before. Felt like it wouldn’t hurt to try replicating some of his moves myself, see if an old dog could learn new tricks. Grabbed my gloves and headed out to the park pitch early this morning.
Starting with the Basics: Positioning felt Weird
First thing everyone talks about with Bonetti is his crazy starting stance. Most keepers now crouch lower, right? Bonetti stood way taller. Tried it – feet wider than usual, knees slightly bent but back almost straight, hands down low near his hips. Felt super awkward at first, like a stiff statue. Felt exposed, too high up. But after shuffling side-to-side a bit, gotta admit it felt easier to spring forward quickly. Like I wasn’t coiled too tight.
The Starfish Save? Almost Wiped Out
Bonetti’s famous for spreading himself like a starfish in close-range one-on-ones. Looks simple in videos. Tried it with my buddy firing low shots near my feet. First few tries? Disaster. Tried launching myself forward, legs split, arms wide… smashed my elbows hard into the ground on the landing! Hurt like mad. Realized Bonetti didn’t just collapse – he pushed forward powerfully off one leg, kinda controlled, landing more on his side/thigh, not straight on elbows or hips. Took like twenty tries to stop bruising myself.
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Biggest Struggles:
- Timing the push forward – too early or late meant eating turf.
- Keeping the head steady while spreading. Everything wanted to wobble.
- Not flinching. Instinct was to turn away, not meet the ball head-on.
Dealing with Low Shots: Feet First!
Modern keepers often dive full stretch for low balls. Bonetti had this thing where he’d sweep his trailing leg across while dropping low. Like a kick save kinda? Focused on this for shots rolling near my posts. Hardest part? Trusting my feet instead of my hands. Felt wrong. But when it worked, using the leg sweep meant covering ground sideways faster than diving. Blocked a few tricky rollers this way, legs acting like a barrier. Still need practice – almost smashed my own face tripping over my foot once.
Handling Crosses? Forgot the Punching Power
Last thing tried was his handling technique, especially on crosses. Bonetti seemed to catch things cleanly, pushing hard off his feet to meet the ball. I’m used to punching. Tried catching some floaters in a crowded box (imaginary players, obviously). Jumping powerfully off both feet simultaneously, arms fully extended early. Actually secured a few clean catches at the highest point. Felt satisfyingly solid. Different rhythm than the one-legged explosive jump we often see.
What Actually Works for a Weekend Keeper?
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Takeaways from my morning struggle-session:
- That taller, wider starting stance? Surprisingly good for quick step-forward saves.
- The starfish spread? Brutal to learn, but potentially game-saving in tight. Practice the landing!
- Using the leg/foot sweep for low shots? Useful tool, saves wear and tear on the body.
- Catching crosses high needs serious leg drive and timing. Less risky than punching if you nail it.
Peter Bonetti’s style isn’t flashy now, but it’s clever. Efficient. Felt practical even for someone rusty like me. Messed up tons. Fell over. Got sore. But genuinely learned stuff about positioning and angles just trying to copy “The Cat”. Makes you think differently about the keeper position.
