Hints on Association Football. Goalkeeper fielding a shot. It is a golden rule of goalkeeping never to miss the chance of getting directly behind the ball in dealing with a shot; in this way the player is twice armed. If he should miss time the catch the ball strike his body at the least be prevented from going over the line. This being so, a goalkeeper should we try to avoid taking the ball sideways, for in this case he has to rely solely on his hands and if the shot is keen won the ball may spin through them to the net.