Learn to avoid making common mistakes. Focus on the details. Explore overlooked mistakes. Develop the winning edge and confidence to become unstoppable and maintain the mindset that will keep you miles away from the bench. Train to be a great teammate as well as a great player, a complete keeper.
Manuel Peter Neuer (Bayern Munich, German National Team)
Learn the strategies and routines that make great keepers, great. The little things are the big things. Learn from mistakes, both yours and others. The tiniest of mistakes, can make a big difference in whether or not we will succeed. To take advantage of mistakes, put in the necessary time and effort to follow through on what you learn.

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(01) Practice Target Long Passes for Counter Attack

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Argentina)
Develop the ability to send dangerous long passes from anywhere on the field with extremely high accuracy and power. The best keepers are those who can provide an extra advantage to their teams. The goalkeeper needs to be more involved; creating counterattacking, being a leader, saving penalties and allowing the team to play a high line defense. Long accurate passing allows for clearing the ball well away from the penalty area, which serves to also prevent the opponent from creating sudden counterattacks. More involved goalkeeping forces the opponent to attack with fewer players during corners and fouls near the penalty area.
To master the skill of sending long lethal passes to the front line:

Take a target and place it at the other end of the field. Then, kick balls hard and direct at the target, until able to land the ball a few inches away from the target at will. Repeat this drill 100 times, move the target until you’ve managed to complete at least 5-10.
Place two targets on both the right and left sides of the field, giving a sense of having to choose. Use both legs, the right to send it left and the left to send it right. Be able to strike the ball with either foot depending on the situation.
Practice sending long balls along the ground. Place the ball on the ground and work to fire it accurately toward thetargets on both sides of the field. If the ball goes high from the ground, it must be kicked with more force, so that it doesn’t lose as much speed while airborne. Whether the pass is high or low, the ball must be struck by bending the upper body and positioning the foot so that the small toe is up and the big toe is down.

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(02) You Don’t Know What You Represent

The goalkeeper is the most indispensible player on the team. She is the only one who can literally see everything that’s going on all over the field. The goalkeeper generally has leadership skills. She tends to be the most charismatic and calm on her side. She shouts to motivate, she guides teammates to fill gaps and she clears away danger. Furthermore, the goalkeeper is often the one who communicates with the referee. Whenever the ball is not around her area, a good goalie is like a soldier on lookout duty, monitoring and exploring the battlefield for her mates. She’s the radar for her side, seeing what they can’t see and reading the plays they fail to read.
Exemplars:

To shine as an exceptionally valuable asset to the team, constantly work to develop and strengthen leadership skills. The right mindset is fundamental in order to change both perceptions and set beliefs. Beliefs can be good and working for us or detrimental, working against growth. Rid the self of any set beliefs and perceptions that hinder development.
The role of the goalkeeper is huge. You save the day when the other ten screw things up. Great goalkeepers are a rare and valuable asset. First, make sure you feel worthy of success. Set high standards for yourself and believe that whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve. Develop the right mindset and the determination.
“Good players will win your games, great goalkeepers will win you trophies.”
Consider yourself a future role model for the next generation of upcoming goalkeepers, guys that will look up to you as one of the great goalies of your generation. For this, you have to possess authority and have an ability to perform above and beyond the call of duty whenever necessary.
Visualization is an incredibly powerful tool. Study the greats. Keep these images rooted firmly inside your mind. Call them up whenever you need to remind yourself that you are the one who makes the difference in the big games. Conditioning the mind prepares you for greatness. Your success will be determined by your beliefs. Center the mind around helpful beliefs. The aim is to work smarter and harder than any goalkeeper around. Do what others don’t, or won’t do, in order to perform how others can’t. Pursue goals that others see as unbelievable. Train. Rest. Repeat. Patience, persistence and relentless determination are what separate winners from losers.
Broaden the horizon, stretch your limits and develop a ‘can do’ attitude. Learn to ignore any internal or external voices that say ‘no you can’t.’ Who we are, what we become, is determined in large part by our beliefs.
Fall in love with your role as a keeper and the defender of the goal. Dream of becoming a legend. Study heroic keepers. Hang photos of those you want to become like on your walls. Expect yourself to be the icon of your team, no matter if its a pick up game or globally recognized pro club.
“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.” -- John F. Kennedy

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(03) In Free Kicks, Don’t Be Like Iker

Iker Casillas vs. Messi (2012), Iker Casillas vs. Santi Cazorla, Iker Casillas vs. Marco Senna (2010) The mistake: staying stuck behind the wall leaves you unable to read the ball and react: David de Gea, Thibaut Courtois
Keep Your Eyes on the Ball - The eyes never leave the ball. This means being in the proper position to see it. For example, on the opposite side of the wall as opposed to right behind it. If in the wrong place, the ball will inevitably come as a surprise when it comes into view. By being better positioned, the ball’s path is recognized sooner, increasing chances for success.
Be quick, but never in a hurry ~ John Wooden - The proper level of aggression means not too laid back but not overaggressive. Maintain a cool approach. The only time to rush is if the ball is coming extremely fast. Don’t jump for the sake of jumping. Keep track of the ball and calculate where it will most likely end up. Take your time before diving on free kicks and fully stretch to cover the whole goal. Take a wide step before stretching to your fullest. Maintain both confidence and patience to wait until the right moment before taking the jump.
Exercise:

Stand at the far right side of the goal and allow yourself three steps plus one dive in order for the hands and body to reach the other side of the goal in the high corner (the “V”). The aim is to reach the “V” in the shortest time possible.
Switch sides. Repeat.

Progression - Begin to have teammates or a coach send balls to the opposite corner. Work on this exercise until it becomes a natural part of your style in real games.

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(04) Penalties: When Taking a Side, Make Sure You Own It

Focusing on only one side and then reaching maximum stretching ability will increase the chance to deflect any penalty that has been shot into that side. The secret is picking a side and owning it. Be smart and focus all effects on a single side and then commit to it.
Exemplars:

Helmuth Duckman (1986 UEFA Champion’s League) - His mind was made up. It was clear he owned that side totally. Choose and commit.
Manuel Neuer (2003 Champion’s League vs. Ronaldo)
Joe Hart vs. Ronaldihno (England)
Sergio Romero vs. Wesley Sneijden (2014 World Cup Shootout)

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(05) Failing to Put a Striker Down

Playing a great game in goal is about tactics. Consider what to do, how to do it best and when to do it. Sometimes, this requires disrupting or messing with a striker. Put a striker down with high performance. A sterling performance can destroy the momentum of even the best strikers. A great save can mess with an opponent's head to the point where they underperform, to the benefit of your team.
Essam El Hadary (Africaz)
Edwin Van de Sar (Flying Dutchman)

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(06) Putting a Striker Down in Penalties

Dance in front of a player to distract him.
Jerzy Dudek vs. AC Milan 2005 UEFA Final
Tim Krul (Dutch) vs. Costa Rica

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(07) When Out for the Ball Make Sure It’s 100% Yours

Determination and aggression radiate power, calmness and leadership as well as controlling the opponent's momentum. These two traits are the goalkeeper’s best tools for catching high balls: (1) When ever you go out for the ball, never ever hesitate, it will destroy your chances every time, (2) When out for a cross, corner or a long pass, build and portray the attitude that shows that the ball is yours and yours only.

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(08) Always Keep Your Eye On the Ball

Never take your eyes off the ball, even for a second. Maintain focus the entire game. Nothing takes higher priority for the goalie than the ball in play. When a player takes a shot, the job is to predict its path and figure out how and where to intercept it. Then, the job is to act--without losing sight of the ball. Carefully watch the ball’s every move. Having ‘sticky’ eyes is what truly makes a great goalie. Methods to develop Hand / Eye Coordination:

Playing Air Hockey - play versus a friend or play a video game version.
Meditate - enhances brain focus and awareness. Decreases sense of fear and increases ability to deal with stress when playing under pressure.

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(09) Removing Eyes During a Catch

Keep your eyes on the ball until 100% in control of it. It’s the little things that can have the biggest outcome on the game. Take your job seriously, stay completely focused at all times, and always be firm with the ball. There is absolutely no room for complacency. When playing in goal there are two points to remember:

You are never safe until you have a firm hold on the ball and that means with both hands between the arms and close to the chest.
Take your time and give the ball the right attention. Don’t worry about who you will pass it to until you have it firmly in your possession.

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(10) Losing Focus When Your Team is Dominating

If your team is really good and spends a lot of time dominating, the other team is much weaker or your coach doesn’t care too much about possession and prefers to play counter attacks, you may not see the ball much in a match. If you lose your readiness or don’t pay enough attention, problems will arise. Be prepared for a sudden attack, any fast run, fast approaching high balls or even mistakes made by a teammate may put you in a duel situation with a rival.
A good way to stay firmly involved in the game, from a mental perspective, is by putting yourself in the other goalie’s shoes, thinking about what you would be doing if you were in that goal. Rehearse every possible scenario of the game when you are not being attacked. Stay sharp. In times when you are not physically involved, make sure you're mentally engaged. Do this, and you will be ready and able any time the ball comes your way.

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(11) Slow Reflexes

Reflexes are spontaneous actions that are performed without any conscious thought. The speed and accuracy of reflexes are what make the difference between an average keeper and a great one. Keepers with the best reflexes: Iker Casillas, Peter Schmeichel and Gianlugi Buffon. To develop reflexes; a keeper must be well trained both physically and mentally. The best keepers take just fractions of a second to consider the ball’s direction, filter between possible decisions and take the right decisive action to make the save.
Exemplars:

Work to increase the speed, strength and accuracy of your responses. Practice using smaller and faster balls. Practice with tennis or even golf balls. To develop reflexes be ever mindful of:

The speed of the ball
Where the ball is heading and likely to end up
Working the best possible way to intercept the ball for the given situation.

“Small Ball” Exercises:

Start by facing a wall. Throw either tennis or golf ball at the wall and try to catch it on the rebound.
Repeat the above exercise, only this time using two balls, a golf ball and a football. Kick the football first but before catching it, throw the smaller, faster ball in between.
Use two tennis or golf balls this time, repeating the same drill as above.
This drill requires help. Stand some distance from the wall with your back to it. Ask your helper to face the wall and throw a small ball against it. The task is to turn at the right moment, find the ball and catch it on the rebound. Regular practice is key to improvement.

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(12) Not Practicing Enough Footwork

A goalkeeper needs ball skills in order to meet the demands of the game and to help out with any sudden changes that can happen in team tactics. Great goalies can: (1) dribbble (2) send long accurate passes that can potentially create scoring opportunities (3) shoot penalties in a shootout (4) receive and accurately pass the ball under pressure (5) save shots at goal from headers as well as during free kicks and position himself well during corners (6) adjust to any new tactics that require the keeper commit and adapt well to the game as it demands.
All team players must possess the ability to move the ball quickly, accurately between each other, this requires that the keeper advances in different situations and positions.
Exemplar - Manuel Neuer (foot skills) - He can back heel balls. He gives the team a temporary numerical advantage by making quick sprints with the ball and creates empty space for teammates. He can play as a libero (sweeper.) Thanks to his speed, he's able to advance outside the penalty area and diffuse many opponents' attacks and long through passes. He scores penalties and he can throw long balls.
To achieve any of this, you must develop a healthy obsession to reach your ambitions. Self motivation is a must have quality. Nothing or nobody must be allowed to stand in the way of your objectives, neither by distraction nor influence. Skip the party and focus on enhancing your skills. It takes more than talent to achieve. How we turn out depends on our levels of patience, persistence and determination to become the best that we can possibly be.

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(13) Not Studying Your Opponent Before the Game

Knowledge plus actions is priceless power. Knowing an opponent’s tendencies allows action to be taken based on that knowledge. Habitual style of playing can be found in most players. Some are more predictable than others. When forced to make a fast decision, the mind will default to what it has been programmed to do. Become acquainted with your opponent's style of playing before each and every game to perform better in goal. Get into the habit of considering all possible situations in the game. Start to mentally visualize making great saves. Most importantly, think about how you save and your decisions for doing so. Watch video or live games of your opponent. Get into the habit of observing. write your findings down so you can rehearse what you need to do in practice.

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(14) Screwing Things Up When Making a Mistake

The average player makes excuses. Be superior, no matter what. Leave ‘average’ for average dreamers. Excuses must be removed from the vocabulary. To be remembered as a great, develop the mindset of staying in the now.
What's done is done and can't be undone. Now is what we've got, so now should be the focus. What you're doing now determines your future.
After a mistake, learn to zoom out: do not allow the mind to dwell on past events, be they good or bad. It's okay to be upset or disappointed but it must not be allowed to linger. The easier someone is affected by failure, the harder it becomes to break the mindset.
You can't solve a problem with the same mentality that created the problem in the first place. -- Albert Einstein
Do not rinse and repeat the same failed procedure: continually running and rerunning the same mistake in your mind's eye. Thinking cannot be bugged with negative beliefs in false thoughts. Learn to replace all negative thinking with new, more positive thoughts and beliefs.
For a bad habit to be changed, it must be replaced with something else. Borrow the mindset of successful players. Copy their self-talk. Take what's working and amplify it. What's not working needs fixing, including the way we think about stuff. How we think affects how we feel and how we feel affects how we perform.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” — Wayne Dyer
Self blaming and dwelling on past blunders fails to help, and distracts from current performance. Successful goalkeepers quickly forget past mistakes and zoom right in on the “Here and Now.”

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(15) Fearing the Ball

A keeper must overcome any fear of being hit in the face or crotch with a high-speed short-range shot. To be a great keeper requires courage and aggression. This is no position for the faint-hearted. Being hit by a hard flying missile is very rare, and if it does happen it is more likely to cause momentary pain rather than have a lasting impact. Develop aggression, determination and tenacity. Fear begins in the mind. Doubts and wrong thoughts cause us to become overly cautious. Stop thinking and start acting. The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. Choose positive thoughts that work with us rather than negative fearful ones. To be a great goalkeeper requires split-second timing. Overthinking definitely gets in the way of that. In most cases, fear is not justified as the danger is not clear or present. Instead, open your eyes wide and get on with the job at hand, with sheer confidence and utter determination. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Believe in yourself and in your training. Belief and confidence creates the reality of the situation.
To develop the ability to track incoming missiles without flinching:

Lie on your back
Have a teammate stand over you with the ball.
Have the teammate drop the ball so that it lands a safe distance from the side of your face.
Continue to have him do this, switching sides each time, until you develop the ability to track the ball without flinching.

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(16) Show Offs and Ego

Clowning around in goal is not going to help anyone who wants to excel as a keeper. A great keeper’s actions are almost always done to serve his team first and foremost—the main source of confidence and calmness for the team, both on and off the field. A great keeper provides a kind and positive aura that benefits everyone around during the game. It’s crucial for the goalkeeper to possess a kind of unspoken approach that lets everyone know he’s got their backs.

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(17) Position Awareness

Learn to take correct positions. The following must be considered when your goal is under attack:

What are the possible shooting angles available for the striker?
How can I cover as many angles as possible?
What is my best position for catching high shots that might be sent to either side of the goal?
How can I make my goal appear smaller and less accessible for players taking a shot?
What do I do to reduce the options of the opponent so he is forced to take the action I want him to take rather than the one he would prefer to take?
What is the best position to block the shot or give the best chance to go for the ball?
How should I prepare to move if the player with the ball passes it to another teammate?
If a player comes at me from a side angle, what position should I take to make sure the ball I save doesn’t deflect inside the goal? (This happens a lot when a shot is taken from a corner angle and the goalie forgets to take 2 steps outside the goal when attempting the save.

Learn the art of good positioning. This can vastly improve the success rate of saves.
Steps to Developing Positional Awareness:

Always be conscious of where your goal is and your relation to it. Always be mindful of where the bars are before positioning yourself in and around the goal area.
Position yourself on the line between the ball and the center of the goal. This is where you can secure both sides equally. Be fast and quick so you can cover deflections and sudden changes in ball direction. Be mindful at all times. Any drifting away or loss of attention will, in many cases, cost a goal.
Position yourself so that you get to cover three points (triangle): the ball, the right bar & the left bar. Success depends on your ability to cover as much of the triangle as possible. The smaller this triangle looks to the striker, the better the chances of saving the ball. To make it look smaller, take a few steps forward. Individual height determines how far forward to go. If shorter than 1.9 meters (~6ft.) take an additional step or two forward to ensure meeting the ball before it becomes too high to intercept, while still maintaining the ability to clear a well-played chip-over. Ball position matters: shots from an angle must be played outside the near post to avoid deflecting it into the goal. You must not be too far out on shots in the middle, or you create a wider unprotected goal mouth.
A keeper who is always in the proper position for the situation can make shots go right to him by creating a condition where the shooter has nowhere else to play the ball. On the other hand, poor positioning leaves huge areas of the net exposed, thus creating easy opportunities for the opponent.

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(18) Problems when Dealing with Low Crosses

The best approach to saving or clearing a low ball is to take a straight line to the ball and fall. The best ways to anticipate, prepare, and intercept low crosses:

Close the gap between you and the goal so that your protected from opponents coming in from behind.
On low crosses that are close to the goal line and parallel to it, monitor any striker trying to escape his mark and meet the ball on the near post.
Be aware of any teammates that might deflect the ball, changing its course.
When coming out to meet the ball, be 100% confident in saving it or at least punching or kicking it out of harm's way. Failure to do so will leave opportunities for a shot.

Once the decision has been made to come out, do not hesitate. Split second thinking and decisive action is required to read the situation and respond on time. This is the only way to consistently win the ball. Hesitation leads to a loss of focus and to panic, killing any chances of fast, decisive action. It is far safer to intercept a low cross early than it is to wait for a one-to-one confrontation. Go after all easily interceptable crosses.
Work smart. Quickly assess the situation just as the cross is about to be played, then act accordingly. Take a fast look at the players in the penalty area, both friend and foe. Knowing who is positioned to make a run at the near post allows you to take subtle steps in that direction to meet the ball first. If nothing else, you will be in position to close any gaps to the other strikers.