XRGoalie: Augmenting the Future

Traditional soccer goalkeeper training is often limited by logistical, spatial, and safety constraints. The XRGoalie system presents a novel augmented reality (AR) solution that allows goalkeepers to train independently in realworld environments while facing virtual penalty kicks. XRGoalie creates a semi-immersive training environment that blends real and virtual elements interactively. Developed for the Meta Quest 3 headset using Unreal Engine 5.4, the system overlays a virtual kicker and ball onto the user’s field of view, enabling interactive, spatially aware saves using hand-tracking and gesture-based control. This paper outlines the technical and systems-level design of XRGoalie, including subsystem integration, spline-based shot simulation, and spatial anchoring for user safety. User feedback from collegiate coaches and goalkeepers demonstrates the system’s potential for realistic, accessible, and cognitive-focused training. XRGoalie aims to complement, rather than replace, traditional methods, offering a scalable, low-risk alternative for enhancing reaction time and decision-making in goalkeepers.