Modern goalkeepers are as comfortable controlling the ball with their feet as they are with their hands. Having this ability allows them to help their team retain possession after they receive a back pass.
Keepers must:
Warm up | Session | Development | Game Situation | Warm Down |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes |
Make sure all your players can play in goal. You never know when your regular keepers will be unavailable, injured or sent off!
Set up two pairs of players facing each other five yards apart. Each player alternates between passing and receiving the ball to/from the other pair.
When a keeper receives the ball, he controls it for his partner to pass back. Play two-touch to begin with then one-touch. Make sure players use both feet to control and pass.
To progress, extend the distance between the pairs to 20 yards, as shown in the top picture. Now players make a driven pass and, if necessary, control the ball like an outfield footballer, with any part of the body except their hands and arms.
Use a goal with a goalkeeper and position three servers 10 yards from goal.
Two balls are used at the same time. The exercise begins when server A passes the first ball to the keeper, who controls it and passes to the “free” server (in the example shown, that is server C).
The other server (B) who started in possession of the other ball then passes to the keeper, who again passes to the “free” server (which would be server A), and so on. Replace keepers regularly.
This exercise simulates back passes and keepers must learn to deal with them.
Play a five-a-side game (including keepers) and encourage goalkeepers to clear the ball by passing to a free team mate wherever possible, rather than kicking it high into the air upfield without an intended target.
Also encourage forwards to apply pressure on the keeper so he has to make quick decisions. The team that scores most goals wins.
In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.
*includes 3 coaching manuals
Get Weekly Inspiration
All the latest techniques and approaches
Soccer Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use soccer drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.
We've been at the cutting edge of soccer coaching since we launched in 2007, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.