The keeper keeps it
in Goalkeeping
Teach your goalkeeper to play the ball out with their feet and start attacks from the back. By GWYNNE WILLIAMS MORE
Ever ready to make a save
It may only be for a split second, but having a good “ready” position will give a goalkeeper a good platform from which to make a save. Such preparation can be the difference between winning and losing a match.
What this session is about
- Making saves.
- Good footwork.
What to think about
Goalkeepers must:
- When facing an attacker, move off the goal line towards the opponent.
- Get in line with ball.
- Use the correct footwork – e.g. “fast feet” to cover the ground quickly.
- Adopt the “ready” position: Hands relaxed, out from the body and low to the ground, on the toes and ready to move, feet apart, balanced, knees slightly bent and with the head steady.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 5 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Set up two rows of cones and use one keeper and one server, as shown in top picture. Starting from one end of the cones, the goalkeeper enters between the first back two cones and moves to the front two cones.
The server (S) passes to the keeper (K), who controls the ball with his feet, and passes it back. The keeper then moves backwards, around the next rear cone, moves forward and repeats the drill. The same movement takes place four times.
The drill is then repeated, starting from the other end. Players then switch roles.
To progress, the keeper uses his hands to pick up the ball or spread the cones out so he has to dive to stop the ball.
A keeper (K) runs around two sets of cones, prepares himself then controls the pass/shot from the server (S).
Development
Use a penalty area with a keeper in goal. Place two servers (S) where the “D” meets the edge of the penalty area. The remaining players go into two lines, outside the penalty area as shown in the middle picture.
Taking it in turns, the first player in each line plays a one-two with a server, before taking a touch and shooting at goal. Once the player has taken a shot, he joins the back of the opposite line.
Make sure as many players as possible play as the keeper because you never know when your keeper will be injured, unavailable or sent off.
Attackers play a wall pass to a server (S) then try to score a goal. The keeper must narrow the angle to stop the shot.
Game situation
Play a five-a-side (including keepers) game, as shown in the bottom picture.
Place the goals on the longer touchlines so the pitch is wide rather than long to encourage lots of shots from a variety of angles.
Normal rules apply, including offside. Condition the game so both sides can only take a maximum of three touches before shooting.
As well as the two sets of outfield players competing, the goalkeepers also compete with each other. Each earns a point for each save.
At half time, teams change ends but the keepers stay in the same goal so neither has the advantage of having a better defence or attack.
The goalkeeper with most points wins while the team with most goals wins the outfield contest.
Outfield players must shoot within three passes in a small-sided game.
