Goalkeeper Training for Youth Player Development U10-14

"The younger they are, the more organized the coach must be."

KNOW THE PRINCIPLES OF YOUTH COACHING

Technique

Is still most important at this age. Repetition of technique in practice should be achieved through fun
games and dynamic activities.

Hand Position – ‘W’ hand position for balls above chest, ‘M’ hand position for balls below chest height

Receiving Ground balls – Body and hands behind the ball (two barriers), Cushion Ball

Basic Diving – Start sitting on ground, then advance to knees, squat then standing position

Distribution – Underarm roll, overarm throw, pass, kick, punt

Receiving Air balls – Introduce correct jumping technique to collect ball at highest point

Tactics

Can slowly begin to explain Fundamental Tactical Concepts in 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 situations, i.e. where to
stand in relation to the ball on the field
Players should still all play a variety of positions => Develop the Complete Player

Physical

Use FUN exercises, All fitness should be done with a ball, coordination, agility

Psychological

Keep it FUN and ENJOYABLE to foster a desire to play (Intrinsic Motivation). Have players
demonstrate increased self-responsibility. Give partial responsibility for preparation, discipline Players
can initiate play themselves and learn through self discovery/self expression. Players will enjoy
competition so all activities should have objectives/method of scoring. Players can work in groups – so
initiate cooperative games and activities.

The Game: 6v6 to 8v8 including Goalkeepers (5-7 Field Players with a Goalkeeper)

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U12 Foundation Phase (The Romance) Development of Individual Skills

Individual and Small Group Tactics

The effect of the role-model is very important at this stage of development. Hero worship, identification
with successful teams/players and a hunger for imaginative skills typify the mentality of this age. His is a
time of transition from self-centered to self-critical. Players of this age have a high arousal level in
relation to the training of basic skills. This is the “Golden Age of Learning” and the most important
age for skill development. Demonstration is very important and the players learn best by doing. This is
also an appropriate time to introduce and teach basic principles of play. It is important to establish
discipline from the beginning.

Coach

Should be a sensitive Teacher, Patient, Enthusiastic, Possess Soccer Awareness, Ability to Demonstrate,
Knowledge of the Key Factors of Basic skill; Give Encouragement, Preferably Young & Dynamic.
Should hold either;

Technique

Important to Establish a Good Strong Solid Base. Development of Individual Skills Under Pressure of
Time, Space and an Opponent. Increase technical Speed

Build on all techniques mentioned before, to increase technical speed. Also do more work on quick
feet and recovering quickly after shot-stopping

Tactics:

‘Dawn of Tactical Awareness’ Concentrate on the Basic Principles of Play
Play a Variety of Positions => Develop an Awareness/Complete Player
Promote Attacking Soccer – Possibly Play 3-4-3…

Small Group => 2v1, 2v2, 3v1, 3v3
Attacking Keep Possession; make sure distribution goes to our team!
Defending Proper Pressure (talk to team mates); Immediate Chase

** Do a Great Deal of Coaching/Teaching within 4v4 Games **

Physical: All Fitness Work with the Ball, Flexibility – Static Stretching, Agility – Coordination on the
Ball, Speed, Strength, Endurance.

Psychological: Keep it FUN and ENJOYABLE to Foster a Desire to Play (Intrinsic Motivation).
Encourage Decision Making, Imagination/Creativity, Increase Demands, Discipline, Encourage to Watch
High Level Soccer

The Game: 8v8 to 11v11

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GOALKEEPING COACHING POINTS
TEACHING THE TECHNIQUES


Introduction

The U12 goalkeeper is ready to take a major step in his or her development. Up to this
point, many players have probably taken turns playing in goal, but at this age the player that
wants to concentrate on the position of goalkeeper usually makes him or herself known. It is,
however, important that all players still do a lot of dribbling and passing exercises as all
goalkeepers need to be good with their feet too. A young man that I knew from Minneapolis,
who never played in goal until he was 12 years old, went on to play with the US National U17
Team.

The requirements and training of this position are specific and must be dealt with in a
patient and understanding manner. It is helpful for every young goalkeeper to get basic
instruction from an older keeper who has gone through proper training. Exposing a player to
diving and defending break-aways (1 v 1) without proper preparation usually ends in injury and
discouragement, and should be avoided. All keepers enjoy playing out on the field, and should
thus be encouraged to participate in all areas of practice to improve their vision, technical foot
skills and overall development.

Proper instruction for goalkeepers in this age group can improve them tremendously.
They have generally reached the age where they will not move out of the way of a hard shot, and
should therefore concentrate on receiving all types of balls and on distribution. It is at this age
group that they should also be exposed to proper diving techniques. Many good instructional
videotapes are available from the OYSA office and your local libraries. Once the player has the
basic goalkeeping tools, he or she can be worked into all the team’s training. The goalkeeper
should always be a part of the team and certain parts of training should emphasize the
goalkeeper’s involvement more than others.

Position

The Ready Position:

Start by teaching players the “ready position”, the stance that all young goalkeepers
should adopt anytime they prepare to stop a shot, whether during practice or in a game. The
ready position involves being balanced on the balls (or front) of the feet, bending comfortably at
the knees while keeping as tall as possible, and having the hands relaxed through the fingertips.
To add to this the player should be shifting weight from foot to foot at speed in order to increase
his reaction time and jumping ability.

Hand Positioning:

It is imperative that young goalkeepers are taught the correct hand positioning for both
low and high balls. In both cases, the hands should form a supple web that surrounds the back
side (closest to the goal) of the ball. (Remember to always play with an appropriate sized ball
for the age group that you are coaching). Coaches should also remember that at this age, players
often have difficulty judging the height and speed of a moving ball.

For low balls the hand position resembles an ‘M’, with fingers pointed down and palms
facing forward. The little fingers of both hands are almost touching.

For high balls the hand position resembles a ‘W’, with fingertips pointed up and palms
facing forward. The thumbs of both hands are almost touching.


Coaching Points:

It is stressed that whenever possible, the young goalkeeper should try to get two hands
behind the ball (no show diving!) as quickly as possible. This means that we have to encourage
the young goalkeeper to have quick feet, attack the ball and move forward to meet the flight of
the ball.

When meeting the ball, the goalkeeper should also use their body to form two barriers, a
cushion and a wall. Try to get the goalkeepers to cushion the ball towards their bodies with their
hands. The goalkeeper can absorb the force of the shot by relaxing slightly at the moment of
contact. We do not want to form a brick wall that the ball will just bounce off back towards the
attacking player! The wall will be created behind the cushion by the goalkeeper’s legs or body.
A goalkeeper should always be on the balls of his/her feet to be ready to react to different and
developing situations.

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Practice:

At practice utilize 1:1 technical work at this age group. Emphasize that the hands are
supposed to cushion the ball into the chest area. A good practice exercise for this is to work in
pairs with one throwing the ball, the other catching with one hand pretending that the ball is a
water-filled balloon! Alternate the catching hand and vary the service. Make the catching player
move his or her feet. This can be developed into two hands using the correct hand positioning
getting the players to not let the ball make a sound as they catch it. Coaches should try this too;
it is more difficult than it seems!

Collecting Balls

Before going into the methods of collecting/saving/catching different types of balls, stress
the importance of being ready to move in the direction of the shot. A good goalkeeper makes
difficult saves look routine by anticipating his or her movements well in advance. If a young
goalkeeper can concentrate for 5 minutes on the opposition attack, he or she will learn much
about where the most danger will come from. Things to look for include: which foot the forward
favors, which way they are likely to turn with their back to goal and which side of the field they
prefer to attack down. In most games of this age group the coach can help by identifying simple
patterns to his or her players.

Players at this age often have difficulty judging the height and speed of a moving ball,
therefore, wherever the ball is coming from tell the goalkeeper to be on their toes and ready to
move their feet to get their body behind the line of the ball.

Ground Level:

In the handling of ground balls (rolling), the main concern is to get the body between the
ball and the goal. Goalkeepers should learn to ‘shuffle’ (side step) to the rolling ball and attempt
to create two barriers (the cushion and wall) between the ball and the goal. The cushion is the
goalkeeper’s hands in the ‘M’ position, and the wall will be the goalkeeper’s legs. Again once
behind the line of the ball, the goalkeeper can attack it by moving forwards to meet it. Once the
keeper is certain of the line of the ball he should position one foot to the side of the ball, kneel
down on the opposite knee (forming the wall) and make a ramp leading to his chest with his
hands and arms.

Get the body behind the ball no matter how slowly the ball is traveling. As the ball
travels up the ramp, the hands and forearms should curl around the bottom of the ball and hold it
into the safety of the chest. It should not be ‘scooped’ as young keepers have a tendency to be
too keen and the ball can end up slipping out and into the net! The goalkeeper can alternatively
attempt to bend from the waist and maintain fairly straight legs to collect a ground ball. This is
sometimes preferred because of a bigger body surface forming ‘the wall’ and also for speed of
distribution from a standing position.

With no pressure a goalkeeper should be encouraged to come away from his goal line and
field the ball with his feet. His or her first touch, however, should be at an angle away from the
goal and/or direction of pressure (where ball has just come from). It should be reinforced that
the young keeper should also play to their strongest foot.

Waist Level:

Again, instruct the goalkeeper to get directly behind the ball and field it with the fingers
relaxed towards the ground. As the ball makes contact, the goalkeeper can absorb the force of
the shot by giving or withdrawing slightly. By curling around the ball from the waist, a majority
of this force is absorbed.

Chest Level:

Teach the goalkeeper to get behind the shot and allow the ball to make contact with the
fingertips of both hands. Do not attempt to clasp the ball from both sides. Form a net with the
hands around the ball in the ‘W’ position, with thumbs together and finger tips upward. Pull the
ball into the chest for safety.

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Overhead Level:

Handling high shots requires sure hands because in this case, the hands are the only wall
between the ball and the goal. The hands must be outstretched and fairly relaxed to absorb the
shot’s force. Again, the hands must make contact on the backside of the ball and not the sides.
To help ensure that this happens, ask the keeper to keep his thumbs touching whenever he goes
for the ball. Many young goalkeepers will move their arms from their sides in large arcs to meet
in the middle above their head, although by the time they have done this the ball has often gone
through already! Get the keepers to get in the habit of always moving their arms in straight lines
towards the line of flight of the ball. Pull the ball to the safety of the chest as soon as possible.

Jumping:

When the shots are overhead, a goalkeeper should still attempt to make two barriers
between the ball and the goal. The goalkeeper can do this by jumping up vertically, although we
must encourage our young goalkeepers to attack the ball (move forward to collect it rather than
wait for it to come to them). During practice, the coach should ask his players to jump as high as
they can, firstly from a still position with hands by their sides, then allowing them to use their
arms to thrust upwards, and then finally taking a few steps forward, taking off on one foot, and
using one knee and both of their arms to thrust upwards. Which of the three methods saw them
leap highest? If the goalkeeper can anticipate quickly and get behind the line of the ball, then he
can afford himself most time to get vertical. It is vital that our young goalkeepers practice
jumping and holding on to high balls.

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Summary:

To summarize, no matter what type of shot, the goalkeeper should do the following:

1. Side-step quickly behind the line of the ball
2. Attack the ball whenever possible
3. Create two barriers between the ball and the goal, or have as much of body
behind ball as possible
4. Absorb the ball’s force by cushioning
5. Bring the ball to the safety of the chest
6. Concentrate until the ball is in the hands
7. All goalkeepers need a good warm-up of all the above and some basic diving
(explained below)
These basic concepts must be taught before placing a child
in the position of goalkeeper.

Narrowing Angles

Generally speaking, if the opposition is attacking down the middle of the field, the
goalkeeper will want to stay in the middle of his goal. If however, they are attacking the goal
from the side he will want to move slightly in that direction to cover his ‘near post’ (the goal post
nearest the shooter) because the ball when shot can travel to that side of the goal more quickly
than to the other side. Most professional goalkeepers will tell you that they would much prefer
to get beaten with a shot to the far post than the near post.

As explained in the 1996 supplement, a coach can easily demonstrate where the young
keeper should position him or herself by tie-ing a piece of rope to each goalpost and having the
shooter hold them to form a triangle. The goalkeeper should try and position himself on the line
that bisects the triangle (see diagram).

A coach can very easily demonstrate what ‘narrowing the angle’ means by getting each
player in turn to place their ball on the penalty spot and stand behind it. Ask the player how
much of the goal he can see unprotected. Then ask the player what his chances are of scoring.
Then move forward to the edge of the 6-yard box and ask the player the same questions.

The same concept is utilized whether the attacking team is coming at the goalkeeper from
the middle or the sides. Obviously we do not want the keeper to come out too far as the ball
could be deliberately chipped over his or her head, although at this age group this is rare. As a
general rule if the forward has the ball at his feet, then the goalkeeper can advance at least 6
yards. The coach should reinforce that the keeper should always be in the ready position.

Diving

Young players will both head, slide tackle and dive for the ball, whether we want them to
or not, therefore, it is imperative that they be taught the correct techniques from the outset.

The first dives should be taught in practice from a seated or kneeling position. The coach
or partner kneeling 3-4 yards away will roll a ball (slowly) to an agreed side about one yard from
the keepers upright body. The keeper’s arm is to produce a ‘long barrier’ between the ball and
the imaginary goal behind him. Again we want to encourage our keepers’ to attack (move
forward towards) the ball, so they will dive to their side but slightly towards the ball. The player
will do this by placing his hand (on the side of the body that he is going to dive) on the ground,
fingers spread, with the little finger almost touching the ground. This hand is to move in a
straight line at this distance from the ground at all times, keeping the arm as straight as possible.

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The opposite hand should move across the body, again trying to have the thumbs nearly
touching, but this hand will end up half behind and half on top of the ball in order to control it.
In essence the bottom arm attacks the ball, the body rotates and the bottom elbow is tucked in.
The goalkeeper will end up lying on his or her side arm outstretched to make as long a barrier as
possible. Again, the ‘barrier’ must be flexible enough to absorb the force of the ball and not
rebound it to the attacker. The ball must again be brought into the body in a controlled fashion
as soon as it is under control. The knee of the top leg should be brought up also for protection.

It is very important that the coach alternates the player doing the exercise regularly (every
1-2 minutes). It is extremely tiring utilizing sets of muscles that are not used very often. The
coach should try it sometime! The practice should continue with balls rolling to each side (the
partner telling the keeper which side he is rolling to). When the keeper is competent (and
agreeable) the service can speed up and finally not let the keeper know which side it is going to,
in order to increase his reflex speed.

As the goalkeeper matures throughout the season, the coach can determine whether it is
prudent to advance the goalkeeping practice to starting from a kneeling position (making a
slightly longer barrier), then crouching, and graduate to a standing ‘ready’ position with feet
shoulder width apart. Then the partner can serve the ball from a longer distance using his feet,
getting the keeper to move his feet (side-stepping) to make the save as easy as possible.
Remember that if the keeper can make two barriers then he should. Again, we want to
encourage the goalkeeper to attack the ball. When in a standing position, the first step must be
forward at a 45 degree angle towards the side of the ball. The goalkeeper’s feet must be pointed
upfield.

Landing is an extremely important issue when diving for a ball. Young goalkeepers have
a tendency to dive stomach-first giving a superman impression. This is wrong as it goes against
our key factors of having our eyes on, and our body behind, the ball. It can also be very painful.
For a ‘collapse’ save (for a ball fairly near to the body) it is essential for the goalkeeper to land
on his/her side, breaking their fall first with the side of the leg, hip and then shoulder. For a ball
further from the keeper’s body, the dive will more closely resemble a dive into a swimming pool
with the keeper’s forearm and then shoulder landing first. Again, in both cases the goalkeeper
should then pull the ball in to the body in a controlled fashion, keeping it safely out of the reach
of attackers.

As this stage is reached and the coach feels that the goalkeeper work can be incorporated
into a team shooting exercise, then the coach should first concentrate on emphasizing the above
coaching points to the keeper, while the assistant controls the rest of the team shooting. It is
often helpful for the coach to stand behind the net to see things from the goalkeeper’s
perspective. Remember that all players need to be warmed up properly, especially the
goalkeeper, and thus it is advisable to have the players shooting from a longer distance first. Try
to encourage the keeper to concentrate in practice as to which foot certain players will use and
where they like to shoot. This can help concentration and anticipation in games.

The progression described above can be utilized for a basic warm-up prior to a practice or
game.

Ball Distribution

Once the ball is successfully collected and controlled, the goalkeeper must make a quick
decision on the method of distribution, whether to roll, throw, pass or punt the ball back into
play. Remember that the keeper is trying to distribute the ball to a teammate in space and
in such a way that it is fairly easy to bring down under control. Most players at this age will
be most accurate if they roll, pass or throw the ball. Again, goalkeepers should be encouraged to
distribute the ball to the sides of the goal and to try to switch the play to the opposite side from
where the pressure (ball) has just come.

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Roll:

Rolling the ball to a teammate who is fairly close and does not have an opposing player
near him involves a motion very similar to bowling. The goalkeeper’s feet are usually moving in
that direction and the strongest arm provides the rolling force, while the other hand simply helps
guide the ball in the appropriate direction.

Throw:

There an abundance of different throwing techniques a goalkeeper can use. It is best to
expose the young players to all of them and then they will decide which ones they favor. Most
frequently seen are the underarm throw, the sidearm slingshot, the baseball pitch and the overarm
throw.

The over-arm throws are slightly more difficult for a teammate to control, so it is vital
that the keeper allows for this in looking to see where the nearest member of the opposition is.
This action is similar to a tennis serve, holding the ball in one hand (the strongest serving arm),
but the feet are positioned firmly on the ground one foot in front of the other.

Pass:

Quite regularly in the game these days, one will see a long ball played over the defense
that rolls straight to the keeper and the opposition forwards give up the chase. If a keeper has
been regularly involved in field play practice (all have at the younger age groups) then he will
have time to control the ball and pass to a teammate in space. This may even be done outside of
the penalty area. It is recognized that it is often difficult for a younger player to look up and take
a ‘snapshot’ of where players are before concentrating on the ball, however, a simple call of
‘time’ by a defender will allow him to relax sufficiently in order to control the ball, look up and
pass. If the goalkeeper is attempting to control the ball with his feet, he should try to do this
when the ball is not heading directly to his goal! The coach can help the players practice this.

Punt:

There are times when the players in front of the goalkeeper will all have a member of the
opposition fairly close by. The coach can teach his players to move into space, but sometimes a
goalkeeper will have to punt the ball. To most easily get a young keeper to do this, get him to
hold the ball in both hands, then walk forward after a few steps drop the ball and attempt to kick
just after the ball bounces. This technique will set up the desired motion. The keeper must keep
the toes of the kicking foot pointed down and remember to follow through the ball as far as
possible. This skill requires a lot of practice before it can be done successfully on a regular
basis. The coach should emphasize accuracy before power to start with.

Communication & Support

Undoubtedly the goalkeeper has the best view of the field of play, particularly in his own
half. The keeper therefore must be encouraged to communicate with his defenders and midfield
players. We have already seen how a defender can make a call of ‘time’ to his keeper, and in
this way the relationship is dynamic and players should be communicating with each other
constantly. This communication should always be positive. Constructive analysis must only
come from the coach.

As with all game situations, a player who wants to control the ball should call for it, and
this is no different for young goalkeepers. They should be encouraged to call ‘keeper’s ball’ for
any ball that they feel they can control (both in practice and matches). This is a real safety issue
as a player that does not call for a ball he is going towards risks getting run into by another
player.

Having every player in practice call for every ball that they want to control, as well as
every ball they want to receive from a teammate, gets them learning good habits from an early
age. The goalkeeper should learn this too, and also to give instructions for the defense to go

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wide, come in, or to a specific player to hold position or drop back to cover. This develops trust
and will eventually be used to take advantage of the opposing team’s weaknesses and break
down an attack.

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Fun Games to help develop Goalkeeping Skills


All games with players using their feet!

Soft Catch

Play game in pairs throwing and catching ball. Try to make no sound as the ball hits the hands
(almost impossible!)

The heading game 1v1

In 10x5 yard grid, players take it in turn to head ball over opponent’s goal line by pulling ball
back and using their own momentum to head the ball. The player who is attempting to stop the
ball can use their hands or dive if necessary. They can also advance as far as they like so if they
stop ball they are in a better position to score. Then make it competitive and play for 1 minute
and then the winner moves up the ladder, the loser moves down. If tied use ‘rock, paper,
scissors’ as a tiebreaker. Do 8-10 rotations to establish a championship!

The heading game 2v2

Players are paired up to play 2v2 in a 10x10 grid. One pair has ball and tries to advance down
field heading to each other. Once they get near the other teams goal line then one of them can
attempt to head it past their line to score. The other team stays on their goal line and attempt to
save ball. Once the ball hits the ground or is saved, the two heading retreat to their goal line and
the other 2 begin to try to keep the ball in the air and advance up the field to score. Can do as a
competitive ladder as above.

American Football

Create a playing field of 15 x 30 yards, but make the last 5 yards of each end an end zone. A
touch down is scored by keeping possession and creating an opportunity to dribble into the end
zone. If this is done with the ball under control, then a touch down is scored.

Death on the Nile!

20 x 30 grid. 3 teams of 4 players, and 3 balls. Each team get one minute in the middle as
goalkeepers (crocodiles in river trying to intercept the ball!) Count # of interceptions. Other 2
teams have to play the balls across the 'river' back and forth. Introduce calling for the ball, then
passing to a teammate on same side to open 'channels'. Goalkeeping techniques being used
include – anticipation, setting position for shot, receiving balls, etc. If ball is intercepted have
keeper distribute back to coach on sideline.

Keeper’s Nest

One player (keeper) guards, but cannot touch the ball. The keeper may stand over the ball. The
objective is for the other three players to get to the ball away from the keeper (using hands, feet
or either), without being tagged and frozen by the keeper. The keeper’s goal is to freeze the
other three players. Once a player is frozen, he can remain frozen until all players are frozen, or
until the ball is snatched away by the other players, or until the player counts to 10.

Keeper’s Nest 3v1

Place three cones in a triangle 10 yards apart. One player is inside the triangle as the keeper.
The other three try to possess the ball and score goals by moving the keeper out of position and
playing through the triangle. If the keeper intercepts the ball, the player who played the ball last
becomes the new keeper.

3v3 or 4v4 'American Football!'

Play 4v4 but players use their hands to pass. Concentrate on proper hand position under
pressure. If a player has the ball in his or her hands then they cannot move their feet. Players
cannot grab the ball if it is in a players hands! Instead of making goals for the teams to score in,
create an end zone at either end of the small field. A team can score a 'touch-down' (6 points) if
they pass the ball to a teammate standing in the end zone. Think up any number of variations for
an extra point! Then restrict a player waiting in the end zone to staying in there a maximum of
three seconds and then has to get out similar to basketball.

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Advance the game by not allowing any player to stand still in the end-zone, or then limit access
to the zone to 3 seconds at a time for any player.

Get out of here

Play "Get out of here" with goalkeepers! - Two teams in a line stand either side of the coach
(standing on the half way line with all the balls). Name them team France and team Brazil Play
2v2 in a 15 x 20 area (or 3v3 in 20x30) grid to 2 yard goals, with the first 2 from each side
coming out as soon as the coach puts a ball on the field. Each team appoints a goalkeeper (or
rotate) so there is always a keeper in goal at each end. The coach is boss of the balls! Introduce
penalty for encroaching! When a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, the coach shouts
'Get out of here!' and the players have to go to the back of their line. As soon as the coach yells,
he can put another ball on the field for the next two players from each team to play. The game is
continuous till the coach has no balls left. He can then ask the players what they can do to
rectify the situation... They will soon collect all the balls back!

Numbers Up

Going to one goal. Add pressure - (i.e. 2v 1, v2). Provide target for defender if they win the
ball. Looking to shoot as quickly as possible, by having body in correct position, showing good
1st touch when receiving ball. 1st touch should be away from pressure. Disguise your shots.

Quick Fire!

Pull one goal all the way up the field to the outer edge of the 18 yard box. Play 5v2 in an area
18x36 yards with two full size goals 18 yards apart. Play for I minute at a time, with the 5
having to make 5 passes before shooting. If the defenders steal the ball they go for goal also.
You can add goalkeepers at any time.

Cooler Ball!

Can play 4v4v4. Put large cooler / trash can (or similar) in middle of field and have I ball and
the three teams play against each other! To score a team simply has to hit the target. Add 5 yard
exclusion zone around cooler and introduce a goalkeeper to this area. Kids will play this game
forever!

Triangular Goals

Create Triangular goals (3 flags 2 yards apart in a triangle shape) in the middle of the penalty
area. Play 4v4 in penalty box. One team has 4 attackers, the other 3 keepers and 1 defender. If
ball goes out of box, or keepers/defender makes a save, switch. Let each team captain keep
scores.

Then go to larger area - 6v6 or 8v8 in between halfway line and edge of 18 yard box. Open
goals up to 6 yards wide.

Advance the activity appropriately by asking players to play 3 passes before shooting or chip
over goals to teammate! Have to score with a volley or half volley, etc.

Finish with 2 fields of 4v4, with a different method of scoring on each field.

Field 1: Head to score.
Field 2: All 4 have to be in opponents half of field for their goal to count!
Option: Have to go around the back of goal and dribble/pass through cones the opposite way.
The Coach can use any number of different options!


"The Game" 8v8, 9v9 to goals with one ball!

A coach should always try to let the players scrimmage for a third or so of practice in the format
that they will play in season. For the U10-14 age group this will be any number from 8v8 to
11v11.

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Objectives of soccer activities

1. Get players to solve problems
2. Foster cooperation and teamwork
3. When does the coach control the game as opposed to the players?
4. Use games that bring out an aspect of the real game
5. Excitement - get kids 'juiced up!'
6. Create environments to bring ideas out. Show kids how to survive!
Happy Goalkeeping!

In teaching tactical decision-making, I believe in making sure every player understands the reasons for choosing every tactical option. I also believe it's important to appreciate that it's a choice because there are always alternatives.
-- Anson Dorrance, Training Soccer Champions
CONTENTS
Never Give Up!
Don't Act, React
Coming Off the Line
When to Dive
Communicating with Defenders
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Related Blog Entries

Tactics is decision-making. A goalkeeper's decisions must be made quickly, on the fly, taking rapidly changing conditions into account. A goalkeeper's decisions are also final, since there is usually no one behind them to back them up if they make a mistake. This section will cover a few key areas of goalkeeping decision-making.

Never Give Up!
Perhaps this should go under Psychology, but a goalkeeper should always remember to never give up on a shot. This is especially true on deflections or breakaways - the goalkeeper who is ready to spring to their feet and try again just might get a chance to make another save. Remember that the shooter is just as likely to flub as the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper should always be ready to take advantage of the opponent's mistakes.

Don't Act, React
Strangely, the first decision a keeper should make when facing a shot is to not make a decision at all! Instead, the keeper should react to a situation as it develops, rather than acting right away. They should stay patient until the right moment comes. Some rules of thumb for keepers:

Force the shooter to decide. Put the pressure on the attacker - make them decide what they should do. If the keeper is already in good position and prepared, they shouldn't need to act too soon.
Be ready to pounce on a mistake. As soon as an attacker makes a mistake - a poor touch or pass, a weak shot - that's the goalkeeper's moment to charge in. Look for that opportunity.
Be ready to react the moment the ball is shot. It is easy to time the shooter and see exactly when the shot will come. Just before the shot is taken the keeper should get into the ready position, able to spring whatever way the shot goes.
Don't Guess! Guessing what an attacker will do should be reserved for penalty kicks, and even then it is not sheer guesswork. Chances are a guess will be wrong, and once the keeper has gone the wrong way it may be impossible to recover.
Coming Off the Line
Inexperienced keepers struggle with trying to decide when to come off their line. This is certainly a difficult decision to make, since it depends on both the situation on the field - attacker's speed and ability, positions of other players on both offense and defense - and the keeper's ability and confidence.


Fig. 1: Keeper's position in penalty area should match ball's position on the field
The decision will be made a little easier if the keeper starts from a good position. In general, the position of the keeper in the penalty area should match the position of the ball on the soccer field. If the ball is in the attacking third, the keeper should be in the front third of the penalty area; ball at midfield, keeper about 6-12 yards out, ball in the defensive end, keeper close to their line. If the keeper is young and small, or the opposing team like to shoot long, high looping shots, adjust the position back towards the goals a few yards.

Position from the middle to the top of the penalty area helps the goalkeeper get to long through balls more quickly (even intercepting and clearing them outside the area if necessary), and also puts the keeper in the play for use as an outlet for a defender under pressure. Even when they are back, the keeper should stay a minimum of 1-2 yards off the goal line to maintain some angle. A goalkeeper who stays rooted on the line not only concedes the better part of the penalty area to the attacking team, but gives them the most net to shoot at when they do get close (see basic positioning).

A very common question I get asked is, "When should I come out?" I think this is the wrong question. It should be, "How should I come out?" I think that the exact timing is much less critical than coming out hard and decisively and not second-guessing. This is not just for breakaways, but applies to any attempt at the ball (handling crosses, long through balls, etc).

The goalkeeper should:

Pick a moment when they have a clear shot at the ball, and then
Come hard for the ball without hesitating or stopping.
Slow down just as they reach the ball carrier, leaving a couple of arms' lengths of space as a cushion.
The second item here is key. Many a goal has been scored because the keeper was indecisive and got caught in "no-man's land", neither attacking the ball or being in good shot-stopping position. Once the keeper decides they're gong for the ball, they must go through with it; they must at least make some contact with the ball. Once the keeper gets near the ball, they must slow down and leave some space to prevent being dribbled by the attacker.
Never start a run by backing up. They should check the posts, look around at the situation, wait for the right moment, but the keeper should do all of this while on their toes and ready to move forward. (Any backpedalling should have been done previously, well before the keeper's charge. See the Breakaway section for more details.

Young and inexperienced goalkeepers may lack the confidence to come hard on a breakaway or out for a high cross. Build confidence by first teaching them proper techniques, and slowly building into game situations - no pressure, then light pressure, then heavy traffic. A keeper who is confident in their footwork, catching ability, and other techniques will have less to worry about when the time comes to be aggressive.

When to Dive
Younger and inexperienced goalkeepers often wonder when they should dive. The answer is, "almost never". A good goalkeeper minimizes the need to dive by being in good position, aggressively sweeping up loose balls, and challenging shooters. A dive should only be used as a last resort, and always after the shot has been taken. The keeper should stay on their feet as long as possible - once they've dived, they're committed and can't change their mind if the shooter does something else.

A dive is the ultimate and desperate reaction to a shot, it should only be used in ultimate and desperate situations.

Communicating With Defenders
Communication is a key for every player on the soccer field, and especially so for the goalkeeper. Once the keeper has made a decision, the defenders need to know what it is. The goalkeeper also must be a organizer and general on the field - they are the only player who faces the field the whole time and are the best positioned to see the development of the play.

The keeper should know at least these two basic calls:

"Keeper!": this means the goalkeeper is making a play on the ball, defenders should get out of the way.
"Away!": this means the opposite - the keeper is not going after the ball and the defense should pursue it. It is usually used for crosses or corners.
The keeper must yell these commands loudly and repeat them if necessary. There must be no doubt in anyone's mind who's ball it is! This even includes the opposing team - forwards will sometimes back off if they think the keeper is coming hard.

The keeper should also direct traffic and position defenders on the field. Don't expect a lot of this to occur with young keepers, especially those who don't play in goal full time, but with experience a 14 or 15 year old full-time goalkeeper should be able to scan the field and the set the defense as necessary. To do this, the keeper must be a student of the game - they must know:

The defensive scheme used by the team and how the coach wants the defenders to play
Tendencies and strengths of the opposing team and opposing players
The role of first defender, second defender, third defender to make adjustments on the fly
The role of first, second and third attackers to help anticipate how the attack may develop
In short, they must be a second coach out on the soccer field. This is a tall order for a youth soccer player, but here are a few points that will help develop this.

Be loud and repetitive. It can be hard to hear out on the field, especially for someone on the ball with their head down. Make sure the message gets through.
Be specific with commands. Yelling "Mark up!" or "Who's on #10?" often isn't enough - tell specific players what to do ("John, mark #10" or "Ashley, Kristy, shift one mark to the right").
Work from the ball outwards. The keeper should focus on the ball carrier first, and arrange defenders near the ball first. When danger is less imminent, set the defenders who are further away.
Arrange to get feedback from defenders. It can be eye contact, a wave of the hand, a verbal okay, but have defenders let the goalkeeper know they were heard. The goalkeeper will be able to shift focus knowing the defender is set, and the defender won't have the keeper yelling at them for something they already heard.
If they keeper does not call, the defenders must take responsibility. The defense should never assume the keeper has a ball unless the keeper calls for it; they should go for the ball unless they hear otherwise. A few collisions with their own defense in practice should quickly teach a quiet keeper the value of calling loudly for the ball!
Communication between the goalkeeper and defenders is a key to making the defense function as a unit.

Warm Up (10 min)
Do some running, footwork and stretching. The Two-Ball Circle is a good exercise to warm up with, as it really gets the concentration level of the players up.
Make sure the keepers zero in on the ball and focus during the warm up.

Head/Catch, Right/Left (5 min)
Now we move into some mental reaction drills, with players working in pairs.
1) "Head/Catch". Players face each other, just a couple of yards apart, and the server easily tosses the ball head high to the other keeper and says "Head" or "Catch". The receiver must either head the ball back or catch it, respectively. After a minute of this, switch the commands -- if the thrower says "Head" they must catch it, and if they say "Catch" they must head it. If it's easy, shorten the amount of time the keeper has to react to the call of "Head" or "Catch"; if it's too hard, give the keeper more time.
2) The second exercise is "Right/Left". The server faces the keeper just a yard apart, holding two balls, one in each hand, about shoulder high. The server drops the balls simultaneously and says "Left" or "Right"; the keeper must catch the ball specified (use the keeper's left and right). After a minute or so, catch the opposite of the ball specified. Again, the server can increase or decrease the amount of time the keeper has to react to adjust the difficulty.
The trick with many of these sorts of exercises is to think, but not too much. Let the words get processed almost subconciously and learn to simply let yourself react.

Tactile and Auditory Reaction (15 min)
1) Now we move to tactile input. Again in pairs, with the working keeper facing away from the server, who stands 3-4 yards away. Without saying anything, the server gently tosses the ball at the goalkeeper, striking them anywhere in the back, rear, arms or legs. The keeper must react, turn, and cover the ball as quickly as possible. The server can move to one side or the other to vary the direction the ball is coming from. With older keepers, the throws can be a bit harder to produce a farther rebound.
2) For an auditory input exercise, place two balls 6-8 yards apart with the goalkeeper in between them. Coach or partner stands behind the keeper and calls "Right" or "Left". The keeper must quickly save the ball on their right or left. To increase the difficulty, then have the keeper save the opposite ball from the one called out.
3) Same setup as 2, except now the coach or partner, who is still standing behind the goalkeeper, moves to the right or left side and slaps a ball they are holding in their hand. The keeper must react to the sound and save the ball in the direction the sound came from. Increase the difficulty by having the keeper save the ball opposite the location of the sound.
The keeper should learn to use the tactile and auditory clues to figure out where the ball is and where it's going. Focus in on the feel of the ball striking the body and use that to predict where the ball will end up: which side of the body, landing nearby or bouncing away and in which direction. Concentrate on the sound of the partner's voice or of the ball being struck. The keeper needs to try to block out all other distractions. When the goalkeeper covers the ball on the ground, make sure they use proper form.

Visual Reaction (15 min)
Here are a few visual reaction exercises you can use.
1) Server holds a ball in each hand, at shoulder height, a yard in front of the keeper. The server will fake dropping one or both balls, but the keeper must not move until the server actually drops one of the balls, and then must attempt to catch that ball before it hits the ground.
2) Set two balls about five yards apart, five yards in front of the keeper. A partner stands on the opposite side of the balls, and attempts to fake the keeper as to which ball he will attack. The keeper must not move until the partner actually goes to attack a ball, and then must make a sliding save on that ball, trying to beat his partner to the chosen ball.
3) Like 2, except the keeper must save the ball his partner does not attack.
4) Have a keeper in goal, with two balls placed 12-16 yards out, one even with each goalpost, and one shooter for each ball. Shooters agree which one will actually take the shot, then both make as if to strike the ball but only the one actually puts the ball on net. Keeper must make the save. In this exercise, the shots ought to be savable -- we are working on the goalkeeper's ability to process the visual cues to react to the correct ball, not necessarily his ability to make the save.
The trick with all of these exercises is not to try to outguess the server(s) and go too early. The goalkeeper must simply relax and wait for the action, then just react to it.

Numbers Games (20 min)
Similar to the Head/Catch and Right/Left exercises, these games work on the keeper's ability to concentrate, process and trust their instincts. The first few are variations on the theme of "Odd/Even", then we add some simple math problems to try to occupy the brain while the body is attempting to react to the ball.
1) Server holds two balls at shoulder height, a yard in front of the keeper. Just before dropping both balls, server calls "Odd" or "Even". If "Odd", keeper must catch the ball on their left before it hits the ground; if "Even", they must catch the right-hand ball.
2) Next, server says a number between 1 and 9 just before dropping the ball. If the number is even, the keeper must catch the ball on their right; if odd, they catch the ball on their left.
3) Once they've gotten that down, we make it harder. Just before dropping the balls, the server states a simple addition or subtraction problem using single digits (e.g. "2+3" or "7-4"). If the result is Odd, catch the ball on the left; if Even catch the ball on the right. Leave a bit more time between announcing the problem and dropping the balls.
4) Have one keeper in goal, with two balls 12-16 yards out, one even with each post, and one shooter for each ball. The shooters each aim for their half of the goal (right or left) and shoot simultaneously. Just before the shots, the coach or one of the shooters calls a number between 1 and 9. If the number is even, the keeper saves the ball on their right; if odd, they save the ball to their left.
5) Like number 4, except now call out a simple arithmetic problem and save the correct ball based on whether the result is even or odd.
Many keepers will have some difficulty with these exercises. Try not to let the concious brain distract them from making the reaction. The keeper should hear the number or problem, let it process, and then simply react. Let them repeat these exercises a number of times in succession quickly so they have a chance to get into a kind of rhythm.

Dynamic Reaction Exercises (15 min)
These exercises get the keeper moving and force them to track balls while the positions of the keeper's body and the ball are constantly changing.
1) Throw-Down-Up-Catch. Keeper stands with a ball in their hands. They throw the ball straight up, lie down on the ground on their back and put their arms straight out, then quickly get up and attempt to catch the ball before the second bounce. For more difficulty, the keeper must lie down on their stomach and put their arms out before getting back up.
2) Throw-Tumble-Catch. From a standing position, keeper throws the ball straight up, does a somersault, then gets to their feet and catches the ball before the second bounce. A variation is to do a backwards somersault, cartwheel, or other tumbling maneuver before the catch.
3) Throw-Catch-Throw-Catch. This exercise requires a keeper and a partner, each with a ball. To start, keeper stands a couple of yards from their partner, facing away from them. The sequence looks like this: 1. Keeper throws ball straight up; 2. Keeper turns 180 degrees to face partner; 3. Partner tosses ball to keepers hands; keeper makes clean catch and throws it back; 4. Keeper turns 180 degress to starting position; 5. Keeper finds original ball and catches it before it hits the ground. This one is lots of fun, but younger keepers may find it difficult because they have trouble getting their original throw consistent.
The key to all of these exercises is to worry about only one thing at a time. Make a good original throw; if the first throw is off the keeper will never complete the sequence. Then once the throw is made, forget about it and focus on the next step; if the keeper tries to track the original throw while turning or tumbling, they will likely not be very successful. The sequence for exercise 3 is laid out in five very specific steps, and for the best chance of success those steps must be done in that order and separated. Another vital piece, especially for the first two exercises, is to make sure the goalkeeper gets completely to their feet and balanced before trying to track down the ball. Do not let them lunge after it from their knees! This kind of training for focusing on one piece is vital for a keeper -- think about the situation where a ball slips throught the keeper's hands because they were already thinking about the upcoming distribution, or because they were distracted by the actions of a defender, or they were still trying to regain their feet when the second shot came. Although simple-seeming, these exercises mimic things that can trip up a goalkeeper in a real match.

Shots on Goal with Arithmetic (10 min)
Finish with shots on goal from 14-16 yards out -- with a twist. Just before each shot is taken, give the keeper a simple arithmetic problem to solve. They have to save the shot and come up with the correct answer as quickly as possible. If you have never heard a 15-year-old come up with the wrong answer to "What is 2+2?", you just might while doing this exercise!
The keeper needs to focus and trust their body reactions, and try to separate out the part of their mind doing the arithmetic problem.

5 GOAL GAME (GK SESSION)

This game works on space and balance as well as finishing, defence, goalkeeping and goalkeeping conditioning.
Split the field into vertical thirds with an 8 yard wide goal (made with cones) at the centre of each zone.

This game is best with 7 a side or greater (11 a side works great if you have the numbers) and if you have 3 keepers it is wonderful but two works well also). The field should be full sized for 11 a side and only slightly smaller for less numbers.

You play a regular game of soccer. If the football is dribbled through any of the three goals at midfield, it's worth one point each time. If a ball is PASSED through any of these goals and received by a teammate it's worth two points. A goal scored into the regular goal (at the end of the field, remember we are still playing a regular soccer game here) is worth 5 points. A team can score as many points at a centre goal as they want and a point can be scored going in either direction (young players will get caught up going back and forth through the side goals for points so it becomes important to remind them that the ultimate goal is to score in the real goal). There should be a keeper in each of the regular goals.

This game will encourage teams to stay spread out offensively and will also encourage them to try to compress the field defensively (it's hard to be chasing from side to side in defence when the attacking team simply has to play a long switching ball to get either one or two points).

If you are fortunate to have three keepers, two keepers play in the regular goals and the third keeper is responsible for the goals on the midfield line. Any time a regular goal is scored (the five point goals) the keeper who gets scored on switches with the keeper in the middle. This should encourage the keepers to do whatever they can to not let in goals because the keeper in the middle is responsible for three goals in both directions. This will require a great deal of conditioning on the keepers parts but again, they need to know how important it is to NOT give up goals in a game.

This game can be played for time (for example it could be a 20 minute game) or it could be played to a certain score (first one to 20 wins). It works on so many important facets of the game that I think if you give it a try, you will soon find yourself using this game (and variations of us) frequently throughout the season.

Goalkeeping Distribution Coaching Sessions

Although young goalkeeper often kick the ball away in the interest of getting the ball away from the goalmouth, throwing the ball is much more accurate and is a great way to start the counterattack.
Warm Up (10 min)
Jog and stretch, putting more emphasis on upper body and arms: large arm movements (windmilling, etc.) will get the shoulders loosened up. Have goalkeepers throw & catch in pairs or facing lines, but make the distance a bit larger than usual.
Make sure the arms and back are thoroughly warmed up.

Rolling the Ball (5 min)
Demonstrate or review basic rolling technique; have them roll the ball back and forth in pairs; then have the target player moving so the roll must lead them, like a good pass. Keepers should receive the ball with their feet, like a field player, then pick it up for their throw.
The release point of the ball should be low, so the ball rolls smoothly. Rolls shouldn't be slow and lazy; they should get there as quickly as possible, so put some zip on the ball! A moving receiver should be able to take the ball in stride.

Baseball/Sidearm Throw (5 min)
Demonstrate or review techniques for these throws. Again in pairs, practice the throw first to a stationary partner, then to a moving one.
As before, the release point should be low. The ball should not be high and looping; it should hit the ground half- to three-quarters of the way to the target so it has time to settle. Some backspin on the ball will help this happen. Again, the throw should have some pace on it. Keepers receive the balls with their feet.

Same/Switch (5 min)
This activity needs four keepers in a square about 20 yards on a side. One player rolls the ball an adjacent teammate. As this is happening, the player diagonally across the square will call "Same" or "Switch". If the call is "same", the goalkeeper returns the ball to the player it came from with a roll. If the call is "switch", the keeper sends the ball to the opposite side with a baseball or sidearm throw. The player diagonally across from the keeper receiving the ball calls "Same" or "Switch" and the sequence repeats.
Rolls are used for close distribution, which might typically be a teammate on the same side of the field as where the ball is. A baseball or sidearm throw is used for longer distances, as when the keeper might want to quickly switch fields. The diagonally opposite player should call "same" or "switch" before the keeper across from them has received the ball, so the keeper must quickly distribute the ball in the proper direction and with the correct technique. Make sure they keep up a quick pace in this exercise.

Overhand (Sling) Throw (5 min)
Demonstrate or review the overhand throwing technique. Keepers should practice in pairs at a distance of 25-30 yards.
Once again, look for a low release point with a low trajectory throw that hits the ground a ways in front of the receiving player. Three common problems I see with this throw: 1) Bent elbow. The arm needs to be straight, elbow locked, throughout the throw. 2) Ball not locked in. The ball must be held securely between the hand and the forearm with a bent wrist, not just held in the palm of the hand. 3) Sidearm throw. This throw should be straight over the top for better accuracy.

Throwing square (10 min)
Four keepers in a 25-yard square, with one defender in the middle. Keepers throw the ball around the square, using a roll, baseball or sidearm throw to teammates on either side, or an overhand throw to the player across diagonally, keeping the ball away from the defender. Keepers receive the ball with their feet before picking it up to throw; if the ball can't be received cleanly the defender may challenge for the ball. If the defender in the middle are keepers, they can exchange places with an outside keeper if they win the ball. You can vary the number of players outside and number of defenders based on ability and the number of players available.
Encourage quick decision making -- find the open player fast, before the defender closes down. Throws should find their teammates feet and be on the ground (not bouncing) to prevent loss of possession.

"Ultimate" Throwing (15 min)
Divide keepers into two groups, and mark out a field a bit larger than you would use with a similar number of field players. Add an 8 yard deep "end zone" at each end. This game is similar to Ultimate Frisbee, except that players receive the ball with their feet. One team throws the ball to the other to start; a team advances the ball by throwing to a teammate, who receives it with their feet and controls it. Once they have, they may not move, but must pick the ball up and throw it to another teammate from that spot. Score a point by throwing to a teammate who controls the ball in the end zone. Defenders on the other team may intercept the throw or win the ball using their feet if the thrower's teammate does not control the ball. The thrower may not be closely marked; defenders must stay at least two arm-lengths from the thrower.
Find open teammates quickly and hit them in the feet. Enforce good goalkeeper throwing techniques; often players begin to simply lob the ball up towards the end zone. Using a neutral player or two who is always with the team in possession will make this game easier.

Throwing Distribution Game (20 min)
This game uses two keepers in goals at each end (cone goals are fine for this activity) and field players in the middle, one or two of whom are neutrals who always play with the team in possession. Minimum in the middle is 1v1+1 (1v1 plus neutral), it can go all the way up to almost full sides if you like (8v8+2). Field size varies with the number of players, but it should be on the large side. Play like a regular game, except that the objective of the offence is not to score goals -- it's to "shoot" the ball right to the goalkeeper so they can then distribute. The neutrals make this work by giving the attackers a couple extra players to get "shots" on goal, and giving the goalkeeper a couple more distribution options. Defenders can play less than 100% as well to give the keepers more work.
Keepers should look to distribute quickly when the receive the ball -- look long first, and if there is nothing there go shorter. The longer they wait, the harder it will be to find an open player as the defence gets organized. Make sure throws are to feet and easy to receive, and have enough pace to get to the receiver before the defence can pick off the ball.

Soccer Golf (Throwing Only) (15 min)
Soccer golf is one of the most popular activities with my goalkeepers every season. Before practice, chart out a "golf course", noting "tees" and "holes". Tees just need to be a grassy location; holes should be 75 to 150 yards in length with an object at the end to hit. Please use objects nobody will mind getting hit with a soccer ball! Trash cans, street signs, goalposts, and fenceposts are some items that are usually acceptable. You can also mark out your own course using corner flags or coaching sticks. Then play "golf", using throwing technique to get the ball near to, and then hitting the "hole" object, in the fewest throws.
Use the appropriate throw -- tee off with a long overhand throw, then a more accurate baseball throw to get close, and a roll to finish it off.

Goal Kick from Stanionary Ball

Straightforward, the goalkeeper places the ball on the 6-yard line and clears to a target area.

Distance will depend on the age of the player involved but coaches should insist on a few basic points.

(1) As the goalkeeper runs to the ball he is comfortable with the angle of approach. Clearly this is important in the direction he is trying to achieve.
(2) Once he nears the ball he must keep his eyes fixed finally on the ball not on the target!!
(3) On reaching the ball the non-kicking foot is placed around 6 inches from the ball pointing in the direction the kick is aimed. To keep the ball low in trajectory the non-kicking foot is placed in a further forward position, conversely if the kick is to be lofted then the non-kicking foot is slightly withdrawn behind the ball.
(4) In the kicking foot, the swing is full from the hip with the knee bent, and then projected forward to contact the ball keeping the foot downwards so that the front of the foot contacts the ball (diagram 1)

NB. At the point of contact the touch leans slightly backward, the area of the side of the non-kicking foot is swung forward, while the other is held slightly behind the body so as to balance.

CONCENTRATION IS IMPORTANT, COACHES INSISTING ON THE RIGHT ANGLE OF APPROACH, EYES ON THE BALL AND A GOOD FOLLOW THROUGH ONCE CONTACT WITH THE BALL HAS BEEN MADE.

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Goal Kick from Hands

When clearing from the hands i.e. a dropped ball, the goalkeeper should start by letting the ball bounce once, before clearing - to a colleague or against a wall.

To progress he drops the ball from around midriff then volleys the ball forward to a short distance to get the technique of eyes on the ball, contact with the front of the foot, and a good follow through exactly right.

GETTING THIS TECHNIQUE IS ESSENTIAL (OVER A SHORT DISTANCE) BEFORE ANY PROGRESSION IS ATTEMPTED.

Once this has been attained then coaches could work on accuracy and distance using the practice in diagram 2.

Coaches (or players) feed the ball in, goalkeeper (G) catches the ball runs out and volleys into one of the target areas - designated by the coach.

Short of the halfway line, the goalkeeper should be volleying for real accuracy - in target areas 1, 2 and 3.

Anything beyond that the coach should insist on height and distance clearing, sometimes aiming for a speed of clearance - so that when the goalkeeper has caught the service he is given 5 seconds to clear from his hands.

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CONDITIONED GAMES - FOR GOALKEEPERS

Conditioned games or practices are devised in order to emphasise the use of a particular skill or phase of play.

First introduced by the late Sir Walter Winterbottom (the FA's former Director of Coaching) they give players the opportunity to concentrate on a relevant skill in their role, while under game conditions and pressure.

It is up to the coach to instruct the players on the way he wants the game regulated, so that players can concentrate on a particular aspect of the game.

Once the conditioned game has started the normal rules of football apply with the players repeatedly trying to improve and gaining confidence in a particular skill.

There are many examples of the way a game can be conditioned and they will be dealt with in the days ahead, but in this session we will look to work goalkeepers.

TEAMS MUST BE ORGANISED EITHER in a full sized game or in a small side game e.g. 5 against 5 with a goalkeeper in both teams (defending a full sized goal)

COACHES CAN ALTER THE SIZE OF THE PITCH TO THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AVAILABLE. E.g. with 12 players (6 v 6) the area can be lengthened to 45 metres x 25 metres, OR with 8 players to 30m x 15m.

So for goalkeepers conditioned games can be: -

(1) Goalkeeper has to kick the ball out on all clearances OR

(2) Goalkeeper has to throw the ball out on all clearances OR

(3) Goalkeepers must clear to the farthest player OR

(4) Goalkeepers must clear to the nearest player

(5) Once in possession the goalkeeper has only 5 seconds to clear the ball

(6) Goalkeepers when saving should try and catch/hold on to the ball.

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