Goalkeeping
The most important player on the pitch? The only player who can handle the ball
on each team? The goalkeeper.
No goalkeeper on the team and the simple fact is you will never win a game.
The goalkeepers job is to protect the opposing team from scoring goals. To do
this they are given a penalty area in which they can use their hands as well as
feet. The goalkeeper must not use their hands outside the penalty area but ARE
allowed to leave the penalty area using their feet to dribble the ball like any
other player. A common sight in the modern game is a goalkeeper from the losing
team going into the opposing penalty area in the dying minutes of a game to help
try and score from a corner.
KEEPERS TO WATCH……GIANLUIGI BUFFON, IKER CASSILAS, PETR CECH
DRILL 1 – Catching
An important skill for a goalkeeper is the ability to catch the ball. If the
goalkeeper drops a shot or cross into the path of the attacker the result is
usually a goal.
Bronze Challenge
Stand the goalkeeper in front of you (they do not need to be in goal at this
point) and throw the ball at them. Try varying the trajectory of the throw. One
throw could be at the goalkeeper at head height. The next could be in their
midriff, the next high to their left, then low to their right…..etc.
The ability of the goalkeeper will help decide upon how hard and how difficult
to make the throw. The idea is to start with simple throws they can catch to
build confidence then get more and more difficult.
If this drill is being done solely by the goalkeeper they can find a wall and
throw the ball against it then attempt to catch the rebounds.
Silver Challenge
Position the goalkeeper in goal and give them a variety of throws and shots at
goal for them to catch (take the shots from the penalty spot and attempt to vary
them – ie on target some high, some low, pick out the corners – again go for
accuracy and something the keeper can hold to aid their practice rather than
striking the ball as hard as possible).
Gold Challenge
Standing on the edge of the area practice free kicks aimed directly at the
goal and try to pick out the top and bottom corners. The goalkeeper should now
be able to dive and catch the ball.
Once the keeper gets very good place several attackers on the edge of the
penalty area all taking turns in delivering free kicks / chip shots for the
keeper to catch in rapid succession.
DRILL 2 – Jumping / Punching
Whilst in goal crosses and corners that are not headed clear by the defenders
need to be dealt with by the goalkeeper. If they are not caught the best thing
to do is jump and punch them clear.
Bronze Challenge
To begin get the keeper to try standing jumps and try to touch the crossbar
(If the goals are very small just get the keeper to jump and reach their arms as
high as possible into the air).
Once this is no problem progress to running jumps, again at this point only
practice the jumps and maximising height.
Silver Challenge
Throw a ball high into the air so the keeper can take a stationery or running
jump and attempt to punch the ball with 1 and 2 fists.
Once throws become easy start crossing the ball from the corner spot and get
the keeper used to jumping and punching the ball clear.
You can also get the keeper to mix up the practice and also try some jumping
catches.
Gold Challenge
Position a player on each corner spot.
Position players in the penalty area and the goalkeeper in goal.
Crosses and corners with people in the box. Only the goalkeeper cannot rely on
any defenders here to help. All players will try to head or volley the ball into
the back of the net. The goalkeeper must catch or punch as many crosses /
corners clear.
DRILL 3 – Kicking / Throwing
Distribution of the ball begins with the goalkeeper and if they can pass to a
team-mate with a throw or kick it can relive pressure and in some cases create
an attack.
The goalkeeper must master 2 types of kick.
Kick from Hands – Whilst in the penalty area and when the ball is in play (for
example the keeper has just caught the ball) they can kick the ball from their
hands. With a lot of practice kicking from the hands can send the ball a long
way accurately.
Position the goalkeeper in goal. Give the keeper 10 balls and stand in the
centre circle. Get the keeper to hold the ball in both hands take 2 / 3 steps
and dropkick the ball as far as possible in a straight line to or beyond the
centre circle.
Assess the distance and angle of the kicks, advise the keeper where to
position the kick and restart the exercise.
When kicking a long distance in a straight line becomes no problem try
standing on the left wing then the right wing and see if the keeper can aim the
kick in that direction.
Deadball Kick – A goalkick is the most common form of a deadball kick. These
happen anytime a ball is kicked over the goalline by the attacking team. Taken
from inside the penalty area with the ball on the floor these do not go as far
and accuracy is a must.
Put a ball on the edge of the 6 yard box and get the keeper to try the same
exercise as before but from a deadball kick. Once kicking the ball a long way
accurately becomes no problem, add in targets. For example position players on
the wing and try to pick them out.
Another outlet for the goalkeeper is the throw. The throw can be over or
underarm and doesn’t usually goes as far as a kick – although Peter Schmeichel
who could throw the ball past the halfway line was an exception. Goalkeepers use
the throw to release the ball quickly and accurately to start a counter attack.
Position the goalkeeper in goal and get them to practice rolling the ball out
to defenders at pace accurately – similar to a tenpin bowling action.
Now try to get the keeper to throw the ball further using overarm – similar to
throwing a baseball.
GAME – Crosses & Corners – Keeper Version
This time it’s the goalkeeper vs everyone!!
Using a variety of corners and crosses the players standing in the penalty
area must try and score vs the keeper.
Each cross will end with the attackers or the goalkeeper scoring points. If
the keeper saves and either catches the ball or knocks it out of play they get 2
points. The attackers get 1 point for each goal. First side to 20 points wins.
