KEEPER CORNER

44 SUCCESS IN SOCCER May 2008

Integrating the goalkeeper

into the attackTraining the goalkeeper with the team in practical match environmentsby Greg Maas, State Technical Director, Utah Youth Soccer Association

In victory or defeat, it is more often thannot the goalkeeper’s performance that de-termines the outcome: A good team winsgames, but a good keeper creates cham-pions! Therefore it is critical that coachesat all levels regularly conduct practice ses-sions that integrate the goalkeeper withthe rest of the team. This type of sessionshould put the keeper in age-appropriatematch environments that realistically re-flect the growing demands of the position.

It wasn’t too long ago that the goalkeeper’sresponsibility was simply to be the shot-stop-per. Now expectations have evolved, andcoaches are quickly recognizing the impor-tance of the goalkeeper as the “11th player.”

Goalkeepers are now expected to link withtheir team in support of the ball in order tohelp break pressure or maintain possession.For this to work on a consistent basis, coach-es must create training environments thatenable keepers to acquire the skills and confi-dence they need to successfully support therun of play for their team.

Technical/tactical skills in thegame

Experience has proven that the majority ofpractice sessions are designed and structuredaround the needs of the team without muchthought about the role of the goalkeeper. Inaddition to planning, preparing and imple-

menting a session that integrates the goal-keeper into the team, coaches also need toclearly define the goalkeeper’s role and ex-pectations as these relate not only to the ses-sion, but to the real game as well. Techni-cal/tactical aspects of this role include:• maintaining proper angles of support• good starting position in support of the ball• vision and awareness away from the ball• correct distribution to start the attack and

support the ball• changing the point of attack quickly• deciding whether to play to feet or space• deciding whether to control or clear the

ball first-time• appropriate technique while receiving and

distributing the ball

Psychological skills in thegame

It is vitally important for all coaches tounderstand the influence they have on agoalkeeper’s confidence, whether they have abackground as goalkeepers or not. Ignoringthe goalkeeper in a training session or failingto provide constructive feedback could havedisastrous results. Taking a proactive ap-proach to goalkeeper development by inte-grating your keepers into the team will notonly increase their self-confidence and over-all abilities, it will also undoubtedly contrib-ute to a brighter future on the field for yourentire team. Important psychological skillsfor keepers include: • proper verbal and visual communication,

clear organization• correct and decisive decision-making• reaction speed consistent with speed of

play• organization of the team in transition to

defense and offense

Goalkeepers need to stayconnected to the teamthroughout the entiregame.C Axel Heimken

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KEEPER CORNER

SUCCESS IN SOCCER May 2008 45

1Setup• Mark out a circle with cones (radius: 10 yards) or use the center circle.• Divide players into two teams. Each team has one ball.• Position goalkeepers in the middle of the circle.

Sequence• Players maintain possession of the ball while passing to their teammates.• Goalkeepers attempt to intercept the passes and then quickly distrib-

ute the ball to the opposite team.

Variations• Add touch restrictions (i.e. mandatory two-touch).• Each team starts with two balls.

Coaching point• Keep playing times short (this activity is very tiring for keepers).

Warm-up: Passing

50 y

44 y

2Setup• Mark out a 44 x 50-yard field. Divide players into two teams of eight

plus two goalkeepers. Each team has one ball.

Sequence• Players pass the ball to their teammates and move.• Every fourth (or third, or second) pass must be to one of the goal-

keepers, who distributes the ball with his feet to the other team.

Variations• Allow goalkeepers to distribute the ball with their hands by bowling

(on the ground) or sling passes (overhead).• Goalkeepers vary their service between long and short passes.• Play with four balls.• Play keep-away with one ball: Teams score by completing six con-

secutive passes, one of which must involve the goalkeeper.

Warm-up: 8 v. 8 passing with two goalkeepers

INTEGRATING THE GOALKEEPER INTO THE ATTACK

50 y

44 y

3Setup• Mark out a 44 x 50-yard field, divided into thirds, with two goals.• Divide players into two teams of five with goalkeepers. Each team has

one ball.• Players are restricted to an assigned third of the field (2 v. 1, 2 v. 2, 1 v. 2).

Sequence• Play begins with one of the goalkeepers.• If the defending team wins the ball, they must quickly play it back to

their goalkeeper before starting their attack.• Rotate players accordingly.

Variations• Add neutral players to the middle third to help maintain possession.• Increase team size to seven (2 v. 2, 3 v. 3, 2 v. 2).• Goalkeepers are allowed to bypass the middle third of the field.

5 v. 5 with two goalkeepers

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KEEPER CORNER

46 SUCCESS IN SOCCER May 2008

50 y

44 y

4Setup• Divide players into two teams of six with goalkeepers, plus four neu-

tral players. Teams play on two goals in one half of the regular field.• The neutral players are inside two crossing channels on the flanks.• All other players are restricted to an assigned half of the field (3 v. 3

in each half).

Sequence• Teams play 3 v. 3 in each half with the neutral players in the crossing

channels. The neutral players may not be attacked.• Rotate players accordingly.

Variations• Create a 4 v. 3 by allowing one player to enter the attacking half.• Players are free to cross the centerline.• One player can enter the wide channel to create a 1 v. 1.

6 v. 6 with four neutral players and two goalkeepers

5Setup• Mark out a field with two goals between the penalty boxes.• Divide players into two teams of eight with goalkeepers (A and B).• Team A plays in a 2–3–3 formation, B in a 3–3–2 formation.

Sequence• Teams play 8 v. 8.

Coaching point• Try to make all adjustments and coaching points during the run of

play or during natural stoppages in the game.

8 v. 8 with two goalkeepers

EXERCISES AND PRACTICE GAMES FOR PASSING

30 y

20 y

6Setup• Mark out a 20 x 30-yard field.• Using cones, mark out three lines. Position six players on each line.• Goalkeepers are designated team captains for the cool-down exercises.

Sequence• Players jog back and forth on their lines between the cones and per-

form various dynamic exercises, e.g.- skipping - side-stepping- lunge walks - grapevine- squats - gate movements- toe touches - knee hugs- leg swings - heel kicks

Cool-down

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