Role as a Team Player
The requirements of the goalkeeper position are uniquely different from the rest of the squad. Regardless of those distinctions, however, the goalkeeper is a team player. The skills that a goalkeeper masters must be practiced and integrated with the team. Harmony and interaction within the entire group, not just amongst the field players, is of utmost importance to a successful team performance.
We all understand that the goalkeeper protects the goal area by mastering techniques for shot handling. We must also remember the keeper frequently starts the attack by effective and selective distribution of the ball.
The goalkeeper also must possess the ability to direct players verbally and through the use of physical signals.
To capture and utilize these skills to their fullest, and to develop a sense of responsibility within the goalkeeper, he must be involved as a vital member of the team.
Here’s the million dollar question: How important is your goalkeeper to your team’s success? I’m sure you’ll agree the goalkeeper is vital to team performance. Some would claim that the goalkeeper is the most important player on the team. I would have to agree that, while the goalkeeper is very important, his role is certainly no more dominant than any other individual. All players on the team are assigned crucial roles, and it is important that they understand how each functions in order to form a cohesive unit. Isolating the goalkeeper’s training has merit, but total team training also provides results. Integration of all players is the key. So much attention has been given to training equipment that perhaps not enough attention has been given to the actual demands of the game itself.
Visualization
We need to do more than physically train the goalkeepers, we need to educate them to visualize the entire game. Accurate observation is a trained, learned visual skill. Nothing affects a keeper’s actions and reactions more than the things he observes. Sight is a primary channel of information, and using this information in a positive, experienced manner is extremely important to the goalkeeper.
Learning how to effectively observe through experiences, recollection, association and repetition is the basis for training more acute visual judgment. The goalkeeper needs to see, assess and act in an environment that is familiar and within the context of the game.
There are several activities that will highlight the various aspects of goalkeeping, and how they work within the
overall framework of the team game.
Warm-up
Focus:
The team prepares the goalkeeper to train.
Challenge:
Interaction among all players in the preparation process, with restrictions. Stretch between various restrictions.
Observations:
Attain proficiency in the areas of technical maintenance, the psychological component, and the physical elements of the game.
Activities:
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Each goalkeeper is in possession of the ball inside the goal box area. Field players move about creatively at a comfortable pace. Goalkeeper distributes a low ball to a field player. Player accurately pushes it back to keeper. The goalkeeper continues to distribute to and receive balls from other field players.
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The keeper can now begin to serve air balls to field players. Field player then collect the services and strike ball back to the keeper within a comfortable saving distance. Field players must accomplish within three touches of the ball. After each service or save all players must perform an exercise (e.g. pushups or forward rolls).
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Expand the area and distance. We now ask the goalkeeper to find and locate the player farthest from the
ball, and distribute it to that player. The player receives the distribution from the keeper (which may be a thrown, full or half-volleyed or a struck dead ball) and serves the flighted balls into the goal box.
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We can now begin to link up field players with combinations before we deliver the ball to the keeper. Example: Field player receives the ball from the goalkeeper, who now locates other teammates, and strikes the ball at the keeper. The connection between field players can be in the form of a wall pass, takeovers, one touch, seeking out furthest player, etc. What’s important are the goalkeeper’s movements with the ball. As we progress, the demands on the keeper increases. Let’s reverse it, and have all field players involved in maintaining ownership of the magic object -the soccer ball.
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We stress communication. The goalkeeper must signal - either visually or verbally - for the ball. The keeper then receives the ball, and sends it to the field player, who in turn sends it back to the keeper, constantly increasing the pace.
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Players are dribbling. On the coach’s signal, the player will sprint, with the ball, at least 10 yards. The goalkeeper, who is now ready for such activity, will perform break-away saves.
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You can link field players in groups of two to add pressure in many of these activities.
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You can match goalkeepers to challenge each other, resulting in increased competition.
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You can split the squad into two teams and play keep-away. Every third pass must go to the keeper.
These activities, and variations of them, are limited only by your imagination.
Technical Practice
Type One
Focus: Absorbing low balls.
Challenge: Rapid fire.
Observations: Saving stance; the ability to drop; dynamic stability; and shooting signals.
Activity: All players outside of the goal box, keeper in goal. One serving player is in possession of all the balls.
Other shooting players are lined up near the balls. The distributor touches the first ball to a shooter, who strikes it low and fast to a pre-determined side of the goal. This activity is performed rapidly and continuously -once the save is made, and the keeper is in position, the next shooter fires. Observe the keeper’s starting position versus the saving position. The saving position should focus on the keeper getting closer to the ball. As soon as the shooter drops his head, and begins focusing on the ball, the keeper should be progressing forward. When the shot is just about to be delivered, the keeper gets balanced with equal distribution of body weight.
Type Two
Focus: Handling bounced balls.
Challenge: One bounce only.
Observations: Foot skills; body and ball relationship; area covered.
Activity: Each goalkeeper has a ball, which they serve to a field player.
The player strikes it away from the keeper, who has to chase and catch the ball before it bounces a second time.
It’s a lot of work—try it! A variation is to have players juggling the ball 25-30 yards away. Keepers in goal area.
Each player has a number. When the coach calls a number, that player serves an air ball anywhere into the goal area, and proceeds to chase it down. The keeper has to get to the ball first, as early as possible, preferably before the second bounce. The keeper distributes the ball to target players, and rotates to the end of the keeper line. Rotation must move rapidly, and the keeper must move aggressively forward toward the ball to make this exercise
a success.
Type Three
Focus: Flighted balls.
Challenge: 3 v 3 + I
Observations: Perception and action; communications.
Activity: Keeper in goal, three offensive players, three defensive players, and one free player. All are outside the goal box.
Free player serves to offensive players, who touch the ball back to the free player. The free player then serves a high ball into the box, and the offensive players chase it down. After making the save, the keeper distributes the ball to the defenders, who either find the free player or reload by returning the ball to the goalkeeper. Note the keeper’s evaluation of the high balls and his ability to direct defenders.
Type Four
Focus: Break away save.
Challenge: Solo save.
Observations: Attitude, anticipation and courage. Keeper in goal, field players in groups of two with one ball.
Assign numbers to each group. Players move freely, passing the ball to each other, 25-30 yards from the goal. Coach calls out a number—player in possession quickly attacks the goal. After a two second delay the second player in the group becomes the defender and pursues the attacker. Keeper has to decide whether to stay in goal
or come out for the save. Should the keeper make the save, he distributes the ball to the pursuer. Note if the keeper is projecting hands and body to the ball when saving; hands should be to the near post side unless the attack is coming straight down the middle. Down the middle, we go to the keeper’s strongest side. Demand the keeper win the ball as early as possible (it’s considered a win when the field player loses possession).
Courtesy Dan Gaspar - Star Goalkeeping Academy.
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