"Soccer Goalkeepers & Coaches...
Do You Make Mistakes in These 5
Areas?"
Soccer Goalkeepers -- 5 Keys to Quick Improvement
All goalkeepers should have a good understanding of these 5 areas... 1 -- Know Where You AreGoalkeepers should always know their position in relation to the goal. When the attacking team is pushing the ball up field, the goalkeeper will move forward and backward, and from side to side in order to keep themselves positioned between the ball and the goal. In the midst of a hard attack, it is easy for the keeper to lose track of exactly where the goal is. You should get yourself into the habit of constantly glancing back toward the goal to ensure that you are maintaining the correct position. The goal is a large target for an attacker, and a decent attacker can place their shot with a good bit of accuracy. It is critical for the goalkeeper to try to position themselves in a way that the shooter does not have large, unguarded portions of the net to shoot at. In order to do that, you need to know exactly where the goal is. You have to know where you are in relation to the front post and the back post. Just being "sort of" in front of the goal is not enough. Look for the goal, and then adjust your position accordingly. 2 -- Take ControlA good goal keeper can become an on-field coach for their team. You are in a position to see more than any other player on the field. Let your teammates know what you see. All players should communicate with each other during the course of a game, but this is especially true of the goalkeeper. You need to be loud and clear with your commands. If your players don't respond to what you say, say it again (and again if necessary). There are a few terms that you and your teammates must understand: "Back Side" - This refers to the side of the field opposite the attacker with the ball. For example, if an attacker has the ball on the right side of your goal, the left side of the goal would be referred to as the "back side." Many times, defenders will be concentrating on the player with the ball, and not notice an opposing player that is moving into position on the opposite side of the field. As a goalkeeper, you need to point out undefended players to your defense. The best way to do this is to name a specific defender and tell them to cover the player on the back side. "Push Up" - When your team has the ball, and they are pressing the attack in your opponent’s end of the field, there is a tendency for defenders to stay back in their defensive positions. The bad part about this is that if a defender kicks the ball down field past your attacking midfielders, it will take too long for your defenders to get to the ball and put it back into play. The momentum of your attack will be lost, and your team will need to reset to begin another attack. By telling your team to "push up" you are directing them to move further up the field. When the opposing team wins the ball, you would tell your teammates to "fall back" into their defensive positions. "Man On" - When you teammate has the ball, they are looking for possible places to dribble, or a teammate to pass the ball to. They are looking down field, and may not be aware of what is happening behind them, so they will not be aware of a defender that is moving into position to pressure the ball. It is up to you to let them know the defender is coming by yelling "Man On." This is the command whether you are playing for a boys or girls team. "Turn" - When your player is receiving a pass from a player that is behind them, they will often have to turn their back to their opponent. Because they are not able to look behind them and still keep their eyes on the ball, they will not know whether they are being defended or not. When they are defended you will use the "man on" command, but if they are not being defended, you would tell them to "turn." This lets them know that a defender is not near them, and they are able to turn and make a play with the ball. 3 -- Be PatientOne of the worst soccer goalkeeping mistakes you can make is to try to guess what an attacker will do with the ball. Not only is there a good chance that you will guess wrong, but by guessing you will commit to a course of action too soon, and give the attacker an even greater advantage. It is very difficult for an inexperienced goalkeeper to know when to come out of the goal to take on an attacker. If you are unsure, the best thing you can do is wait to see how the play is going to develop. Position yourself in front of the attacker, and wait for them to commit. If there are multiple attackers, you will need to stay back, and not pull yourself out of position. Stay with the ball, and as the attack gets closer move out to take on the attacker, but be prepared to react to a crossing pass. 4 -- Don't Second GuessOnce you decide to move away from the ball and take on an attacker, the worst mistake you can make is to second guess. Come off of the line hard and with confidence. If you start to second guess your decision your momentum will slow, and you will give the attacker more time to decide what to do with the ball. If you change your mind and try to pull back toward the goal, you will be off-balance, and not in a good position to move to the ball when the shot is made. 5 -- Never Give UpThe final thing to remember when working on your goalkeeping skills is to stay with the play until it is completed. Even if you have just made an amazing dive and blocked a shot that was headed for the back of the net, you need to recover and be prepared to make another play on the ball. It is always possible that you will block the ball and hit it directly at another attacking player who would like nothing better than to finish the play with a score. Or you could tip the ball to a teammate, who immediately has the ball stolen. Get yourself into the habit of recovering quickly and getting back into position. Find where the ball is, and be ready to make a second, or even a third save. Don't give the opponent an opportunity to make an easy play. Always be in position, and prepared to challenge the attacker. Soccer goalkeeping is an important piece of any successful team. By concentrating on these areas, you will see rapid improvement in your ability to play this position with great success. These soccer coaching videos and printed materials can help you achieve your goals much more quickly. |
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