By Wayne Henderson -
This Drill is one that tries to replicate a certain situation that can occur during a game, but there are also technical aspects to the drill as well that will be pointed out throughout the article.
The drill focuses on the situation that occurs when an opposing player gets near the by-line and has a decision where he/she wants to put the ball – either across the face of goal or to cut the ball back towards the penalty spot.
The drill will be broken down into 3 stages.
Starting position.
Stage 1 – dealing with the ball across the face of goal
The attacker starts with the ball at their feet and is passing the ball along the ground into the area between the 6 yard box and the goal line. This is the area that the goalkeeper should be looking to take care of, and as a result will dive sharply to collect the ball with good handling and shape.
The 2nd attacker is positioned to react to any dropped balls from the goalkeeper
Stage 2 – dealing with the cut back
The goalkeeper and attacker start in the same position, this time the 2nd attacker is positioned around the penalty spot. The ball is cutback towards the 2nd attacker who takes a 1st time shot at goal.
The goalkeeper then moves quickly in a controlled manner in order to be in a set position when the 2nd attacker is striking the ball, and make the relevant save.
Stage 3 – cutback or 6 yard box – decision making
Set up is the same as stage 2, but now the 1st attacker doesn’t tell anyone where the pass is going, so the ‘keeper must react (as in a game) as to where the ball goes. You can also add a mannequin to replicate the position of a defender as shown in diagram below.
Coaching points
- In order to get good quality, the service must be good, if the ball across the face of goal is to fast the goalkeeper will struggle to make the correct save with good shape and technique, equally if the cutback to the 2nd strike is too fast the chances of getting a good quality shot at goal will be slim.
- When the ball is cutback to the 2nd striker the ‘keeper should be in the ready position as much as possible when moving laterally across his/her goal, which will help them being in a set position when the striker is taking the 1st timed shot.
By Wayne Henderson
