By Josh Jones-Keen -
Coaches often focus on outfield players when setting up the organisation of the team to defend set pieces however if the Keeper is set up correctly they can then lead the organisation and make the unit much tighter. It is of course up to the Keeper how many they want in the wall.
Free Kicks
It’s not an exact science how many players you should have in the wall. The below diagram below offers some advice but the Keeper must have ultimate level of comfort. When setting the wall communication is paramount the Keeper must let the team know how many they want in the wall and position them correctly.
This positioning, is the wide player just wide of the post to prevent the ball curling around the wall whilst being able to prevent a shot on target.
The Keeper then takes up their position covering the other half of the goal.
I’ve used cones to highlight the numbers recommended in each section. Obviously the cones can be used either side on the area I have used on one side for space and clarity purposes.
In training to start with I get the Keeper to place cones where they would like the ‘defenders’ to be.
Corners
Any balls in the 6 yard box the Keeper should be claiming. As they get older and talent depending they should be claiming crosses further out than that. Position wise the Keeper should be around two thirds of the way towards the back post; it’s always easier to move forward than backwards! Body shape the Keeper needs to be on the half turn to increase vision of as much of the field of play as possible.
Warm Up
It is important the Keeper can find their way through the mêlée of defenders and attacker in the box. A few quick footwork drills are perfect for a warm up. In this picture I’ve used a ladder for various footwork patterns to be used but you can use cones/disks/balls etc. Keep it varied. One the Keeper makes it through the ladder towards the coach the coach should throw the ball high in front of the Keeper to reach, they should then back peddle through the ladder, when nearly complete the coach should throw the ball so the Keeper has to reach backwards overhead to deal with the longer delivery.
I have also added a couple of cones in, to keep the movement varied the keeper can come out and collect a delivery at a cone or simply come out touch the cone and then make it back to the goal to collect the delivery.
Practice
From a structured start of a corner, the Keeper must get their defensive best suited to nullify the attacking threat. There are personal choices but I think it should be a defensive team decision on how they best like to set up. The attacker delivers the ball and the defence must deal with it, break and try to score in the small goals.
The game should restart alternating sides every time.
Coaching Points
- Footwork – Quick feet forwards/out and turning
- Body Shape
- Positioning
- Communication
- Handling
- Distribution – this is obviously a secondary factor but an important one to start the counter attack
By Josh Jones-Keen - Josh has been coaching Goalkeepers for over a decade & has both Outfield and Goalkeeper coaching awards from England and Scotland. He’s coached at a number of levels from grassroots to semipro and currently coaches non league Women’s team as well as a local academy.
