By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured game works on distribution.
Soccer golf is a game people use at camps or for breaks etc but why not use it as a way to work on distribution. Every time a keeper makes a save or their is a goal kick the keeper has to distribute the ball. It’s about distance (sometimes) and about accuracy (all the time). Here is a fun way to work on both.
Start with the keeper in a corner, each with a ball. Pick some targets out on the field (or around the field. In this case we have 7 but you can have as many as you want.
The keepers can start with the ball in their hands or on the ground and they try to play the ball into (or through each goal). The objective is to go through each goal (in proper order so they must go 1 then 2 then 3 etc) in the fewest number of “strokes”. With field players you would have the keeper play everything from the ground but with keepers give them the option to pick up a ball anytime they want (as long as it’s stationary). This means they can play the ball as if it’s a goal kick or they can make an overhand throw or they can roll the ball etc.
The players must jog the entire course (this means as soon as they distribute the ball they jog after it) otherwise the game can seem to take forever.
The player who can go through the entire course with the fewest number of ‘strokes’ wins. Remind the players to keep track of their “strokes” (it seems there is always at least one who forgets and a the end says ‘was I supposed to keep track?”)
This is a simple game, it’s fun and also works on distribution.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
