By Jason Stockman -
So technically speaking “Mano a Mano” (or Mano y Mano) means “hand to hand” – but in many places we see it as “Man to Man”. And that is what today’s drill is about – playing man against man (or woman against woman).
One scenario you never want to see your keeper get into is that 1v1 situation where either a player has a breakaway or the ball has simply gotten lose while in play in the penalty area. Either way, it’s just the keeper, the shooter and a ball - a tense scenario for even the best keepers. Once again though, how do we attempt to alleviate this? We practice!
The drill I offer up today is (obviously) one I call “Mano a Mano” and it offers the following benefits:
- Goalkeepers – 1v1 scenario-style decision making and saves
- Field players – 1v1 scenario-style footwork and shooting
I like this drill for keepers because it sets up a practical, real-world scenario that keepers must be able to handle decisively, aggressively and confidently.
I like this drill for field players because it gives them practice at taking on a keeper 1v1 and staying calm and focused while doing so.
Furthermore, this drill is a great 2-player warm up drill – you could even set two keepers off with each other to do this drill while working other skills with field players.
SETUP
- Players: 1-2 keepers; 0-1 field players
- Gear needed: one goal; 5-6 soccer balls
INSTRUCTIONS
Start with the keeper in the goal box and the field player at the top of the penalty area or arc.
At a signal, the field player dribbles towards the keeper, attempting to beat the keeper by making a move or by shooting. The keeper should be coming out of the box, trying to cut down the angle and either stopping the player or saving the ball. If making this drill a more “learning experience” type of drill, a coach should be present to point out things the keeper and/or player could be doing differently; if it’s just two players, then the players should be trying to point things out as well.
After easing into the drill to get the keeper comfortable with how to move, what to look for, etc., gradually increase the intensity level. For example:
- Start with keepers staying on their feet to learn angles and when to commit; field players can only do a touch-in type of shot
- Increase the difficulty of the player movement and shot but still allow the keeper to still close first before trying to get off a shot
Go full real-world scenario with the player doing everything they can to beat the keeper and the keeper having to use their own judgment and commitment level
By Jason Stockman - Coach at Missouri Rush
