By Scott Housden - Once the goalkeeper is in control of the ball, there is nothing that frustrates not only the goalkeeper but also the rest of the team more is losing the ball through bad technique or a lack of concentration or vision. In the modern day game, distribution is an area where quality goalkeepers
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By Wayne Henderson - More than ever, the modern day goalkeeper must be as comfortable and confident with the ball at his / her feet than the outfield players. This Drill and adapted game replicates a very common passing sequence found in games at all levels. The important aspects to look for, as a coach
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By Josh Jones-Keen - This warm up can be used at the start of any session. It gets the Keepers moving, working on handling and distribution. As always the warm up’s should focus on good technique as well as preparing the body and mind. Below is what I would consider being the top points to look
Continue readingBy Josh Jones-Keen -
As the game evolves so does the pressure on goal keepers. Not only do they have to keep the ball out of the net but they now have to act as a very deep lying play maker, starting plays from the back. This session works on the techniques involved in doing so and gives the opportunity for the keepers to link back in with the rest of the squad after the technical practice.
Technical Warm Up
Two goal keepers are positioned around the 6 yard box. With two servers out wide of the 18-yard box.
The servers play the ball in along the floor and the
Continue readingBy Jason Stockmann -
An important skill for any keeper is the ability to take a pass from a defender and then clear the ball. This typically comes in the form of a back-pass or trail-pass from a defender in trouble and the keeper blasting the ball as far as they can in whatever direction they’re facing at the time. This is a good play and any keeper should be able to do it.
But a hallmark of a good or experienced keeper goes a step beyond the haphazard clear. As any pro keeper shows, even in trouble, this clearance should be more than just a kick – it needs to be at worst a good pass and at best the start to a tactical play. When Buffon, De Gea or Ter Stegen gets a pass from a defender, they don’t send it into the stands (usually) – they already know exactly where to place the
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on short keeper distribution.
This activity requires one keeper and 5 field players. One field player starts behind the keeper and the others are 10 yards away with balls. There are 2 cones 15 yards to each side of the keeper.
The first player with the
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on distribution with the feet.
Start with a keeper in goal, a server 30 yards out (with balls), a line of players even with the server and a player out wide on each side.
The server plays a ball back to the
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on distribution and decision making.
There are two parts of distribution that must be practiced on a regular basis, unfortunately, both tend to get ignored.
The first part is the technical side. Rolling balls with proper pace and to the proper spot. Longer throws so that they are easy for the receiving player to handle etc.
The second part is the decision making part. Who should the ball be
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on receiving balls with the body and distribution with the feet.
Start with a keeper and a server 40 yards apart. Then spread some gates around the area.
The server starts by playing balls on the ground to the keeper. The keeper has one touch to receive the ball and then
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on handling crosses and then quick distribution.
Start with a keeper in goal and a server out wide with some balls. There will also be 3 gates. One will be just outside the 18. One will be around 30 yards out and the third will be close to midfield
The server plays a ball into the 18 for the
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on quick distribution (and when NOT to distribute quickly).
Start with a keeper in goal and a 4 v 4 situation. There is a second goal 60 yards away.
The server starts by playing a ball to the team attacking
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
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on receiving a ball with the feet and distributing under control.
Start with a keeper in goal, a three yard wide gate at the top corners of the 18 and a server 25 yards out with some balls.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity involves three keepers and works on attacking the ball, movement, shot blocking and distribution.
Start with two keepers 30 yards apart and the third keeper is in the middle. There are two cones making up a 6 yard goal in the middle. One of the keepers on the outside starts with a ball.
The keeper with the ball (2) shoots and tries to score between the two cones. Keeper 1 makes
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity is a small sided game that works on shot blocking, distribution, foot skills and is a LOT OF FUN! This game involves 2 keepers and 2 field players on a 30 x 20 field with full sized goals. If the yellow teams starts with the ball, the
Continue readingWelcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on catching, distribution, footwork and fitness.
Start with 4 cones making up a 3 x 3 square
A keeper starts at cone 4 and a server starts 10 yards in front of the
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity is a group warm up and works on shot blocking, distribution and a little bit of movement.
This a 4 keeper activity with one keeper in “goal”, two keepers 20 yards wide on angles and a fourth keeper starting as the server.
The server starts with a ball at his feet and shoots at the keeper and
Continue readingWelcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on communication, organizing, breakaways and shot blocking.
This activity involves 7 field players and is a regular 5 v 2 game working on possession and defending from their perspective.
The keeper starts on the sideline and is working on organizing the two defenders and telling
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today's featured activity works on dealing with crosses and then quick distribution.
The reason for today’s activity is to reinforce to the keeper that making a save or catching a cross is just the start of the play and NOT the end of the play.
Start with a server out wide on each side, a keeper in goal and 5 gates spread around the half of the field.
One server plays a ball in as a cross and the keeper comes out and catches the ball.
Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity is a catching game to work on hands, confidence and distribution.
Start with 2 keepers 10 yards apart (the distance can vary depending upon the level of the keepers. You do want this to be done between 2 keepers of similar abilities. One keeper starts with a ball in their hands.
The keeper with the ball throws the ball at the other keeper. The ball can be thrown at any