By Josh Jones-Keen -
As much as we like to think every shot or cross is catchable that just isn’t the cases. There is a time and a place to catch and a time and a place to parry or punch. Catching should be the number one thought but adjusting to make sure the Keeper gets the right outcome is important. A Keeper should look to parry around the post or out towards for a throw in and punch to get the ball clear out of the area from a cross, usually in a crowded box. This session looks at Punching.
Punching Technique
Fingers should be together in a flat surface, the knuckles should be flat and thumbs flat against rest of fist and not tucking in or poking out. If knuckles or thumbs are poking out the ball could come off at a different angle than expected and it could hurt. Fists should start by the chest, elbows bent and then pushed up and through the ball to get the most power possible. This applies the same regardless of one hand or two hand punch.
The server should stand a few yards away and toss the ball in to the Keeper who should punch it back. Start at chest height to practice technique then once comfortable with the technique can try with the ball tossed in the air, slightly out of reach.
Body shape should be the same as crosses, not facing the crosser completely but being on the half turn and facing both the crosser and the pitch allowing the Keeper good opportunity to move.
Punching Crosses
Start with the Keeper unopposed to practice technique and build confidence. The server or number of servers should vary the height, depth, distance and speed of crosses and the Keeper should decided when to come to the ball and where and how to punch (one or two handed). Once the Keeper is working well to progress add targets; mannequins or moving runners to add more variation and give the Keeper more decisions to make. When deciding to leave the ball the Keeper should give a shout such as ‘AWAY’ or when deciding to claim the ball should shout ‘Keepers’
Coaching Points
• Positioning
• Footwork
• Hand Shape
• Communication
• Ball going high, long, wide
Punching Game
Players in the wide zone play up and down the pitch and can play for both teams. They must receive the ball passed out wide and cross the ball in and attempt to score; playing on if they do not score directly from the cross. The Keeper must decide to leave the ball for it to go out of play of for the defenders to clear (AWAY) or come and attempt to punch (KEEPERS). If they can punch the ball past the cones (double fisted) or in to the wide areas with one hand the Keepers team wins a point. Either play laid out here or number depending play with just one goal. Or you could even play in rotation working both Keepers from different sides at the same time.
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.
