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    GOALKEEPING DRILLS

    Goalkeepers! Is it True? They say that you have to be crazy to be a Football goalkeeper, but that is not all.

    FREE 4 YOU SOCCER DRILLS

     


    When Goalkeeping you have to be mentally tough, strong in the air, and not afraid to get hurt.
    Goalies have to have good GK positioning and they have to be fast and they have to have
    good HANDLING SKILLS.

    We have a 100's of goalkeeping drills, Goalkeeper Training Exercises for you to use with your football team or Soccer Club.Goalkeeper training drills for kids

    GOALKEEPING DRILLS

     


     

    FOOTBALL COMMUNICATION

    One of the most important, if not the most important aspects

    on the field of play is great communication in football.

    Apply Here for Football Trials players urgently needed

     

    Good communication is vital if a team is to be successful.

    Players need to communicate effectively with each other to

    play well as a team. If you listen to the players playing in a

    top flight match, one thing you will notice is the amount of

    talking between the players, not only the instructional

    communication but also the level of encouragement

    offered between the players.

    Communication not only means talking to each other,

    but non-verbal communication also plays an important

    part. Directing team-mates using hand signals and other

    gestures both with and without the ball is very important.

    Verbal and non-verbal communication used together can

    be as effective as a well-placed pass, shot or tackle.

    Playing football without talking limits the effectiveness

    of the team and makes winning the game doubly hard.

    We all see players who are gifted with the ball, but

    sometimes let themselves down with their communication,

    failing to show their team-mates what their intention is

    with the ball but also what they expect from them.

    What is worse, it is sometimes these very same players

    who because of their own ability expect the same level

    of play from the weaker players in the team, and when

    the ball goes astray they get frustrated and call out

    negatively to their team-mate. This is an example of

    how important positive chat is on the pitch, because

    negative communication not only gives out the wrong

    signals but also demotivates the other players.

    It can also send a message to the opposition and giving

    them self-belief that telling them that the opposition cannot

    play together.

    Some young players can suffer from low confidence and this

    manifests itself in their ability to talk on the pitch.

    It is important for the football coach to identify this as early

    as possible and encourage the player to use their voice.

    If you have a player who lacks confidence, when it comes

    to instructing team-mates, you need to give them encouragement

    to improve their footballing self-esteem by doing drills

    focussed on talking. This may not come naturally to some

    players, though over time and with practice this can be

    improved and cured completely. For these players it is

    also very important for their team-mates to take a responsibility

    and encourage them to use verbal communication as much

    as possible. Football is a team game.

    The many aspects of communication can be broken

    down in the different phases of play, both in defending

    and attacking. Players need to understand positions

    and the tactics required for the various phases, and

    the need to talk to each other, both for where the player

    should be in any given situation and where the ball should

    be or is expected to be.

    Communication is the responsibility of every player, not

    just the captain or the GOALKEEPER everyone has to

    communicate as if they are the leader on the pitch.

    Each player has a position and an area they are

    responsible for, and in that area they should play

    like a captain and communicate accordingly, calling players

    into their area as needed and advising them what they

    expect of them in their area. In that zone they also need

    to take advice from other players who are perhaps better

    able to see a situation developing from afar.

    Players need to indicate to each other where they

    expect their team-mates to be in any given situation,

    where the ball will be directed to and they should also

    be able to take instruction from any other member

    of the team, regardless of their perceived level in

    the team’s hierarchy.

    It does not matter what the words used are, they

    may be the conventional calls associated with the ball,

    space on the field or the opponent, though the words

    used can be anything, as long as the whole team

    understands the code in use.

    Young players need to focus on the team, and must

    understand that the best players and most successful

    teams have a habit of communicating well. In doing so

    players need to follow these simple rules:

    • Don’t be afraid to instruct and advised your team-mates on what you expect from them.

    • Be responsive to instruction given.

    • Don’t openly criticise your team-mates and encourage whenever possible.

    The ultimate goal is to be able to watch a junior

    match without hearing the coach or a parent shouting

    and screaming instructions at a player, and for all player’s

    to equally give and take important instructions and

    advice from each other.

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    How to Defend - Jockey in Football

    How to Jockey the attackerin football, or sometimes known as defenders putting pressure on the football player with the ball is an important aspect of defending, . Players, and in particular young players, have a tendency to "dive in" at the ball, often missing it completely due to the quick feet of the attacker, when they should hold back and jockey the attacker with the ball.

    Jockeying in Football, is being as close to the ball as possible, within a short distance, and just close enough to be able to tackle. At this distance the defender is in control of the situation, being able to manipulate where the attacker will go and what he will do.

    The defender should be in a low position with both knees bent, turned slightly at an angle from the attacker. The dominant foot of the defender should be furthest away from the attacker and with an even body weight the defender can move as close to the attacker as required, being then able to show the player inside or down the line.

    Having the dominant foot back enables the defender to make a clean and easy strike for the ball if a good opportunity arises.

    It's important to encourage players to stop attacking the ball while defending. By lunging at the ball the defender becomes unbalanced and is easily skipped passed by the attacker.SOCCER DRILLS

    If however the defender quickly takes up the position and jockeys the attacking player, he forces the attacker to make a decision, not only does this give the defending team DEFENDING DRILLS time to regroup but it also puts a doubt into the attackers mind, increasing the chance that the attacker will make a mistake.

     

    A drill to work on and encourage jockeying, is to have two players in a square about 10 yards apart. The attacker has the ball, the defender must run out to the attacker and take up the jockeying position, and without diving in for the ball, he should attempt to stop the attacker reaching the end line, and try to move him away. All through the exercise the defender should not touch he ball.

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    How to Defend - Jockey in Football


     

     

    Drills and games that develop goalkeeping skills.

    13 Goalkeeping FA Soccer Drills

    The triangle drill - develops goalkeeper agility, positional sense and shot stopping ability. It is also good for practicing other players' shooting techniques.  Goalkeeping Advice

     

    Soft Catch

    Play game in pairs with goalkeepers throwing and catching a football. Try to make no sound as the ball hits the goalkeepers hands (almost impossible!)

    GOALKEEPING DRILLS AND THE COMPLETE GUIDE 4 KEEPERS

     

    The heading game 1v1

    In 10x5 yard grid, players take it in turn to head ball over opponent’s goal line by pulling ball back and using their own momentum to head the ball. The Goalkeeper who is attempting to stop the ball can use their hands or dive if necessary. They can also advance as far as they like so if they stop ball they are in a better position to score. Then make it competitive and play for 1 minute and then the winner moves up the ladder, the loser moves down. If tied use ‘rock, paper, scissors’ as a tiebreaker. Do 8-10 rotations to establish a championship!
    GOALKEEPER DRILLS
    GOALIE GOLF ULTIMATE FOOTBALL TRAINING DRILL

     

    The heading game 2v2

    Players are paired up to play 2v2 in a 10x10 grid. One pair has ball and tries to advance down field heading to each other. Once they get near the other teams goal line then one of them can attempt to head it past their line to score. The other team stays on their goal line and the goalkeeper attempts to save ball. Once the ball hits the ground or is saved, the two heading retreat to their goal line and the other 2 begin to try to keep the ball in the air and advance up the field to score. Can do as a competitive ladder as above.Goalkeeping For U12's

     

    American Football

    Create a playing field of 15 x 30 yards, but make the last 5 yards of each end an end zone. A touch down is scored by keeping possession and creating an opportunity to dribble into the end zone. If this is done with the ball under control, then a touch down is scored, great for goalkeeprs handling.

     

    Death on the Nile!

    20 x 30 grid. 3 teams of 4 players, and 3 balls. Each team get one minute in the middle as goalkeepers (they are the crocodiles in river trying to intercept the ball!) Count the number of interceptions. Other 2 teams have to play the balls across the 'river' back and forth.

     

    Introduce calling for the ball, then passing to a teammate on same side to open 'channels'. Goalkeeping techniques being used include – anticipation, setting position for shot, receiving balls, etc. If ball is intercepted have keeper distribute back to coach on sideline.

     

    Goalkeepers Nest

    One player (the goalkeeper) guards, but cannot touch the ball. The keeper may stand over the ball. The objective is for the other three players to get to the ball away from the keeper (using hands, feet or either), without being tagged and frozen by the keeper. The keeper’s goal is to freeze the other three players. Once a player is frozen, he can remain frozen until all players are frozen, or until the ball is snatched away by the other players, or until the player counts to 10.

     

    Goalkeeper’s Nest 3v1

    Place three cones in a triangle 10 yards apart. One player is inside the triangle as the goalkeeper. The other three try to possess the ball and score goals by moving the goalkeeper out of position and playing through the triangle. If the goalkeeper intercepts the ball, the player who played the ball last becomes the new goalkeeper.

     

    3v3 or 4v4 'American Football!'

    Play 4v4 but players use their hands to pass. Concentrate on proper hand position under pressure. If a player has the ball in his or her hands then they cannot move their feet. Players cannot grab the ball if it is in a players hands! Instead of making goals for the teams to score in, create an end zone at either end of the small field. A team can score a 'touch-down' (6 points) if they pass the ball to a team-mate standing in the end zone. Think up any number of variations for an extra point! Then restrict a player waiting in the end zone to staying in there a maximum of three seconds and then has to get out similar to basketball.

     

    Advance the game by not allowing any player to stand still in the end-zone, or then limit access to the zone to 3 seconds at a time for any player.

     

    Numbers Up

    Play with one goalkeeper in a goal. Add pressure - (i.e. 2v 1, v2). Provide a target for the defender if they win the ball. Encourage the players to shoot as quickly as possible, having their body in the correct position. Make sure they show good 1st touch when receiving the ball. 1st touch should be away from pressure. Disguise your shots.

     

    Quick Fire!

    Pull one goal all the way up the field to the outer edge of the 18 yard box. Play 5v2 in an area 18x36 yards with two full size goals 18 yards apart. Play for 1 minute at a time, with the 5 having to make 5 passes before shooting. If the defenders steal the ball they go for goal also.

    You can add another goalkeeper at any time.

     

    Cone Ball!

    Can play 4v4v4. Put large cone (or similar) in middle of the field. The three teams play against each other. To score a team simply has to hit the target (the cone). Add a 5 yard exclusion zone around the cone and introduce a goalkeeper to this area. Kids will play this game forever!

     

    Triangular Goals

    Create triangular goals (3 flags 2 yards apart in a triangle shape) in the middle of the penalty area. Play 4v4 in penalty box.

     

    One team has 4 attackers, the other 3 keepers and 1 defender. If the ball goes out of the box, or the goalkeeper/defender makes a save, switch. Let each team captain keep scores.

     

    Then go to larger area - 6v6 or 8v8 in between halfway line and edge of 18 yard box. Open goals up to 6 yards wide.

     

    Advance the activity appropriately by asking players to play 3 passes before shooting or chip over goals to teammate! Have to score with a volley or half volley, etc.

     

    Finish with 2 fields of 4v4, with a different method of scoring on each field.

    Group 1: Head to score.

    Group 2: All 4 have to be in opponents half of field for their goal to count!

    Option: Have to go around the back of goal and dribble/pass through cones the opposite way.

     

     

    Tags develops goalkeeper GK agility, positional sense of a keeper and shot stopping ability. Ultimate Goalkeeping drills


     

    Attacking Football Drills

    FREE Attacking Football Drillsare the name of the game here, and what a fantastic selection of attacking drills on show.

    These are our most popular used attacking drills by coaches and visitors to this website. Fill your boots these Attacking Drills are completely free....

    Attacking Football Drills

    Attacking Drills

    TAGS: attacking drills, attacking, drills, forward, attacker, shoot, goal.


     

    FA LEVEL 2 Passing and Support Small Sided Game In Soccer (SSG)

    FA Level 2. Passing & Support Small Sided Game. Small-Sided Games,  soccer advice, tips and drills from our coaches at tonys soccer school. FA Level 2. Passing & Support Small Sided Game.

    FA Level 2 Training Exercise

    Start Position: FIG1. Opposing midfield player (O4) shoots at goal; The goalkeeper saves and serves to the Defender, Full Back (X2)

    The Defender passes to the 1st Attacking Striker and receives a pass back. 1st Attacking forward spins and creates the space the 2nd forward to run into. FA Level 2, Football, Soccer, Coaching Course, UEFA, Passing, Support, Small Sided Game, SSG, Games, Soccer, Games, tips, drills, Coaching Course Level 1, FA LEVEL 3,

    FA Level 2. Passing & Support Small Sided Game.

    MORE FREE SOCCER DRILLS HERE

    KEY FACTORS FOR LEVEL 2 PASSING & SUPPORT ARE

    1. CREATE SPACE (X1 & X2 WIDTH)

    2. COMMUNICATION (X2 & X3)

    3. BODY POSITION (OPEN X2 & X3)

    4. DECISION

    5. SUPPORT – ANGLES & DISTANCE

    6. TIMING – RUN / PASS

    7. TECHNIQUE OF PASS

    8. END PRODUCT 


     

     

    ten football (soccer) drills and games that help improve shooting skills

    The Triangle Goal Shooting Game 

    • Set up a triangular goal in the middle of a 50 x 50 grid.

    • Play an even sided game with both teams having their own keeper.

    • Both teams try to score through any one of the three sides of the triangular goal.

    • It is best to place the goal in the centre of a 20 yard in diameter circle, with only the keepers allowed inside the circle.

    • If the keeper catches the ball, her or her team must take the ball outside of the grid before they may attack again.

    • Play with 2 balls for real excitement.

    • Goalkeepers may become attacking players when their team has possession.

     

    Coaching Points

    • Attacking and defending principles of play.

    • Shooting

    • Finishing

    • Possession

    • Goalkeeper positioning, shot saving and distribution.

    Penalty Box Soccer

     

    penalty box soccer

     


    Objective: Practice scoring goals and marking in the penalty area.

    Area: Penalty area (directly in front of the goal).

    Players: Teams of three, two goalkeepers.

    Equipment: Two sets of training bibs.

    At least six soccer balls

    Goal and two corner flags (or four corner flags for two goals)

    Formation: Two teams of three are in the penalty area with a keeper defending each goal.

    Procedure: The game starts with the keeper of the one team throwing the ball to a team-mate. The game is decided by the first goal scored. The team that scores stays on the field and the losing team is replaced by a new team.

    To keep the game moving, keep plenty of balls in the goal and put a two-minute time limit on each game. If neither team scores in two minutes, both teams go off and two new teams restart the game.

    Make sure to balance the teams.

    The winner is the team with the most goals after 20 minutes.

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    Marbles

    Players are organised into pairs, each with a ball. Standing with her back to the field of play, the firstplayer throws her ball over her head. The second player then kicks her ball from the starting point and tries to hitthe ball that was thrown. Play alternates by kicks until one ball is hit. The players then change over and start again. Coaches should emphasise instep kicks for length and the side of the foot for accuracy. Make ita condition that every other game is left foot only. 
    Four Goal Game (heads up!)

    Set up four 2 cone goals in each corner of a 20 yd x 30 yd grid. Divide players into two equal teams. Players may score at any of the four goals.This is an excellent game for encouraging teamwork; getting heads up and discouraging bunching round the ball. 

    Shoot Between Cones

    Set up a line of cones row 3 to 5 yards apart. Pair up players and put one player on each side of the line facing the cones and each other. Players should start close to the row of cones at first, striking the ball between the cones. The partner receives ball and passes it back through the cones. Move players further apart as their technique and accuracy improve 

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    Go For Goal

    Players form two lines on either side of the coach who isstanding 18 to 20 yards from a goal that is any size. The coach serves the ball toward the goal line while one player races to win the ball and shoot. As skills improve, add a goalkeeper. The coach should encourage correct shooting technique and a good first touch on the ball.

    Dribble Cones and Shoot

    Set up two cone lines for a dribble weave about 30 yards with a 2 yard goal at the end. Divide players into twolines or teams. Players must dribble through the cones and score at the goal at the end before the next player in line starts.

    Pass and Strike

    Set up a 30 yd x 30 yd grid with twoopposing goals. Divide players into two equal teams. Each team must make four complete passes before they can shoot on goal. If the ball is taken by the opponent the team must start its pass count again.

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    Hit the Cone

    Set up cones in a line,withthree feet between each cone. Line up two players on opposing sides of each cone, facing one another. Give one of the opposing players a ball. The object of the game is to knock down thecone in as few shots as possible. When the first shooter misses the cone, their partner should trap the ball and take a shot. When the cone is knocked over, one player should set itback up and continue playing. For a variation, play thegame for one minute intervals, and encourage the players toimprove their record each time.

     

    Pass and Shoot

    Set up two cones as a goal at one end of the grid and divide the team in half. Pick one player to start as goalie. Then line one group up behind the goal, with one ball for each player. Line the other group up fifteen feet in front of the goal, in the centre. The first player in line should pass the ball to the first player in the centre line. This person then traps the ball and takes a shot on goal. After their turns, the players should get in the end of the alternate line (players who took shots need to retrieve the ball if needed). Switch goalies often. For large groups, two games can be set up at opposite ends of the grid. Later, have the shooting line take their shots with only one touch.

     

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    Quick Shot

    Divide players into groups of three, and give each group one ball and twocones. Set the cones up as a goal, and have one player be the goalie. The remaining two players should be on opposite sides of the goal, facing each other. They take turns shooting on goal. When the goalie makes a save, he should turn and roll the ball to the other player. Switch goalies often.

    Shot Against Goalie

    Divide the team into pairs. Give each pair one ball and four cones. Set the cones up as twoseparategoals,about 10 yards apart. Every player standsin front of a goal and takes turns shooting and being the goalie. Initially, have the players shoot a stationary ball. Then have them stand behind their goal line and dribble up to itbefore shooting or have the goalie roll the ball to the shooter for a one-touch shot
     

    Cone Kick Down

    This is played justlikearegular small sided game, but instead of having a goal to shoot atset up five cones along each goal line. The first team to knock down all five cones wins. There are no goalies.


     

    Liverpool FC Official Academy Coaching Drills & Sessions

    The Liverpool FC Way

    Your brief description of the LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL ACADEMY view, gives you an insight into Playing The Liverpool FC Way. Please read and below you will find a complete free set of 50 Coaching Drills in a format issues by Liverpool FC. These are issued for information purposes and are not for resale and we make no money from these, and are to be used for Coaching Purposes.

    Many people are also interested in LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL ACADEMY, and if you have a passion for Liverpool Coaching then THE LIVERPOOL FC GAME PASS & MOVE SMALL SIDED GAME, id just the drill for you. We can also inform you Liverpool FC Academy launch new football academy trials, and remember all you need regarding trials can be found here LIVERPOOL FC ACADEMY.

    Liverpool Academy Coaching History - Liverpool FC Coach

    Liverpool football club is recognised around the world as one of a small elite groups of clubs with a true world wide reputation. For the last fifty years the club has been at the forefront of British and European football, winning numerous championships and European club tournaments. During this time, there has been a consistent tradition of developing top class players, particularly from the Liverpool area. Currently Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher are examples of home grown talent who would rank in the very top chelon of players world wide.
    We believe passionately in a ‘Liverpool Way’ of doing things and indeed, football fans would identify a clear ‘Liverpool Way’ which sets us apart from other clubs in a real and tangible way.

    Whilst the development of local players has been at the core of our philosophy we have always believed that we have a responsibility for the all round education of our young players as we prepare them not only for football but for life after football- a truly historic approach. Also running alongside our player development programme has been a coaching development programme.

    To play or work for Liverpool Football Club is a great honour. It does not matter whether you are 9,19,29 or 59- the magic is the same. Football is a simple game but when talented players, gifted coaches and sensible parents are united together, they can move mountains.
    Everyone in this Academy should be aware of the traditions of this club, the standards
    and values that the club represents, the responsibility that we all share to behave in a
    professional way that seeks improvement, excellence and success without sacrificing the
    values that we hold so dear.

    Grab your PDF Format Coaching Drills Click Below

    Liverpool FC Official Academy Coaching Drills & Sessions

    Please book mark our website for all your future FREE Coaching and Football Trial Resources. If you have difficaulty viewing this please email me and will send it over in email format for you.

     

     


         

    Goalkeeper Coaching, The Complete Guide

    My thanks to Mike Smith (the OYSA Recreation Head Coach) for this article. See more good coaching tips at www.oregonyouthsoccer.org

    Introduction to Goalkeeping

    The U12 goalkeeper is ready to take a major step in his or her development. Up to this point, many players have probably taken turns playing in goal, but at this age the player that wants to concentrate on the position of goalkeeper usually makes him or herself known. It is, however, important that all players still do a lot of dribbling and passing exercises as all goalkeepersneed to be good with their feet too.

    The requirements and training of this position are specific and must be dealt with in a patient and understanding manner. It is helpful for every young goalkeeper to get basic instruction from an older keeper who has gone through proper training. Exposing a player to diving and defending breakaways (1 v 1) without proper preparation usually ends in injury and discouragement, and should be avoided. All goalkeepersenjoy playing out on the field, and should thus be encouraged to participate in all areas of practice to improve their vision, technical foot skills and overall development.

    Proper instruction for goalkeepers in this age group can improve them tremendously.

    They have generally reached the age where they will not move out of the way of a hard shot, and should therefore concentrate on receiving all types of balls and on distribution. It is at this age group that they should also be exposed to proper diving techniques.

     

    Once the player has the basic goalkeepers tools, he or she can be worked into all the team’s training. The goalkeeper should always be a part of the team and certain parts of training should emphasize the goalkeepers involvement more than others.

     

    The Ready Position:

    Start by teaching players the “ready position”, the stance that all young goalkeepers should adopt anytime they prepare to stop a shot, whether during practice or in a game. The ready position involves being balanced on the balls (or front) of the feet, bending comfortably at the knees while keeping as tall as possible, and having the hands relaxed through the fingertips.

     

    To add to this the player should be shifting weight from foot to foot at speed in order to increase his reaction time and jumping ability.

     

    Hand Positioning:

    It is imperative that young goalkeepers are taught the correct hand positioning for both low and high balls. In both cases, the hands should form a supple web that surrounds the back side (closest to the goal) of the football. (Remember to always play with an appropriate sized ball for the age group that you are coaching). Coaches should also remember that at this age, players often have difficulty judging the height and speed of a moving ball.

     

    For low balls the hand position resembles an ‘M’, with fingers pointed down and palms facing forward. The little fingers of both hands are almost touching.

     

    For high balls the hand position resembles a ‘W’, with fingertips pointed up and palms facing forward. The thumbs of both hands are almost touching.

     

    Coaching Points:

    It is stressed that whenever possible, the young goalkeepers should try to get two hands behind the ball (no show diving!) as quickly as possible. This means that we have to encourage the young goalkeeper to have quick feet, attack the ball and move forward to meet the flight of the ball.

     

    When meeting the football, the goalkeeper should also use their body to form two barriers, a cushion and a wall. Try to get the goalkeepers to cushion the ball towards their bodies with their hands. The goalkeeper can absorb the force of the shot by relaxing slightly at the moment of contact. We do not want to form a brick wall that the ball will just bounce off back towards the attacking player! The wall will be created behind the cushion by the goalkeepers legs or body.

     

    A goalkeeper should always be on the balls of his/her feet to be ready to react to different and developing situations.

     

    Practice:

    At practice utilise 1:1 technical work at this age group. Emphasize that the hands are supposed to cushion the ball into the chest area. A good practice exercise for this is to work in pairs with one throwing the ball, the other catching with one hand pretending that the ball is a water-filled balloon! Alternate the catching hand and vary the service. Make the catching player move his or her feet. This can be developed into two hands using the correct hand positioning getting the players to not let the ball make a sound as they catch it. Coaches should try this too; it is more difficult than it seems!

     

    Collecting Balls

    Before going into the methods of collecting/saving/catching different types of balls, stress the importance of being ready to move in the direction of the shot. A good goalkeeper makes difficult saves look routine by anticipating his or her movements well in advance. If a young goalkeeper can concentrate for 5 minutes on the opposition attack, he or she will learn much about where the most danger will come from. Things to look for include: which foot the forward favours, which way they are likely to turn with their back to goal and which side of the field they prefer to attack down. In most games of this age group the coach can help by identifying simple patterns to his or her players.

    Players at this age often have difficulty judging the height and speed of a moving ball, therefore, wherever the ball is coming from tell the goalkeeper to be on their toes and ready to move their feet to get their body behind the line of the ball.

     

    Ground Level:

    In the handling of ground balls (rolling), the main concern is to get the body between the ball and the goal. Goalkeepers should learn to ‘shuffle’ (side step) to the rolling ball and attempt to create two barriers (the cushion and wall) between the ball and the goal. The cushion is the goalkeeper’s hands in the ‘M’ position, and the wall will be the goalkeeper’s legs. Again once behind the line of the ball, the goalkeeper can attack it by moving forwards to meet it. Once the keeper is certain of the line of the ball he should position one foot to the side of the ball, kneel down on the opposite knee (forming the wall) and make a ramp leading to his chest with his hands and arms.

     

    Get the body behind the ball no matter how slowly the ball is travelling. As the ball travels up the ramp, the hands and forearms should curl around the bottom of the ball and hold it into the safety of the chest. It should not be ‘scooped’ as young keepers have a tendency to be too keen and the ball can end up slipping out and into the net! The goalkeeper can alternatively attempt to bend from the waist and maintain fairly straight legs to collect a ground ball. This is sometimes preferred because of a bigger body surface forming ‘the wall’ and also for speed of distribution from a standing position.

     

    With no pressure a goalkeeper should be encouraged to come away from his goal line and field the ball with his feet. His or her first touch, however, should be at an angle away from the goal and/or direction of pressure (where ball has just come from). It should be reinforced that the young keeper should also play to their strongest foot.

     

    Waist Level:

    Again, instruct the goalkeeper to get directly behind the ball and field it with the fingers relaxed towards the ground. As the ball makes contact, the goalkeeper can absorb the force of the shot by giving or withdrawing slightly. By curling around the ball from the waist, a majority of this force is absorbed.

     

    Chest Level:

    Teach the goalkeeper to get behind the shot and allow the ball to make contact with the fingertips of both hands. Do not attempt to clasp the ball from both sides. Form a net with the hands around the ball in the ‘W’ position, with thumbs together and finger tips upward. Pull the ball into the chest for safety.

     

    Overhead Level:

    Handling high shots requires sure hands because in this case, the hands are the only wall between the ball and the goal. The hands must be outstretched and fairly relaxed to absorb the shot’s force. Again, the hands must make contact on the backside of the ball and not the sides.

     

    To help ensure that this happens, ask the keeper to keep his thumbs touching whenever he goes for the ball. Many young goalkeepers will move their arms from their sides in large arcs to meet in the middle above their head, although by the time they have done this the ball has often gone through already! Get the keepers to get in the habit of always moving their arms in straight lines towards the line of flight of the ball. Pull the ball to the safety of the chest as soon as possible.

     

    Jumping:

    When the shots are overhead, a goalkeeper should still attempt to make two barriers between the ball and the goal. The goalkeeper can do this by jumping up vertically, although we must encourage our young goalkeepers to attack the ball (move forward to collect it rather than wait for it to come to them). During practice, the coach should ask his players to jump as high as they can, firstly from a still position with hands by their sides, then allowing them to use their arms to thrust upwards, and then finally taking a few steps forward, taking off on one foot, and using one knee and both of their arms to thrust upwards. Which of the three methods saw them leap highest? If the goalkeeper can anticipate quickly and get behind the line of the ball, then he can afford himself most time to get vertical. It is vital that our young goalkeepers practice jumping and holding on to high balls.

     

    Summary:

    To summarize, no matter what type of shot, the goalkeeper should do the following:

    1. Side-step quickly behind the line of the ball

    2. Attack the ball whenever possible

    3. Create two barriers between the ball and the goal, or have as much of body behind ball as possible

    4. Absorb the ball’s force by cushioning

    5. Bring the ball to the safety of the chest

    6. Concentrate until the ball is in the hands

    7. All goalkeepers need a good warm-up of all the above and some basic diving (explained below)

     

    These basic concepts must be taught before placing a child in the position of goalkeeper.

     

    Narrowing Angles

    Generally speaking, if the opposition is attacking down the middle of the field, the goalkeeper will want to stay in the middle of his goal. If however, they are attacking the goal from the side he will want to move slightly in that direction to cover his ‘near post’ (the goal post nearest the shooter) because the ball when shot can travel to that side of the goal more quickly than to the other side. Most professional goalkeepers will tell you that they would much prefer to get beaten with a shot to the far post than the near post.

     

    A coach can easily demonstrate where the young keeper should position him or herself by tying a piece of rope to each goalpost and having the shooter hold them to form a triangle. The goalkeeper should try and position himself on the line that bisects the triangle.

     

    A coach can very easily demonstrate what ‘narrowing the angle’ means by getting each player in turn to place their ball on the penalty spot and stand behind it. Ask the player how much of the goal he can see unprotected. Then ask the player what his chances are of scoring.

     

    Then move forward to the edge of the 6-yard box and ask the player the same questions.

     

    The same concept is utilized whether the attacking team is coming at the goalkeeper from the middle or the sides. Obviously we do not want the keeper to come out too far as the ball could be deliberately chipped over his or her head, although at this age group this is rare. As a general rule if the forward has the ball at his feet, then the goalkeeper can advance at least yards. The coach should reinforce that the keeper should always be in the ready position.

     

    Diving

    Young players will both head, slide tackle and dive for the ball, whether we want them to or not, therefore, it is imperative that they be taught the correct techniques from the outset.

     

    The first dives should be taught in practice from a seated or kneeling position. The coach or partner kneeling 3-4 yards away will roll a ball (slowly) to an agreed side about one yard from the keeper’s upright body. The keeper’s arm is to produce a ‘long barrier’ between the ball and the imaginary goal behind him. Again we want to encourage our keepers’ to attack (move forward towards) the ball, so they will dive to their side but slightly towards the ball. The player will do this by placing his hand (on the side of the body that he is going to dive) on the ground, fingers spread, with the little finger almost touching the ground. This hand is to move in a straight line at this distance from the ground at all times, keeping the arm as straight as possible.

     

    The opposite hand should move across the body, again trying to have the thumbs nearly touching, but this hand will end up half behind and half on top of the ball in order to control it.

     

    In essence the bottom arm attacks the ball, the body rotates and the bottom elbow is tucked in.

    The goalkeeper will end up lying on his or her side arm outstretched to make as long a barrier as possible. Again, the ‘barrier’ must be flexible enough to absorb the force of the ball and not rebound it to the attacker. The ball must again be brought into the body in a controlled fashion as soon as it is under control. The knee of the top leg should be brought up also for protection.

     

    It is very important that the coach alternates the player doing the exercise regularly (every 1-2 minutes). It is extremely tiring utilizing sets of muscles that are not used very often. The coach should try it sometime! The practice should continue with balls rolling to each side (the partner telling the keeper which side he is rolling to). When the keeper is competent (and agreeable) the service can speed up and finally not let the keeper know which side it is going to, in order to increase his reflex speed.

     

    As the goalkeeper matures throughout the season, the coach can determine whether it is prudent to advance the goalkeeping practice to starting from a kneeling position (making a slightly longer barrier), then crouching, and graduate to a standing ‘ready’ position with feet shoulder width apart. Then the partner can serve the ball from a longer distance using his feet, getting the keeper to move his feet (side-stepping) to make the save as easy as possible.

     

    Remember that if the keeper can make two barriers then he should. Again, we want to encourage the goalkeeper to attack the ball. When in a standing position, the first step must be forward at a 45 degree angle towards the side of the ball. The goalkeeper’s feet must be pointed up the field.

     

    Landing is an extremely important issue when diving for a ball. Young goalkeepers have a tendency to dive stomach-first giving a superman impression. This is wrong as it goes against our key factors of having our eyes on, and our body behind, the ball. It can also be very painful.

     

    For a ‘collapse’ save (for a ball fairly near to the body) it is essential for the goalkeeper to land on his/her side, breaking their fall first with the side of the leg, hip and then shoulder. For a ball further from the keeper’s body, the dive will more closely resemble a dive into a swimming pool with the keeper’s forearm and then shoulder landing first. Again, in both cases the goalkeeper should then pull the ball in to the body in a controlled fashion, keeping it safely out of the reach of attackers.

     

    As this stage is reached and the coach feels that the goalkeeper work can be incorporated into a team shooting exercise, then the coach should first concentrate on emphasizing the above coaching points to the keeper, while the assistant controls the rest of the team shooting. It is often helpful for the coach to stand behind the net to see things from the goalkeeper’s perspective. Remember that all players need to be warmed up properly, especially the goalkeeper, and thus it is advisable to have the players shooting from a longer distance first. Try to encourage the keeper to concentrate in practice as to which foot certain players will use and where they like to shoot. This can help concentration and anticipation in games.

     

    The progression described above can be utilized for a basic warm-up prior to a practice or game.

     

    Ball Distribution

    Once the ball is successfully collected and controlled, the goalkeeper must make a quick decision on the method of distribution, whether to roll, throw, pass or kick the ball back into play.Remember that the keeper is trying to distribute the ball to a teammate in space and in such a way that it is fairly easy to bring down under control.Most players at this age will be most accurate if they roll, pass or throw the ball. Again, goalkeepers should be encouraged to distribute the ball to the sides of the goal and to try to switch the play to the opposite side from where the pressure (ball) has just come.

     

    Roll:

    Rolling the ball to a team-mate who is fairly close and does not have an opposing player near him involves a motion very similar to bowling. The goalkeeper’s feet are usually moving in that direction and the strongest arm provides the rolling force, while the other hand simply helps guide the ball in the appropriate direction.

     

    Throw:

    There an abundance of different throwing techniques a goalkeeper can use. It is best to expose the young players to all of them and then they will decide which ones they favour. Most frequently seen are the underarm throw, the sidearm slingshot, the baseball pitch and the over arm throw.

     

    The over-arm throws are slightly more difficult for a team-mate to control, so it is vital that the keeper allows for this in looking to see where the nearest member of the opposition is.

     

    This action is similar to a tennis serve, holding the ball in one hand (the strongest serving arm), but the feet are positioned firmly on the ground one foot in front of the other.

     

    Pass:

    Quite regularly in the game these days, one will see a long ball played over the defence that rolls straight to the keeper and the opposition forwards give up the chase. If a keeper has been regularly involved in matches (as most kids have at the younger age groups) then he will have time to control the ball and pass to a teammate in space. This may even be done outside of the penalty area. It is recognized that it is often difficult for a younger player to look up and take a ‘snapshot’ of where players are before concentrating on the ball, however, a simple call of ‘time’ by a defender will allow him to relax sufficiently in order to control the ball, look up and pass. If the goalkeeper is attempting to control the ball with his feet, he should try to do this when the ball is not heading directly to his goal! The coach can help the players practice this.

     

    Kick:

    There are times when the players in front of the goalkeeper will all have a member of the opposition fairly close by. The coach can teach his players to move into space, but sometimes a goalkeeper will have to kick the ball. To most easily get a young keeper to do this, get him to hold the ball in both hands, then walk forward after a few steps drop the ball and attempt to kick just after the ball bounces. This technique will set up the desired motion. The keeper must keep the toes of the kicking foot pointed down and remember to follow through the ball as far as possible. This skill requires a lot of practice before it can be done successfully on a regular basis. The coach should emphasize accuracy before power to start with.

     

    Communication & Support

    Undoubtedly the goalkeeper has the best view of the field of play, particularly in his own half. The keeper therefore must be encouraged to communicate with his defenders and midfield players. We have already seen how a defender can make a call of ‘time’ to his keeper, and in this way the relationship is dynamic and players should be communicating with each other constantly.

     

    This communication should always be positive. Constructive analysis must only come from the coach.

    As with all game situations, a player who wants to control the ball should call for it, and this is no different for young goalkeepers. They should be encouraged to call ‘keeper’s ball’ for any ball that they feel they can control (both in practice and matches). This is a real safety issue as a player that does not call for a ball he is going towards risks getting run into by another player.

     

    Having every player in practice call for every ball that they want to control, as well as every ball they want to receive from a teammate, gets them learning good habits from an early age. The goalkeeper should learn this too, and also to give instructions for the defence to go wide, come in, or to a specific player to hold position or drop back to cover. This develops trust and will eventually be used to take advantage of the opposing team’s weaknesses and break down an attack.


     

    FOOTBALL WARM UPS AND COOL DOWNS

    Most coaches have changed with the times in regards to stretching players in training. For years, players would do a series of static stretches first and then go into their training regime. Then the idea of getting the players muscles warm first, stop and perform a series of static stretches, get the players back to running again only to stop and stretch another muscle group.

     

    FOOTBALL WARM UPS AND COOL DOWNS

     - the right way to prepare young soccer players for training/matches and cool them down afterwards.

    For the youngest ages, stretching is not important. For the older age groups coaches should incorporate some dynamic stretching along with setting a tone or a “sneak preview” for what the session is going to be about.

    warm up

    Dynamic or Functional Stretching is warming up the muscles specifically for the movements that will be used in the activities of the training session. It is the type of stretching that runners will often use before a race.

    Each Functional exercise should be performed over a 15-20 yard area with a walking or jogging recovery.

    Here are just some of the Functional Stretching exercises you can incorporate into your warm-up:

    Lunge Walk-Loosens up the hips. Lunge walk is when you take large steps keeping the chest up, looking straight ahead and moving the arms and legs together.

    High Knees-For hip flexor and ankle strength. Extend up to the toes and lift each thigh to a parallel position with the ground as you move forward.

    Calf Walk-For lower limb strength and Achilles flexibility. Extend the ankle on each step will warm up the calf muscles and Achilles ten don s.

    Sideways running-For lower limb strength, agility and flexibility.

    Backwards skipping-Same as above and works on strengthening quads and calf muscles.

    cool down should be done AFTER the training session in order to help speed up the recovery process. This is the cooling down stage. Cooling down are easy movements, light running, and more stretching. The cooling down stage of training is something that all coaches need to include as part of their training session.

    This session will show a variety of activities to utilize in both the warm-up and cool down stages of the training session.

    FOOTBALL WARM UPS AND COOL DOWNS

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