Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today's edition will introduce a
drill that requires a small group of keepers.
A minimum of 4 keepers is required for this drill but it works on so many different skills
that it is worth it to get a small group of keepers together to do this.
I first tried this drill yesterday with the older group at the clinic I ran yesterday in
Atlanta and while I used more then an ideal number of players, I felt it went extremely
well.
If there are a total of 4 keepers and two full sized goals you would start with a keeper
in each goal which are approximately 30 yards apart. The other two players are on
the field playing against each other. Offensively, the players must abide by the regular
restrictions of regular field players. However, defensively the player may use her
hands. This will allow the defensive player to attack the ball at the attacking
players feet as if in a breakaway situation. Once the defensive player wins the
ball, she must put the ball down and the other player assumes the defensive
role.
While the two players on the field are doing this, the keepers in goal are playing
like normal keepers. This will allow the players in goal to work on saving
deflections as well as breakaways.
The emphasis for the defending player is to stalk the player with the ball and make the
correct decision as to when and where to dive for the ball. If the defensive player
doesn't maintain a nice low position, she will not be successful in stopping the attacking
player.
When the keepers in goal get the ball, they must work on distributing the ball to the
proper foot at the proper time. The players on the field are working on both
stalking and breakaways as well as on their foot skills in receiving the ball, taking
players on and shooting.
If you have 6 keepers available, you can play 2v2 plus keepers and now keepers have to
work on positioning, communication, runs etc.. This would probably be the
ideal number to work with to optimize productivity for all keepers. Simply rotate
the players in goal to give everyone the experience in the different positions.
Many variations of this drill can be added and not only will the players get a lot out of
this drill but also the keepers will have fun playing it.
To be a top keeper, you need to really understand the game. One of the ways to do
this is to subscribe to the Soccer Newsletter. To subscribe please
go to
www.finesoccer.com/subscrib.htm
