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GOALKEEPING 101
Or
What to Do If Someone Kicks a Ball at You
And You’re Supposed to Stop It. And Not Hurt Yourself.
By Andy Marlatt
In most soccer/football youth leagues,the coaches, players, and teams don’t focus on goalkeeping, and in truth it’s usually too soon to turn any player into a full-time keeper. Very often young teams tend to use revolving keepers, which is fine, but we should at least give them some idea of what to do between the pipes.
WHO SHOULD BE A GOALKEEPER?
Ideally, a goalkeeper possesses agility, quickness, athleticism, confidence, bravery and good communication skills. But a kid who doesn’t mind getting kicked in the face will also do. If you’re having a hard time getting recruits, be persuasive. For instance, tell them that only the keeper gets to wear the “Magic Gloves.” Tell them that only the keeper gets to punt the ball. DO NOT show them this picture of ManU’s Roy Keane stepping on a goalkeeper’s head.
HANDS
Goalkeepers can use their hands EXCEPT when they are outside their box, or when one of their own players purposely kicks the ball to them. If the ball deflects off one of their teammates, or if one of their teammates accidentally kicks the ball to the keeper, or if it is headed to the keeper, then the keeper can use their hands. Please note: keepers can only use their own hands, not anyone else’s.
STANCE
Keepers need to learn the READY POSITION, which is thus: Feet are shoulder width apart, with the weight on the balls of the feet, knees bent. Shoulders square to the ball. Hands at the sides. (See figure right)
POSITION IN BOX
Most kids tend to stand on their lines, but keepers should rarely be on their lines. They should come out and cut the angle. In fact, the farther out the ball is, the farther out they are. If the ball comes closer, they adjust.
ANGLE
Draw an imaginary line from the center of the goal to the ball. Keepers should usually take a position along this line. As the ball moves, the keeper should move with it, keeping to this angle. REMIND YOUR KEEPER TO CONSTANTLY CHECK TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE IN RELATION TO THE POSTS. Also, the smaller the keeper, the farther out they should come toward the ball, but only to a point. A keeper who is particularly small, say 16 inches in height, probably should not come anywhere near a moving ball, or people wearing cleats.
BREAKAWAYS
The best save is no save, so win the ball before the shot if you can. If they can’t get to the ball to grab it or kick it away, keepers should slide sideways, thereby making it hard to go around them, and be centered so the ball is around their lower chest or midsection. DO NOT SLIDE FEET FIRST. DO NOT DIVE HEAD FIRST.
TIPS: When facing a breakaway, use a crouched ready position, wait for the attacker to make a long touch, and try to get to the ball when it is as far off the attacker's foot as possible. Also, if the keeper charges a stationary attacker, it’s easier for the attacker to get around. Therefore, MATCH THE ATTACKERS’S PACE. If they’re coming slowly, keepers should approach slowly. If they’re moving in quickly, keepers should attack quickly. If they are approaching in an SUV, keepers should approach in a Humvee.
CATCHING
Kids tend to knock down a ball in front of them and then pick it up. But this creates a rebound. Try to teach them to catch the ball softly, arms extended, and using the elbows as shock absorbers that “give” as the ball strikes the hands. Also, for balls above the waist, keepers should catch using the “W” hand position, (see image) where the hands form a W behind the ball. For balls below the waist, put the pinkies together and keep the hands behind the ball. For balls that have feathers and wings and make a screeching sound, don’t catch these. These are not balls. These are seagulls.
DIVING
In general, kids this age shouldn’t be diving too often, but one thing all kids can learn is how to get one hand behind the ball, the other on top of the ball, and use the ground as a third hand. For instance, when diving to the left for a ball moving on the ground, get the left hand behind the ball first, to stop its progress. (See images) Put the right hand on top of the ball, and let the ground be the third hand under the ball. Remember: the ground should always be beneath the ball, unless you are in Australia, where the ground is above the ball. (See images)
Proper diving technique, meanwhile, is essential to prevent injury and to make saves. And it looks nice.
Young keepers mistakenly think they need to somehow break their fall with elbows or hands, but this leads to broken ribs and wrists. So:
Do not land with your elbow under you.
Do not try to put your hand out to stop your fall.
On a proper dive the knee of your lower leg (see picture) hits the ground first, followed by the hip, then the outside of the shoulder with your arm outstretched toward the ball. Yes, outstretched. This makes you land on the outside of your shoulder, and doesn’t hurt at all. A good way to practice the proper technique is to have the keeper begin by sitting on the ground and diving left and right to stop a ball. Then moving to knees, then to squatting position, and then to standing position.
Also: Dive slightly forward toward the ball, not strictly sideways. This better cuts down the angle.
DISTRIBUTION
Goalkeepers are the first line of attack, and the attack begins with quality distribution. In other words, don’t let your keepers punt the ball every time. Instead, goalkeepers should usually be able to roll/throw the ball to a teammate.
DISTRIBUTION TIPS:
1)If the ball comes from one side, distribute to the other
2)If your team is under heavy pressure, punt long.
3)If your teammate is close, bowl or roll the ball.
4)If your teammate is farther, throw overhand.
5)If your teammate is standing, throw to their feet.
6)If your teammate is running, lead them into space.
7)Come to the edge of the box before throws/punts.
8)DON’T THROW/KICK BALL UP THE MIDDLE.
9)Always distribute your portfolio’s assets among a variety of financial instruments.
CORNERS
Keepers should be in charge, knowing to put a defender on the near post, for example. But at this age, let’s just get them to remember two things.
1) Don’t stand on the line; it’s really hard to see the ball from there, especially if your near-side defender is on the post, obscuring your view. Have the keeper step off the line a couple of feet so they can see.
2) Don’t stand halfway between the pipes. Stand about 2/3 of the way to the far post. It’s easier to run forward for a ball in front of you than to backpedal for a ball behind you, and most kids this age can’t cross it in the air to the back post anyway. Some can. Hope they are on your team.
EQUIPMENT
The keeper shirt is the most expensive piece of clothing this sport has to offer, so naturally they are made in bright, bold colors and patterns so kids will demand you buy them one. They are kind of fun, they’re padded to prevent elbow damage, and sometimes getting to wear the shirt can encourage kids to play the role if they’re otherwise disinterested. Of course, the shirts are also long-sleeved, and if you’re playing on a hot day, nobody wants to wear it. Overall, however, they’re a plus. But keeper gloves…
Keeper gloves they should wear. Broken fingers are a drag. Of course, some gloves are quite expensive as well, but for beginners, don’t splurge, simply because kids will lose them. Or actually they’ll lose just one. Because that’s somehow more annoying.
COMMUNICATING
We’ve saved arguably the most important keeper skill for last: Communicating.
Keepers are commanders in the field, and should not be silent about what has to be done. Some kids lack the confidence (or vocal chords) to do this, but there are two calls the keeper, and his teammates, should know:
1) "Keeper!": this means the goalkeeper is making a play on the ball, defenders should get out of the way. Attackers also often back off when they hear this.
2) "Away!": this means the opposite - the keeper is not going after the ball and the defense should pursue it. It is usually used on crosses or corners.
Thanks, and have a great season.