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Give your goalkeepers a complete workout with this exhaustive session that focuses on shot stopping, reactions, communication and distribution.
What this session is about
- Improving distribution with feet.
- Improving shot stopping from distance.
- Improving shot stopping from inside the box.
What to think about
To be a top goalkeeper, you need to excel at a number of key techniques both in shot stopping/ handling then distributing the ball to defenders to help play out of defence and build attacks. Therefore, training for keepers has changed rapidly in line with the growing demands on them to play a more active role in the game.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Development | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Play 4v4 in a 30-yard square with a goalkeeper at either end. Teams look to keep possession for eight consecutive passes, using the goalkeeper to do so.
Development
Play 4v4 plus keepers on a 36x25-yard pitch divided into two halves.
Each half contains three defenders a keeper and an attacker.
To start, a keeper passes to a defender who looks to make room for a long shot inside their own half. The forward looks to react to any rebounds.
The defending keeper must communicate to the defenders to block the shot while being on their toes looking to make a save. They must also be aware of the forward and parry the ball away from them if they cannot hold the shot.
Related Files
Game situation
Using the same pitch, progress the game.
Now play 2v2 plus a keeper in each half.
The keeper helps their defenders play out of defence and to the forwards who look to score – or defenders can try shooting from long range.
Each team now has a goalkeeper and two defenders in one half and two forwards in the opponents half.
The goalkeeper must:
In possession: Use good passing and receiving skills to help the team play out of defence.
When defending: Constantly communicate to their defenders to give them information and issue orders. The keeper must be alert and ready to make a save - this requires good agility and reaction skills alongside excellent shot stopping.
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