We Have The Ball:
- Good with their feet.
Why?
- Keepers are usually the players who start the attack or re-start. (From a goal kick or from a pass-back).
- Need to be comfortable with their feet while under pressure from a defender. (If a defender is charging at them, do they simply kick it out of bounds, or do they push their 1st touch into open space so that they can play out?)
- Good distribution with hands and feet.
Why?
Having good distribution is key when playing in the Keeper position. Different types of distribution from a Keeper are:
- With the ball on the ground, using their feet. (Short, long, driven, lofted).
- Punting the ball from their hands. (Side strike, driven, lofted).
- Throwing the ball out with their hands. (Rolling the ball to a player’s feet, overhanded throw for a more driven ball, or a lofted ball to cover more ground).
It is important for a Keeper to have good distribution, because they are the players who are closest to the goal, and if their distribution isn’t successful, then it will be harder for the team to get forward in attack. Also, it adds to the overall team’s confidence when a Keeper can use their feet. A lot of times when players don’t trust their keeper using their feet, you will see them opt out of making a pass back to the keeper, and just kick it out of bounds, giving away the possession.
They Have The Ball:
- Shot stopper.
Why?
- It is important for Keepers to be a good shot stopper, because they are only player on the field who can safely secure a shot on goal, without having it rebound off their body. As keepers are able to use their hands.
- Being a good shot stopper is all about setting your feet, on your toes, knees bent, chest over toes, shuffling from side to side, and keeping your eye on the ball.
- Be able to cushion the ball inside your gloves, with your hands in front of you and never over your head.
- Getting your body behind the ball / shot. This way, if the ball slips past your gloves, your body is behind it, which will keep the ball out of the net.
- Commands the space between the defensive unit and our goal.
Why?
- The space in behind the defensive unit is crucial, because that is the space most attacking players want to play the ball in, as it is the most dangerous space.
- For example, when the ball is in our attacking half, the Keeper moves forward with the defensive unit, so that the space behind them is manageable, to where they can easily play a ball out with their feet if a through ball gets sent over the top, or through a seem. Thus transitioning from Defending to Attacking higher up the field.
- Organization of the defensive unit.
Why?
- Being vocal, letting defenders know when to slide, step, press and drop.
- Organizing the weak sided player to tuck in and slide over towards the center of the field, to also make sure that player keeps their hips open so that the defender can see the entire field in front of them.
- Give good and positive instruction. Keepers do not “Yell” at their defenders. They instruct them to positions and areas of the field that are best seen from the Keeper position. (As the Keeper has a great view of the field and of what is going on).
Being a Fremont YSC Goalkeeper:
- Good with your feet
- Good distribution
- Starting point of counter attack
- Shot stopper
- Commands space between defensive unit and goal
- Organization of defensive unit
You must be logged in to post a comment.