Leon, Author at Goalkeeper HQ

Author: Leon (page 15 of 16)

Set Piece Check List – Corners

May 19, 2012 / Leon / Comments Off

Set pieces contribute a large number of goals towards an organized attacking team. They get their success preying on unorganized teams and unconfident goalkeepers.

Here is a checklist to ensure you and your team are not vulnerable at corners:

1 – Speak with your coach on what tactics they want to implement. Ask if the team are going “zonal” or “man for man” or a combination of the two with players on the post. Discuss with your coach what players are going on the post ( I prefer not to have defenders on the post as I need them to defend in the box)

2 – As goalkeeper, it is your responsibility to ensure your players are alert to short corners or quick corners. You should not be collecting balls for the other team. If you see that the opposition may be looking to take a short corner or a quick one you need to give a name and an instruction to your players. ” Tony close down short corner ” for example

3 – Be seen by your coach to physically put players in the right position. It is at this time that you can give confidence to players in a calm manner. a) “Jess, go near post – stand inside the goal so I can see the ball. You have all in swingers – OK?” b) “Sarah. Go far post. Be big and cover me if I come for the ball”. c) “Monika. Six yard box – big headers in there….You’ve got anything around that area.”

4 – Decide on an action if an opposing player comes to distract you. Either a) You deal with yourself – ensure you are confident. Let people know that you are good to deal with it and start jumping up and down to make yourself big and stamp your authority in that area. b) Ask a player to separate the opposition from you. The key to both options is to not get distracted by the oncoming player and not be tempted to move further forward than the optimum position.

5 – Call “‘Keeper’s” or “Away” – If “Away” you need to get the players out. When telling players to get up, you need to give guidelines on how far to move up. There are lines of reference on the field. – 6 Yard box, Penalty spot, Edge of the box, Top of the “D” and Half way line.

De Gea – Man of the Match villain

March 10, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

I just watched a rather entertaining Europa League game between Manchester United and Athletic Club Bilao.

The spanish club came at United with an intensity and if it were not for a number of great saves by De Gea they would have won by more than the 3-2 margin.

The Manchester United goalkeeper’s form has been much improved since his return to the team after being dropped for four games in January. This game he pulled off a number of saves as the Spanish bombardment came. After pulling off a cracking low save prior to Bilbao’s third goal, I am surprised that no one mentioned that the keeper was surely to blame for the goal and thus the defeat.

Here is my issue – De Gea’s “second save” from the shot was dreadful! He pulled off a great save, but did not parry wide enough. In my opinion he took forever to get up and upon diving for the loose ball he did not go hands leading, choosing to run around the ball, thus allowing the oncoming player time to get the shot off.

When making the “second save” a goalkeeper should ensure that they can get their hands to the loose ball as quick as possible. I can not think of many occasions when a goalkeeper would make the first on one side and make the follow up with the other side.

Here is the game, with the mistake at 9:15

Goalkeepers win games

March 10, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

Last weekend saw two examples of how important the goalkeepers are.

Both Kelvin Davis of Southampton and Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny had terrific games to earn victories for their team.

This extract from Richard Sutcliffe’s report in the Yorkshire post sums up the Southampton Goalkeepers performance.

On the balance of play and chances created, Leeds should have won the game at a canter.

That they did not was down almost entirely to a once-in-a-lifetime display from Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

Time after time, Leeds looked like making the breakthrough only for Davis to keep them at bay with a stunning save or defiant block.

No wonder, therefore, that the final whistle was met by not only a fully deserved standing ovation for the United players from their supporters but also the sight of Saints players and coaching staff racing towards Davis.

The veteran goalkeeper was, within seconds of referee Nigel Miller calling a halt to proceedings, buried underneath a mass of team-mates before emerging from the scrum to be hugged by his grateful manager.

Nigel Adkins running 65 yards to thank Davis was understandable, as without him the chances are Southampton would have returned south on Saturday fearing that the initiative in the Championship title race had swung the way of West Ham United.

Certainly, Leeds manager Neil Warnock was in no doubt as to why his first home game in charge had ended in defeat.

He said: “I thought the goalkeeper could have won four man-of-the-match awards with that display. You can see what it meant to the Southampton players by how they all rushed towards him at the final whistle.

Confidence can be a bad thing

March 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

Four minutes of added time – you are hanging on 1 – 0 and have ten men…..

In what must be the last kick of the game, the opposition manage to get a shot off – it goes top corner and you manage to tip the ball over the bar…. The crowd cheer and your team mates make you feel like royalty.

CONFIDENCE is obviously high.

Can you believe it, the referee allows the corner to be taken and all 21 players pack the penalty area. ( Yes the opposition goalkeeper comes up )

This is where as a goalkeeper you need to separate yourself from the natural high….. Confidence is a good thing, but it can lead you to make poor decisions. In the game I saw, the goalkeeper came for the resulting corner, hungry for more of that great feeling you get from being a hero.

What inevitably happened was that the conjested area proved to be troublesome and the opposition got a head to the ball and giving the opposition the last minute equalizer.

It is important that as a goalkeeper you deal with each save as they come. Whether your last save was amazing or indeed a mistake. “YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR NEXT SAVE”

Waiting in the wings

February 29, 2012 / Leon / 1 Comment

Upon attending the England U19 game last night, I was in disbelief that for the second live football match I had seen in the UK, I saw a goalkeeper have to come off. Connor Ripley had just let in a goal to the Czech republic and in his efforts to save the well worked free kick he had pulled something in his side region.

He tried to carry on but found himself having to go down and request to get subbed. This took place with England having just conceded a corner leaving the new goalkeeper to strip off his tracksuit, put his gloves on, and run 2 thirds of the field before having to immediately have to deal with the corner.

Obviously, the tactic of any team would be to ensure the resulting corner put the new keeper under pressure and sure enough it did. I was very impressed how #1 Samual Johnstone managed to get to the ball and punch the ball away from immediate danger.

This got me thinking about the ability to mentally prepare if asked to come on as sub. The implications if this is not right could make or break you. From my own experience, I recall getting my chance in a game as the then first choice keeper hurt his hand and I stepped up. On the bigger stage, I wonder what effects it would have on Samuel’s career had he not been physically / mentally ready when that cross came in and the Czech republic then got the equalizing goal?

Tips to be ready…

1 – Shin guards on and tied/taped, ready to play

2 – Gloves ready, wet palms using your squeezy bottle.

3 – To have read the game. (What are the other team’s tactics & who are their danger players?)

4 – Boots done up, ready to play

5 – To have built up a chamaradry with the defenders so that they like / trust you. ( It was good to see how two defenders purposely went up to Samuel Johnstone before the corner was taken. )

For match highlights see http://bcove.me/q3nq3560

The front smother save

January 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

This save has come into play in recent years due to the swerve and movement of the modern day soccer ball.

Key Points –
Quickly move feet into line
Set position when ball is struck
Head steady, looking at ball
Hand shape decision
Body weight forward for collapse.

Lean over ball and kick legs back so as not to have awkward landing.

UPDATE: ( 1/23/15)

Having really helped my students get this technique correct, I would like to add the following:

The front smother is best used when the whole body is not behind the ball.

Take a step to the side that the ball is coming ( left or right )
The step must be forward and feet pointing forward
With the step forward, you can bend at the knees to get low
Scoop up the ball with strong hands using the “bull” technique
After the bent leg you should not have far to collapse forward, using the ball and arms to soften the fall.
The finished save should have you with one straight leg and one bent leg on the floor.

See below:

Quick feet get Goalkeepers out of trouble

January 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

Although we use our hands, it is our feet that get us out of trouble. As goalkeepers we should have the quickest feet of all. One of my best goalkeepers was actually a dancer.

We are looking to lead with the nearest foot and not to cross legs when gliding or shuffling across.

Only when the ball gets played to the “3 Goal” area – or weak side, should the goalkeeper contemplate crossing legs in a running movement, as this is the fastest way to cover a longer distance.

Ensure you adjust your body as you are about to make the save otherwise a “swimming pool dive” will be inevitable. To create a good “Second Barrier” your shoulders should be facing the opponent.

Narrowing the angle

January 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

This involves vertical awareness of the goalkeeper.

Main thoughts for this are.

1) Location – Where the keeper is in relation to ball and other players
2) Anticipation – Can you as a goalkeeper read the game well enough to guess where the ball is going to go? (This is easier than it sounds)

LOCATION – The goalkeeper must always be in the “Ball Line” – The imaginary line between the ball and the middle of the goal. I saw a couple of games over the weekend where this was not the case, resulting in goals.
Whilst playing at these indoor venues, we as goalkeepers have to take every opportunity to push up. This results in the ability to play fewer defenders and essentially have an extra player on the field. I expect no Premier goalkeeper to just stand on his or her line.

You can push up off your line whenever the other team cannot shoot. Namely: When the opposition has back to goal
When your team is pressuring the opposition
When your team has the ball

You recover when:

The opposition has the ball 18 – 28 yds out with no pressure (eliminating the lob)

ANTICIPATION – You can tell if a player is going to shoot. Be set.
The only way that the opposition can penetrate when pressured is with a combination play. This normally involves a through ball into the box or a heavy touch into the box in which the goalkeeper can pounce.
Starting position is as if you are starting a race if you are not saving a shot.

When narrowing the angle, keep bodyweight forward, gate position and pressure as close as possible. – Don’t get caught in no-man’s land

Saving angle away from the goal. Any questions get in touch.

Understanding vertical play

Goalkeeper goal kick

The back pass

January 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

The Goalkeeper should be a soccer player first and have in addition the knowledge and ability to play in goal.

That fact, as well as the fact that 76% of a goalkeeper’s touches in a game do not involve the hands requires the goalkeeper to be competent with the ball at their feet and the back pass situation.

With good vertical play and a confidence to play with feet outside the area, the goalkeeper’s position can lead to an extra player advantage on the field (especially indoors)

Are the players in your team scared to play back to the keeper? – Please discuss with the team the advantages of playing the way you face as a defender and using the goalkeeper to pivot play.

Much of the back pass is tactical ( decision making ) and communication within the team is key.

The goalkeeper, and players should adopt these 4 words so that everyone is clear on what is happening.

“KEEPER” – Dont touch it, keeper is coming “BACK” – Play it back to the keeper
“AWAY” – Clear it
“TURN” – Keep possession. You have time to turn

Ideally the goalkeeper would be looking to play to a defender who has peeled off wide, thus maintaining possession. The pass, as expected with outfield players should be the correct weight and accurate. (Not necessarily to feet, but in front )

Common errors for misplaced passes include:

Weak ankle
Shoulders not straight
Poor first touch
Twisted follow through
Non kicking foot pointing the wrong way

The long kick is often a last ditch effort to clear from a charging forward. This kick is to clear danger. Height, distance and width are needed. Remember that this often results in a loss of possession, as larger opposition defenders facing the field of play are more likely to win the ball.

A good goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at feet should be an advantage to the team rather that a hindrance, giving everyone heart attack on the side!

See this unusual way to deal with a back pass.

See my related articles

The importance of a good first touch

Back pass facts

Kicking balls from the floor

Breaking down the Courtois backpass mistake

The second barrier

January 4, 2012 / Leon / 0 Comments

There is a tendency for many of the goalkeepers to save with no “Second Barrier” when the ball was slightly to the side. I’m not sure if it is the influence of Basketball where the turning of the shoulders is prevalent, but I had to reinforce the fact that shoulders should be facing the opponent and to glide or shuffle across the goal to ensure a second barrier.

The second Barrier is any part of the body that is behind the first barrier – The hands.

The image to the right shows a good example of a goalkeeper getting his body behind the ball, even if it requires a dive.

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Author: Leon (page 15 of 16)