Coaching the Goalkeeper - 1 on 1 Situations
The goalkeeper is a very specialist position and as a result they require a particular level of detail and consideration when being coached. It is not sufficient to just place them in goal and have ‘shooting practice’. There are many technical points that must be introduced to the goalkeeper, when and how they are introduced is based on the age and experience of the individual.
There may be times when the goalkeeper is in a situation where an attacker is bearing down on goal alone, as they have managed to break free past the defence.
Once it is clear that the attacker is through on goal there are certain assessments the goalkeeper must conduct before they can adequately decide the best course of action.
- Where am I positioned in relation to the attacker and the goal?
- How far is the attacker from the goal?
- Is the player coming in from an angle or straight down the middle?
- Who is the player?
- Is the ball under control, or are they still running onto it?
- Are there any chasing defenders? Can they apply any pressure?
- How can I unsettle the attacker?
The answers to these questions will determine how far and how quickly the goalkeeper will come out of their goal.
1 - Where am I positioned in relation to the attacker and the goal?
The goalkeepers starting position will greatly affect their decision and their ability to handle the situation that is developing. Are they in a position that allows them to immediately apply pressure to the attacker or do they have to wait for them to advance? The quicker they can apply pressure to the attacker the less time their opponent will have to assess the situation and decide their best course of action.
2 - How far is the attacker from goal?
Can they score from where they are? The distance that the player is from goal will directly affect how far the goalkeeper has to move out and when they have to move. The further the player from goal, the less likely they are to shoot and score. The goalkeeper can then delay movement for a few moments, as the player moves into an area where they can shoot the goalkeeper should ensure that their positioning reflects this and creates the biggest barrier possible. If the goalkeeper comes out of goal too early they may provide the attacker with the option to chip them, or leave too much space in behind them for the attacker to knock the ball into and run onto.
3 - Is the player coming in from an angle or straight down the middle?
The angle from which the attacker is bearing down on goal can greatly affect how much of the goal they have available to shoot at. The narrower the angle the less space, while the more central the attacker is the more of the goal they can aim at and the more space they have to manoeuvre in. Therefore the goalkeeper should seek to keep the player out wide, or even force them out wide, so that they gain the advantage by reducing the target the attacker has.
4 - Who is the player?
Some players will be more comfortable and confident in such a position than their team mates. If the player is nervous or unsure then an overpowering and over committing goalkeeper may force them to panic and lose possession. However if the player is comfortable then they may be able to bypass an overly keen, advancing goalkeeper and then be left with an empty net to roll the ball into. Also the goalkeeper should assess whether the player is on their stronger or weaker side, as that can have a bearing on their confidence and ability to score.
5 - Is the ball under control, or are they still running onto it?
If the player is still running onto it, can the goalkeeper get there first, or can they get into a position that places immediate pressure onto the attacker? If they can then they should do. They should again ensure they do not over commit themselves and get caught in ‘no man’s land’. If the goalkeeper decides to move, they must move once the ball is out of the attacker’s feet. They must be in the Set position when the attacker has the ball at their feet, so that they are ready for a shot at goal. Ensuring that they do not bounce, so often a shot beats the goalkeeper because they are bouncing and are in mid air when the shot is struck, meaning they have less reaction time.
6 - Are there any chasing defenders?
Can they apply any pressure? Recovering defenders can greatly affect the goalkeepers’ decision in these situations. If there is a chance that defenders can recover then the aim of the goalkeeper is to delay and prevent a goal, otherwise they will just have to try to prevent a goal. If there are defenders chasing down the attacker, do they affect where the attacker can go? Is the attacker forced away or towards goal? Onto their weaker or stronger side? Able to shoot or not? Once the goalkeeper assesses all of these factors they can decide on the best course of action; come out, stay, adjust their starting position and what type of save they will be expected to produce.
7 - What can I do to unsettle the attacker?
The goalkeeper must place as much emphasis on the attacker as possible and not allow themselves to make any of the attackers decisions for them. Therefore they should attempt to unsettle the attacker as much as possible so that they cannot decide early what course of action they will take. The more indecision created the more likely it is that the attacker will fail in their attempt to score. Ways to unsettle the attacker include:
- Start, stop, start moving
- Feint to begin to sprint out but stop
- Start moving forward but retreat
Whichever the goalkeeper chooses they must ensure that they are in the appropriate position and in the Get Set position when the attacker is ready to shoot.
The key is to delay the attacker and not to over commit themselves too early. The longer they can stop the attacker the more time defenders will have to recover. Also the longer they remain big the more emphasis is placed on the attacker to make a decision, rather than the goalkeeper making the decision for the attacker.
If the goalkeeper can they should try to smoother the ball, with their hands, if the ball becomes close enough to them and there is no chance the attacker can move the ball and be fouled.