Goalkeeping (behind the wall at the free kick)

Goalkeeping requires a lot of decision making, and defending behind a wall of players does require some positive thinking.

Of course every goalkeeper has his own ideas but there are a few basic points that are important:
Be ready/alert from the moment the free kick against your team is given.
Retain an open body position.
Do not go too far forward or the ball will be chipped over you.
Be on your toes, knees slightly bent, and keep your eyes on the ball and on the players near to it.
Make sure the wall is covering at least half the goal, especially if the free kick is close to the penalty area.


Practice



Goalkeeper (G) has a wall using 4 markers (marked xxxx) covering the near post. If anything, the outside marker should be at least one metre outside the post so that the ball cannot easily be curved round and into the goal.
(G) gets into a position to see the ball, if possible, covering the far post area, yet aware of the threat to the near post area of the goal.

Both sides of attack should be used (as in diagram) positions 1 and 2 – also varying the position of the free kick’s distance to goal.

Finally position 3, central, on the edge of the area, which means 5 markers (almost on a 6 yard line) covering ½ the goal with (G) covering the rest. In this position the attacking side may add their own players to the wall (marked yyyy) to deny the goalkeeper a sight of the ball, so good communicating with defenders is essential.

Primarily in this practice (using markers) the basics are the first essentials to get in place. BE ALERT, START POSITION, GOOD COMMUNICATION, OPEN BODY POSITION, WATCH ATTACKERS ROUND THE FREE KICK, READY TO ADJUST.

Ideally to progress defenders can be used in the wall, once the goalkeepers are sure of their requirements with regard to positions at the free kick. The wall then becomes animated, defenders moving or jumping at the free kick (when it is taken) can cause problems to the goalkeeper and dealing with it needs practice.


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