CONTROL SHOOTING PASSING DRIBBLING TURNING HEADING CREATE SPACE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING SUPPORT PLAY GOALKEEPING CROSSING TACKLING THE THROW IN ATTACKING SET PLAYS DEFENDING SET PLAYS THE FREE KICK

PROGRESSION ON POSITIONAL PLAY

N.B. FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES A GOOD POSITION FOR THE COACH IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE GOAL, HAVING A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ANGLES.

Goalkeepers are the last line of defence in any team, and consequently positional play is crucial.

His job is to react to the play and to the players (on both sides) as they manoeuvre around the field.

A practice for early experience is shown in diagram (1)

Four players (A), (B), (C) and (D) are placed on the edge of the area, and they shoot at the goal when instructed by the coach.

As each one is ready to shoot the goalkeeper should take up a position (in the diagram (G1), (G2) and (G3)) guarding the goal and, advancing slightly to narrow the angle.

COACHES CAN VARY THE TIME BETWEEN EACH SHOT DEPENDING ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PLAYERS AND THE GOALKEEPER. INITIALLY THE POSITION OF THE GOALKEEPER IS THE MAIN ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CHECKED.

To progress the players (A), (B), (C) and (D) can be allowed to move around both outside and inside the area keeping their footballs under control.

The goalkeeper has to remain alert, while the four outfield players wait for a signal/whistle/call from the coach to shoot.

So if the coach shouts "C" then (C) should get a shot at goal as quickly as he can and the goalkeeper has to adjust his position and prepare to save the shot.

The other three - (A), (B) and (D) carry on jogging round the area keeping their ball under control, until they get the call from the coach to shoot.

A more static practice comes at a free-kick, with a line of defenders making a wall in front of the goalkeeper.

The wall should block the route to the near side of the goal, so the role of the goalkeeper should be to try and cover the rest of the goal.

Initially asking the goalkeeper to take up a standing position just to ensure he reads the angles correctly.

It is also advisable to get him to stand just forward of the goal line, to narrow the angle and so to slightly reduce the area he has to cover.

THE WALL SHOULD BE MOVED AROUND TO TEST THE GOALKEEPER'S ABILITY TO SAVE SHOTS FROM ALL ANGLES.

PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS WILL TRY AND CURVE THE BALL OVER THE WALL, SO THE GOALKEEPER HAS TO BE READY FOR THAT AS WELL. SO HE NEVER POSITIONS HIMSELF TOO NEAR ONE POST.

THE GOALKEEPER HAS TO BE ALERT, BUT AT THIS STAGE, GETTING THE CORRECT POSITION IS THE MAIN POINT TO PUT OVER.