INFO SHEETS - Keepers Info Sheet
(click on links below)To be a Keeper
Advanced Communication
Basic But Vital Keeper Communication
To be a Keeper
Thanks to Lawrence Fine www.finesoccer.com He writes...
ps Tim & Lawrence are from the U.S.A.
GAA means goals against average,
SO means shutout (we call it a cleansheet)
I received an email from a young keeper who really seems to have a great perspective on what a keepers attitude should be. With his permission, I am including this email below. I would like to thank Tim Mason for this contribution.
One thing I have noticed since beginning my (what I hope to be a long) tenure in the game of soccer less than a year ago, and what made me choose GK over Fullback, is the attitude that a Goal keeper possesses. This attitude is not the attitude that they are the biggest baddest thing on the pitch (even if they are). The attitude of a GK is that of leadership responsibility and ownership. As a GK who is working himself to the bone to prove to his team that he is a keeper not a poser, I try to convey these things with every game every half and every play. These things are vitally important to a GK, I would go so far as to say that these are the qualities that when coupled with the physical characteristics required by the position, actually make a GK.
The most important characteristic is ownership in my own opinion when I step onto the pitch and put on the gloves, it is MY ball, it is MY team, it is MY box, it is MY penalty area, the mistakes of the team are MY mistakes (there is never room for placing blame). The only area that this differs in is wins and losses it is not my win. It is OUR win and it is OUR loss.
The GK should take ownership to the point that he feels that he has a personal stake in the teams performance as a whole not in just his GAA, SO and Minutes played. This gives the keeper an intensity that he will never have if when he allows a goal he calculates his new GAA. He will be in the game every moment, cool headed and trying to help his field players gain the advantage.
Responsibility ties in very closely with ownership. The GK will feel this when he has a personal stake in his team. The keeper feels that the team is HIS team and that their performance reflects directly on himself. He feels a bit of shame in a loss, even if it is by one point. and He is elated by a win even if he allowed 3 goals in the second half. The GK, because he is the most isolated player should be the biggest team player on the field to compensate for the isolation. The mind set is ITS ALL FOR THE TEAM.
Leadership is the lifeblood of a GK. He directs the defense to prevent his position being necessary, and he lets the offense know of an opening so that the team may gain the advantage on the score board. He leads stretches and he is the final man between the ball and a thin white chalk line. Only a leader can be expected to have this kind of responsibility placed on their shoulders. The person who has the drive to practice after practice and to show up an hour early to work alone before the team arrives is the person who has the leadership quality of a GK. The GK should be thought of as a Type A Personality and in some cases should border on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, because as Goalies we are called to not only be great, but to be perfect.
That is what it is to be a goalkeeper.
Tim M Mason
(Goal Keeper)
This 'Info Sheet' is available for download below:
(to download, 'right click' on the filename & choose 'Save target as...')
To be a keeper(Microsoft Word file, 25kb)
Advanced Communication
Recognising breakdowns and directing your defenders
In order to make better decisions (and that is the first step in becoming a better communicator) a keeper must become a true student of the game. You do this by watching and playing as mmany games as possible and thinking of the game from a coaches view point rather then a fans or players viewpoint. If you see a brilliant goal get scored, the question should be what should have been done to prevent the scoring opportunity from arising in the first place? Note, this is more important than wondering how could the shot have been saved because the first role of a keeper is to prevent scoring opportunities. By watching for ways to prevent these scoring opportunities, you will be better prepared to deal with these same situations when they arise in your own games.
Once you learn how to recognize ways to prevent these scoring opportunities, the next step is learning how to develop the respect of the players on your team so that they are willing to listen and comply with what you have to say. This is a step that is often left out when dealing with communication issues. If you are a keeper and want your teammates to listen to you, then it is your responsibility to establish the type of relationship that will ensure they do what you want. For instance, it's hard for them to work hard defending if they don't think you are working hard in goal (or in training). This is the reason that it is so important for a keeper to work harder in training then anyone else since it will help to establish credibility.
Also it's important for a keeper to take responsibility for their actions. The best way to do this is to not blame everyone else when a goal is scored . The quickest way to lose credibility is to start yelling at your teammates when the player they are marking scores. In most cases, they know it's their fault and the last thing they need is for the keeper to publicly place the blame on them. Instead, take responsibility for anything you could have done better, tell your teammates to get their heads up and try not to make any mistake they may have made again. This will allow your teammates to do whatever it takes to help you out in the future because of your willingness to accept responsibility.
Now that you have learned how to recognize break downs that result in scoring opportunities, and have earned the respect of your teammates, you are ready to start giving directions.
As soon as your team loses possession get the first defender to go to the person with the ball and slow them down.
Then call for everyone to get behind the ball.
This provides support behind the first defender. Work on getting the most dangerous players on the field marked up first (most dangerous frequently meaning the ones in the position to score). This can be done by concentrating on getting numbers behind the ball (goalside).
Once you have numbers back, it's important to start organizing them in a way so that each opponent is marked up and support is also being given.
The way this is accomplished is to call to players to get behind the ball then begin assigning individual marks. I find it extremely frustrating to hear a keeper yell "markup". Instead, individual players should be assigned specific players to mark. E.g Johnno get number 9, Simmo get number 10 etc Be definite and as specific as possible, leave no player in doubt as to what their job is. You are the boss. Be loud and don't accept anything else from them (this is where earning the respect in advance is vital for success).
Now that you have directed your teammates to mark up and support each other, the next step is to constantly check to make sure that they are in the correct position. Don't assume that just because they were in the correct position once, that they will continue to make the necessary adjustments.
Make sure each player stays with the player they are marking and stays goalside.
As in the ‘back’, ‘keeper’, ‘away’ calls. If you can see that your player can get to a ball first, call ‘away’. If a ball is played to a player who is marked up but your teammate cannot get to the ball first, call ‘hold’. This means not to dive in and risk being beaten which will create a scoring opportunity.
It's important to remember that while doing all of the above, you must also be positioning yourself to be prepared for anything e.g. a shot, a cross, a through ball etc.
Keepers need to be intelligent, be able to read the game and be excellent communicators.
- Lawrence Fine (www.finesoccer.com) with adaptations from David Curley
This 'Info Sheet' is available for download below:
(to download, 'right click' on the filename & choose 'Save target as...')
Advanced Communication
(Microsoft Word file, 25kb)
BASIC BUT VITAL KEEPER COMMUNICATION
One of the more confusing situations that can develop for a keeper is when the ball is played behind the last defender and the keeper has to choose whether to have the ball passed back to the keeper (at which point if played back with the feet the keeper must play the ball like a regular field player and not use their hands) or the keeper can come out and get the ball without having the ball passed back which allows the keeper to use their hands.
When a keeper makes the decision to either have it played back or not, the first thing they must do is communicate this to their teammate. One of three calls would be made.
'KEEPER' 'AWAY' 'BACK'
If the keeper is going to come out and get it without wanting the teammate to play it back, the call should be 'keeper' as loud and as early as possible. This occurs when the keeper can get to the ball before the opposition player.
If the keeper wants the ball played back the call should be 'back' as loud and as early as possible. The keeper can now not use their hands. This occurs when the keeper cannot get to the ball before the opposition player.
If the keeper wants the ball played away the call should be 'away' as loud and as early as possible. This occurs when the keeper cannot get to the ball before the opposition player and a backpass is too dangerous.
These three basic calls lay the platform for good 'keeper communication in all pressure situations.
Two keys here are that only the keeper is in position to make this call and no one else should call 'keeper' or anything else. Other people (whether on the field or on the sideline) making this call will only confuse the matter greatly.
The other thing that has to be done ahead of time is to make sure everyone on your team understands the terms and what the terms mean. If the keeper calls 'keeper' and the teammate thinks that means they should pass the ball back to the keeper, this will frequently result in a great goal scoring opportunity for the opponent. If the keeper calls 'back' and the player thinks that means the keeper is going to come and get the ball and they don't need to touch the ball again, this can also result in a goal scoring opportunity for the opponent.
The key to handling this type of a situation is to communicate ahead of time so everyone knows how to deal with the various situations and also for the keeper to make early decisions and be loud and clear with what everyone should do during the play.
Show this handout to your team coach and have him/her discuss with the whole team.
This 'Info Sheet' is available for download below:
(to download, 'right click' on the filename & choose 'Save target as...')
BASIC BUT VITAL KEEPER COMMUNICATION
(Microsoft Word file, 21kb)