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11v11AdultOut of Possession

Corner blockers are screening our goalkeeper every week now

Asked by LeftBootOnly
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Legal movement, not fouls. How are teams protecting the keeper without losing every other marking job?

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UEFA A Coach

11v11 matchday • performance

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I’d protect the goalkeeper with positioning rather than expecting them to fight through every screen. One defender can start between the screener and the goalkeeper, or the keeper can adjust their starting point so the blocker is less able to pin them legally. The rest of the marking system still has to function. If three defenders become obsessed with the screen, the opposition have achieved exactly what they wanted. Practise realistic corner traffic and let the goalkeeper work on moving early before the delivery. Communication is important too: who is protecting the keeper’s route and who is attacking the main aerial threat? The referee will deal with an actual foul, but you cannot base your plan on hoping every contact is penalised. Adult set pieces are often about creating legal congestion. Your answer should be equally deliberate: protect the goalkeeper’s first step, keep enough defenders free to attack the ball, and be ready for the second phase.

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