Eight seconds for the goalkeeper – are coaches counting it in training?

The current law gives the goalkeeper eight seconds once the referee judges that they have control of the ball. The referee visually counts the final five seconds, so I would not have coaches or parents counting from the touchline. In training, the aim is not to make the goalkeeper release it as quickly as possible. Help them use the time well: scan early, recognise the opponent's shape, see which teammates are moving and choose a clear option. A simple game is to restart every attack from a catch. Give the goalkeeper three live options and occasionally use a raised-hand count for the final five seconds. That lets the keeper feel the time available without creating panic. The useful habit is early scanning. If the goalkeeper only starts looking after four or five seconds, the law will feel rushed even though the real problem began earlier. With 13, use 6v6 plus the goalkeeper. The team starting from the catch has three clear routes: a short defender, a midfielder moving away from pressure and a longer target. Change which option is free each restart. Keep the game live after release, so the goalkeeper is reading real movement rather than completing a drill.