The Coaches' Room
5v5U8In Possession

Goalkeeper keeps carrying the ball right to the edge then panics

Asked by DevonCharlie
2454 views 3 replies
Our keeper is confident with the ball in hand but holds it until everyone is marked, walks right to the edge of the area and then ends up throwing it under pressure. Do you coach them to restart earlier, or is the bigger issue getting the outfield players to move sooner?

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UEFA C Coach

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I’d look at the outfield movement first. If the keeper catches it and every teammate stands behind an opponent, telling the keeper to release earlier does not solve much. The players need to recognise that the restart has already started: move away, give an angle and show somewhere useful. Then help the keeper scan before they collect the ball so they already have an idea where the first option might be. In training, restart every little game through the goalkeeper for a few minutes. The moment the keeper gets it, the outfield players have to move straight away. I would keep the keeper’s message simple: look early, choose, release when you see it. If they are carrying to the edge because they are waiting for movement that never comes, it is a team problem rather than a goalkeeper problem.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 3 replies

W

WorthingJamie

Coach

We use 'move while they have it' for the outfield players. Waiting until the keeper is ready to throw is already too late.
M

Mark17

Assistant Coach

Exactly. The restart begins when the keeper gets possession, not when they reach the edge of the area.
T

Tom31

Coach

Usually outfield problem for us. Keeper wait because nobody move. We started every small game from keeper and players had to move as soon as ball in hands.