The Coaches' Room
11v11U16In Possession

Our goalkeeper can play short but struggles with the full-pitch picture

Asked by MattJ
763 views 3 replies
In 9v9 our keeper was very comfortable finding the first pass. On the bigger 11v11 pitch there are more options and they are taking so long to scan that the press arrives. How would you develop their decision-making without simply giving them a fixed goal-kick routine?

VERIFIED COACH ANSWER

Verified Coach avatar
VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA A Coach

11v11 tactical • team structure

Why don't we show coach names?
The bigger pitch gives the goalkeeper more information, so I’d simplify the scanning process rather than the passing options. Before the ball is live, can they identify three things: where the first line of pressure is, where the spare player is, and whether there is space beyond the press? Then build practices where those answers keep changing. Sometimes the centre-back is free, sometimes the full-back, sometimes the 6, and occasionally the direct pass is the best option. What I would avoid is a goal-kick routine where the goalkeeper knows before looking that pass one is always to the right centre-back. You can also start possession games from the keeper under a time pressure once they are ready. The objective is not quicker distribution for its own sake. It is earlier information. If the goalkeeper scans while the ball is dead, the decision after the restart becomes much faster.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 3 replies

N

NeilHere

Community Member

Our keeper improved when the coach stopped treating short as success and long as failure. Once all three options were genuinely allowed, he started looking at the full pitch.
R

Rico

Community Member

This is important. A fixed 'play out' identity can make the keeper ignore a free winger 30 yards higher just because the centre-back pass looks more coached.
R

RebeccaJ

Community Member

We tell the keeper the scan has to happen before the ball is placed. If they only start looking once everyone is set, the press is already moving.