IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOALKEEPING
COACH GOALKEEPERS: DIRECT DISTRIBUTION: MAIN SESSION
Seamus
McDonagh SETUP
AREA
Goalkeepers: Half pitch
Direct EQUIPMENT
Distribution Cones, balls
Overview: NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 5
I like to use this
session because
distribution from
1 goalkeeper
1 defender
3 targets
1
goalkeepers - using What do I get the
both feet - is now players to do?
a vital part of the Position three targets
game. The latest near to the halfway
statistics show that line. Use a striker
goalkeepers at the in various places
highest level use around the penalty KEY
Ball
their feet five times as box to fire balls at the
movement
Player The shot must be
movement
often as their hands goalkeeper, varying Dribble controlled then played
when in control of the type and intensity out to a specified
target.
the ball. Distribution of each shot. The
has always been goalkeeper must
crucial for a keeper, then deliver the ball
and with the way the accurately to each
game is developing, target. Vary between
they are increasingly first-time passes and
being seen as an allowing the keeper
outfield player or
quarterback in terms
of their ability to start
to take a touch. The
primary intention is
that he uses his feet,
2
forward moves. not his hands. If you
Goalkeepers don’t have players as
are tested on the targets, used coned
accuracy and value areas for the keeper
of their distribution to aim at.
every time they What are the key KEY
Ball
release the ball in a things to look out movement
Player
The keeper should also
match. This session for technically/
movement
Dribble
look to clear first-time
without taking a touch.
helps distribution to tactically?
real targets become We’re looking for
second nature, passing accuracy
and prevents them over varied distances,
kicking aimlessly. and the use of both
feet in doing so, plus
the fundamental
“Goalkeepers skills of receiving
and controlling
at the highest
level use their
the ball in the first
place. The session is
demanding but good
3
feet five times fun, and keepers
as often as will see marked
improvements if they
their hands keep practicing.
when in KEY
Ball
control of the movement
Player
movement
Dribble
The keeper should use
the front and side of
ball.” both feet to pass.
11 SEPTEMBER 2010 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOALKEEPERS: DIRECT DISTRIBUTION: PROGRESSION
How do I progress
the session?
Bringing in more
Seamus players helps
McDonagh goalkeepers visualise
GOALKEEPING the drill more clearly,
COACH
Seamus McDonagh
was, until recently,
first-team goalkeeping
and helps them better
define specific areas.
Another way to
1
coach at Aston Villa. He progress is to play six
left the club following attackers against the
the departure of back four. Get those
manager Martin defenders to hold a
O’Neill. high line while the
In terms of playing attackers play balls
career, he starred in behind them and KEY
Ball
movement
between the posts for a chase. Look for the Player
movement
The goalkeeper
clears the danger by
host of clubs, including keeper to know how to Dribble
controlling, moving
Bolton Wanderers (for react to the situation, with the ball, and
whom he scored in a knowing that in this passing to his defender.
match against Burnley session he can only use
in 1983), Everton, Notts
his feet, not his hands.
County and Charlton
Athletic. And we wouldn’t
After a spell managing be afraid to have a
Galway United, he competition between
went on to coach at
Nottingham Forest,
Leicester City and
goalkeepers, with
forfeits for losers (e.g.
press-ups, sprints).
2
Coventry City, before
joining Aston Villa in
2006.
As Villa’s first-team
goalkeeping coach,
he worked on a daily
basis with American KEY
goalkeepers Brad Ball
movement
Player
Friedel and Brad movement Attackers again press.
Guzan.
Dribble If the keeper has more
time, he can measure a
pass to his target.
3
“Look for the
keeper to
know how to KEY
Ball Utilise simple passes
react to the movement
Player
movement as well so that one-
Dribble touch moves can be
situation.” started.
12 SEPTEMBER 2010 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
