Goalkeeper Clearances

[swannsong]

Throughout my playing days (albeit a while ago) I never once received any tuition on kicking for a goalkeeper.
When I was 14 or so I could throw the ball over the half way line but could barely reach the same distance with my kicks.
In one off season I spent a lot of solo time practising my kicking and the following season my kicking had improved in accuracy by about 20 metres in distance.
From then on I would arrive at training early and practice 40-50 kicks from the halfway line aiming at the goals from various angles.
Are there any coaches out there that help their goalkeepers out in this area of their game ?

[Wild Eagle]

More important to teach Gks to play the ball quickly, well and to defenders or wide midfielders to build from the back, I remember though suggesting coaches not to have keepers booting the ball....didn't go down well.

[Purger]

research has shown that goalkeeper use their feet 60%+ of the time during the game when they have possesion of the ball. ball work is always included in my gk training sessions. it could be just a short pass + save or crosses with distribution.

ultimately the gk themselves needs to practice kicking.

if you got to www.keeper-skool.com theres some good distribution practices on there.

[swannsong]

research has shown that goalkeeper use their feet 60%+ of the time during the game when they have possesion of the ball. ball work is always included in my gk training sessions. it could be just a short pass + save or crosses with distribution.

ultimately the gk themselves needs to practice kicking.

if you got to http://www.keeper-skool.com theres some good distribution practices on there.

So should forwards practice their own shooting then !
Goalkeepers are the first line of attack as well as the last line of defence.
I'm talking about kicking technique, if you practice the wrong technique what's the point.
Most keepers try to belt the crap out of the ball rather than develop a nice smoth action.

[Purger]

Throughout my playing days (albeit a while ago) I never once received any tuition on kicking for a goalkeeper.
When I was 14 or so I could throw the ball over the half way line but could barely reach the same distance with my kicks.
In one off season I spent a lot of solo time practising my kicking and the following season my kicking had improved in accuracy by about 20 metres in distance.
From then on I would arrive at training early and practice 40-50 kicks from the halfway line aiming at the goals from various angles.
Are there any coaches out there that help their goalkeepers out in this area of their game ?

who helped you with your technique?
and if they have a gk coach there at the time that they are practicing their distribution, im sure technique is an area that should be adressed!

your initial question was "Are there any coaches out there that help their goalkeepers out in this area of their game ?" ive just answered yes to this question. what else would you like to know? as i might be able to help

[swannsong]

Throughout my playing days (albeit a while ago) I never once received any tuition on kicking for a goalkeeper.
When I was 14 or so I could throw the ball over the half way line but could barely reach the same distance with my kicks.
In one off season I spent a lot of solo time practising my kicking and the following season my kicking had improved in accuracy by about 20 metres in distance.
From then on I would arrive at training early and practice 40-50 kicks from the halfway line aiming at the goals from various angles.
Are there any coaches out there that help their goalkeepers out in this area of their game ?

who helped you with your technique?
and if they have a gk coach there at the time that they are practicing their distribution, im sure technique is an area that should be adressed!

your initial question was "Are there any coaches out there that help their goalkeepers out in this area of their game ?" ive just answered yes to this question. what else would you like to know? as i might be able to help

Throughout my playing days (albeit a while ago) I never once received any tuition on kicking for a goalkeeper.

Self taught !

[PinchWeasel]

I totally agree.

Rene higuita's scorpian clearance is not taught nearly enough in this state.

[Iamthelaw]

I totally agree.

Rene higuita's scorpian clearance is not taught nearly enough in this state.

One of the funniest things i have read on this forum

[swannsong]

I totally agree.

Rene higuita's scorpian clearance is not taught nearly enough in this state.

One of the funniest things i have read on this forum

For those that may not have seen this before
Pure showmanship of the highest order !

[Squizzy]

I think it's important to spend time with the Keeper on technique and it's easy to do during training. I usually focus on it during half pitch games, free kicks from the wings (have them take some), etc.

But I would like to see the Keeper practice after training (and before if they can get there early enough to warm up properly so they don't just start with pumping the ball to half way line!).

But to be honest, I do not profess to be a GK Coach. Kicking technique is easy enough to teach/work on but for the finer arts of this position, I ask for help from someone who knows.

[paul merson]

I actually played on the field untill about 14 so I dont do heaps of kicking practice, but I do often join in with the team and play in small games ect and every now and then have a run up front in a cup game!
I also get in the bad habit of trying to kick the ball too far and end up kicking shorter or way off the mark to what I would do normally.
I think one thing that's not practiced nearly enough is teaching defenders how to pass the ball back to a keeper.
Ive had everything, Ive had a ball knocked back at Para Hills in the middle of the goal that bounced over my foot and went in.
Also I had Carl Veart ping a 30 yard ball back to me at Northern Spirit up around my neck, I had a ball played back last season that I had to volley from about waist hieght.
Yes players could deal with these but they dont have the added preasure of having to deal with it knowing an error will probably result in a goal, when a nice ball rolled outside the width of the goal onto a prefered foot would make the situation a lot easier and safe!

[Purger]

PM, do you not discuss this with your defenders prior to playing with them, preference how you want the ball back to you? i know this doesnt always help but if you say to them "im a right footer, play the ball back in this are if you can" it might.

one thing young GKs are tought in the academy is what sort of communication / direction is given to their players when calling for the ball to be passed back to them.

[paul merson]

PM, do you not discuss this with your defenders prior to playing with them, preference how you want the ball back to you? i know this doesnt always help but if you say to them "im a right footer, play the ball back in this are if you can" it might.

one thing young GKs are tought in the academy is what sort of communication / direction is given to their players when calling for the ball to be passed back to them.

I certainly do, but you know defenders!

Its not so much the side I prefer it but the fact they just turn and hit it, which ironically they complain if I give them a ball that doesnt sit right.

[swannsong]

Noticed a few keepers on the weekend didn't handle kicking into the wind too well, putting back spin on the ball into the wind.
Overkicking with the wind behind them....frustrating to watch.

[Purger]

kicking into the wind i try to kick the ball of the ground, lower trajectory and little bit more control.

with the wind i always try to give the first kick a good roost, then hopefully their defence will drop a little deeper allowing me for future kicks / or throws to hit the space infront of the attackers.

[John Walker AFPP]

Many academies in Europe do not worry about keepers until the age of 11 or 12 then they develop those outfield players that are not accepted to play outfield as they know they have decent footskills ?????????????? Appears to work for them. At AFPP we ensure the keepers have plenty of footdrills as they are extended sweepers in some games but it depends on the team ????????????????
I do hate to see kids choosing to belt the ball out rather than passing it back as they have little faith in the keeper of the coach has directed it. I also hate to see keepers lump it long through the middle every time they have the ball in the hand.

John Walker
AFPP

[swannsong]

I firmly believe that every keeper should possess all the outfield skills.
I guess the point I was making in this thread was about developing the goalkeeper's out of hand kicking, throwing distribution and dead ball kicking, such as goalkicks.
Things such as the ability to hit the ball to a targetted player, even little things like calling out the name of the player they are aiming to reach.
I witnessed a keeper on the weekend allowing the ball to constantly roll out for goalkicks (under no pressure and didn't appear to be injured) and the sweeper would then take the resulting goalkicks.

[John Walker AFPP]

I agree totaly mate but most club coaches have limited time to deal with squad of 15 players let alone do specialised goalkeeper training. Neil TATE, Chris HIGGIN's and Rob MATOSOVIC all do specific keeper training as we do at AFPP. I have recently spent 2 hours per session on a young keeper on his distribution only. However some young keepers cannot work for 2 hours as they are not fit or mentally strong enough. I think we should all encourage safe wide distribution from a keeper by getting full backs and wide midfielders to gain space and then be feed the ball. This can be a throw or kick from ground or hands. Go on you tube and see some keeper drills James has a good few drills.

Cheers

John Walker
AFPP

[paul merson]

I agree totaly mate but most club coaches have limited time to deal with squad of 15 players let alone do specialised goalkeeper training. Neil TATE, Chris HIGGIN's and Rob MATOSOVIC all do specific keeper training as we do at AFPP. I have recently spent 2 hours per session on a young keeper on his distribution only. However some young keepers cannot work for 2 hours as they are not fit or mentally strong enough. I think we should all encourage safe wide distribution from a keeper by getting full backs and wide midfielders to gain space and then be feed the ball. This can be a throw or kick from ground or hands. Go on you tube and see some keeper drills James has a good few drills.

Cheers

John Walker
AFPP

I have a France 98 fifa training video that shows all the keepers sessions, there's a good drill the English keepers do, then you have Brazil just throwing all their keepers into small games.
Also for those that watch soccer am its funny to see how well all the keepers normally do in the cross bar challenge.
I dont really agree with putting a player thats not accepted as a field player in goals, goal keepers in my opinion are goal keepers, you can normally pick them out in a crowd - you cant just produce them. But thats just my opinion.

[Facts and Stats]

All professional goalkeeprs have good ball skills, they always did and need them even more now, due to the backpass rule that was implemented approx 10 years ago.

The Spurs 'keeper (Erik Thorsvelt) couldn't kick the ball too well from a back pass, and it was one of the reasons he lost his form and place, as the new rules made him a liability.

Goalkeepers are known to be superior to outfield players, as they have skills with their hands and feet, outfield players are frustrated keepers as they only have the ability with feet

[swannsong]

It's genetic...my 3 brothers and I were all goalkeepers, and my brother's son is also a goalkeeper...........we all couldn't run !

[John Walker AFPP]

Hey Swansong

I beg to differ regarding you cannot run. But I think it would be better if we talk personally mate. Call me on 0428816505 John Walker

[swannsong]

Hey Swansong

I beg to differ regarding you cannot run. But I think it would be better if we talk personally mate. Call me on 0428816505 John Walker

When I was younger I couldn't run, then I learnt that I could, now I'm much older it's a challenge.

[swannsong]

Still witnessing quite a lot of poor kicking technique from keepers.
Many trying their hand at the South American - style....but they end up putting top spin on the ball...when it gets to the player it is almost impossible to control.
The South Americans seem to impart back spin on the ball making control for the receiver much easier....not unlike the drop kick does.
Other keepers seem to want to try and belt the skin off the ball....Robert Zabica made goalkeper kick outs look so effortless..

[sharp-shooter]

GK's like any other field players have to be shown the technique how to kick a ball. There are different areas at the face of the ball which if the right technique is applied is giving you at least options which way the ball is going and what angle or bend the ball will go.

GK's have to learn the technique how to kick the ball out of hand or off ground to get the ball into the right spot and direction.

I do every practice night GK training which includes kicking technique of the ball. This is starting to work very well due to the fact the GK is getting confident, can play the ball close to the preferred player or space.

We are lucky that we are two coaches sharing practice nights with players and GK which all of them benefit.

[swannsong]

GK's like any other field players have to be shown the technique how to kick a ball. There are different areas at the face of the ball which if the right technique is applied is giving you at least options which way the ball is going and what angle or bend the ball will go.

GK's have to learn the technique how to kick the ball out of hand or off ground to get the ball into the right spot and direction.

I do every practice night GK training which includes kicking technique of the ball. This is starting to work very well due to the fact the GK is getting confident, can play the ball close to the preferred player or space.

We are lucky that we are two coaches sharing practice nights with players and GK which all of them benefit.

Excellent...how it should be !

[Azz]

i found that getting the lads to help with crossing drills helps with them getting a good technique instead of trying to belt the ball as far as they can. They can then get a better technique and look to place the ball where they want it instead of boot and hope.

The small sided game is something i recommend in getting them better with the ball out of there feet and passing and moving. Id join in if i were still playing just improves you as a player with speed and footwork

Ive found that the younger guys at Playford havent been shown a specific technique in regards to kicking out the hands. Each is different and seem to struggle at times. Its hard to try and reprogramme a young adult on how to kick but repetition is going to be the only way i will succeed with him

[paul merson]

i found that getting the lads to help with crossing drills helps with them getting a good technique instead of trying to belt the ball as far as they can. They can then get a better technique and look to place the ball where they want it instead of boot and hope.

But crossing a ball is completely different to striking a ball to get it to a player, if wide players crossed balls by just striking them like any other ball keepers would have a field day coming and picking crosses, so are your keepers playing unrealistic crosses in and working on their ball striking technique and give the keeper in goals cherries to come and pick which we dont get in games or are you teaching your keepers to whip decent crosses in which isnt good technique for playing balls out?

I find it bizare though when keepers get through to seniors and cant use their feet.

[Azz]

I see what your saying and know that there are differences with crossing and striking. we do work on goalkicks just i found they relax more when crossing yet seem to stress and panic when working on the goalkicks and think it could mentally help a bit more by being relaxed.

They alternate with strikes and crosses by the way. Seen in many games you can get a variety from each side so try to work on a mixture.

Then when we work on the kicks i tell them to relax like they do a cross and take their kick. They dont seem to stress and want to kick the crap out of the ball with that and seem to be that little bit better.

Can tell you now when i came through the ranks to senior soccer i wasnt shown from memory on how to kick out of my hands or off the floor. Only till i was at the Grove where i was shown how to strike a goalkick properly and even now i can struggle at times if not practised

[paul merson]

I see what your saying and know that there are differences with crossing and striking. we do work on goalkicks just i found they relax more when crossing yet seem to stress and panic when working on the goalkicks and think it could mentally help a bit more by being relaxed.

They alternate with strikes and crosses by the way. Seen in many games you can get a variety from each side so try to work on a mixture.

Then when we work on the kicks i tell them to relax like they do a cross and take their kick. They dont seem to stress and want to kick the crap out of the ball with that and seem to be that little bit better.

Can tell you now when i came through the ranks to senior soccer i wasnt shown from memory on how to kick out of my hands or off the floor. Only till i was at the Grove where i was shown how to strike a goalkick properly and even now i can struggle at times if not practised

Cross bar challenges and pinging balls back during shooting sessions is all the practice I do.

But in saying that Im going back to basics with one of our younger keepers tonight as his timing on the week end was woeful out of hands and off the deck.

Heres a good article on the whole subject by David James.

Dave Beasant may not spring to mind as a football pioneer but in my opinion the former Wimbledon keeper was ahead of his time. Before Dave being a goalkeeper was all about shot stopping and hoofing the ball. Annoyingly, some commentators still think that is a goalkeeper's role and are patronisingly one-dimensional in their discussion of our abilities. The truth is that the best goalkeepers have a finely tuned all‑round game and tend to be phenomenal distributors of the ball.

Edwin van der Sar is the perfect example. His ability to turn a defensive situation into an attacking one in seconds is part of what makes Manchester United so dangerous. Pepe Reina is another remarkable talent and I cannot understand why he is not Spain's No1 goalkeeper. Yes, Iker Casillas has a fantastic collection of trophies but Reina can do everything Casillas can and more. Shay Given's game went up a level when he improved his distribution before moving to Manchester City and I think it is also what makes Joe Hart such a fantastic keeper.

Dave Beasant was the first keeper I noticed who really thought about distribution. Whereas the traditional goalie would bounce the ball about a bit, and then hoof it up the pitch, Dave liked to roll the ball out of the area. At Watford Peter Taylor wanted me to emulate that kind of thinking. He took me aside and asked me to start curling the ball out to the left- or right-hand side from a goal-kick. It worked a treat and it soon became our modus operandi.

It took some adjustment in my thinking, though. When I was younger I thought distributing the ball meant kicking it as far as humanly possible. I used to take childish delight in hoofing the ball 80 yards up the pitch. It was the same with throwing: at Watford I'd stand on the halfway line and try to hit the crossbar.

But as my career wore on I began to realise that the way I distributed the ball had a huge impact on the rest of the team. At Liverpool Steve McManaman turned out to be the perfect outlet to practise my distribution skills on. You could throw a ball out to Steve and he would take players on. It happened organically but it was very effective.

At Aston Villa my development received fine-tuning when Paul Barron brought in a kicking specialist. I remember thinking: "What a waste of time, we all know how to kick the ball," but this guy explained the physiology and took us to a whole new level. Suddenly everything became about accuracy and we practised a new range of skills. There was the "top pocket", hitting the ball dead straight in front of you, or a "one in", a gentle hook from right to left, or "one out", from left to right, as well as severe curls and fades, known as "two in" and "two out". It was all very technical and it felt amazing to go from smashing a ball aimlessly to sending it on a chosen trajectory.


Surprisingly to this day Peter Taylor remains the only manager who ever spoke to me about goalkeeping tactics – and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would tell you that. Look at Paul Robinson for Blackburn, an incredible kicker of the ball. At Tottenham he would ping balls out to Jermain Defoe to run on and score. But at Blackburn they just have Robbo sending balls into the air for the players to scramble over. It seems a tremendous waste of talent to me and says much about what a meagre understanding many managers have of a goalkeeper's game.

There are exceptions. After we played Portsmouth this season Steve Cotterill revealed they had specifically looked at how to shut down my distribution. They marked up all of our players to stop me getting the ball out to them and it worked. But how many other managers are aware of the impact of a good kicker or thrower? Outfield players such as David Beckham or Glenn Hoddle are known for their long ball passing ability but goalkeepers are not asked to work on that part of their game.

Throwing the ball is another tool I love to use. I copied Bruce Grobbelaar's American football style early on – a skill that even now you rarely see used, as opposed to the traditional overarm bowling action. Personally I think having a selection of throws seems an obvious advantage.

Just as I was never taught to kick a ball until I went to Villa, I was never taught to throw one (although luckily I had some understanding through doing javelin at school). Again I cannot help thinking it is a basic skill that all players should perfect. I am not saying anyone should employ a throws coach full-time but surely getting someone in for a day or two would be a good idea.

It strikes me that there is a lot of complacency in our industry. It is worrying and frustrating. Think how much better football could be if players worked on these basic skills? When you watch golf and Tiger Woods hits the ball the commentators freeze‑frame the movement and analyse everything about his technique, in football they show a highlight and some guy goes: "Yeah, and he hit it with the outside of his foot." Maybe I'm an anorak but I think in using that level of detail we could produce far more players who are truly outstanding.