June 2006

PAGE 23

Between the Posts

SUMMERTIME MAILBAG:

Questions & Answers on How to Get Better

receive the ball in one touch and play

 Have the outfield player serve 3 sets

By Rob Walker

Staying away from the

the ball on the next (2nd touch).

of 6 shots from farther out from goal

US National Team Goalkeeping Coach

summertime blues

and also from tight angles to each

What are other activities

Vacation time is an important time

ne of the great things about summer

O

side of goal.

to regenerate the mind and the body.

vacation is that there is time during

 Have the outfield player send 3 sets

that a goalkeeper can do with

Some youth soccer players go to year-

the day to do the fun things that school

of crosses (6 or 8 crosses per set)

a group of players?

round schools that have shorter breaks

normally takes up during the rest of the

from these spots: the end line, 12-18

throughout the year. In the case of the

year: go on vacation, see friends, read a

yards out from the end line, and 20-

Anytime a goalkeeper can jump into

youth player who has any break (long or

book, set a high score on a video game,

25 yards from the end line. The goal-

a small-sided game (2 versus 1, 2 v 2, 3 v

short in the summer), time away from

and for many soccer players, put a little

keeper should deal with each cross

2, 3 v 3 etc) that is a great developmen-

soccer is important too. Doing things

time into self-improvement in the game.

using good technique (proper take-

that are enjoyable and that don't involve

tal opportunity. Finding space on a field,

Occasionally I get questions from goal-

off and handling) and give the cross-

the game "all the time" is an important

park, or cul-de-sac and playing a game is

keepers, coaches, or parents such as

er a quality throw back for the next

piece in being fresh at key points in the

always good, for any player. Also, play-

"how can I use time off from school to

cross.

year. So make sure to find a good bal-

ing soccer tennis and soccer volleyball

work on my game?" Here are a few of

It is a good idea to have a supply of

ance between more practice and time

are good for developing the base skill

the other questions and answers:

soccer balls ready to go. The shooter

away from the game. s

level of a goalkeeper. As a general rule,

should start off by serving to the goal-

Rob Walker has coached goalkeepers at

What are some good activities that

one game of a soccer tennis-like activity

keeper and then as each challenge pro-

every level and is currently the

per week is something every goalkeeper

a goalkeeper can do on their own?

gresses from set-to-set, "scoring" can

Coaching Director for the Federal Way

should play; the last player in the back is

become more important. Also, each

Soccer Association and the Director of

On a general level, the goalkeeper,

the first player in attack and the ability to

serve should be done on the move (drib-

Men's and Women's Soccer at St. Martin's

like any soccer player can benefit from

University in Lacey.

play with touch is critical.

bled) and the goalkeeper should be

working on their passing and receiving.

given service from both the right and left

Also working on juggling is a good thing

foot (when the ball is on the "shooter's"

to do too as juggling helps reinforce

left side of goal, the ball should be struck

good first touch with the feet and the

with the left foot and when the ball is on

body. In terms of improving goalkeeping

the right side of goal, the ball should be

skills, the goalkeeper can work on

struck right footed. The same rule

throwing, kicking, punting, catching,

applies to crosses. This is great practice

and footwork.

for the outfield player too!

A goalkeeper can use a wall--com-

A goal can also be used to throw,

monly found at school grounds and

kick, or punt over to a partner. Simply

parks to work on all of the skills above.

put the goalkeeper in front of one side

Standing 25-30 feet from the wall, a sam-

and the goalkeeper's partner on the

ple routine:

opposite side. The object of the activity

 20 over-arm throws (aim for a spot 3

is to play the ball over the crossbar to the

feet off the ground) and catch with

partner--great for goal kicks and long

good technique.

kicking practice. This activity can be

 20 throws (throw the ball like a dart,

played like a tennis or volleyball game

with a quick release) at head height

with points being earned for forcing

and catch in one bounce.

errors. This activity is great for first

 20 throws that come all the way

touch work too as the goalkeeper should

back to the goalkeeper without

bouncing; catch with good tech-

nique (the goalkeeper may need to

move in closer to the wall).

Then follow with the same routine

with kicks and then punts to the same

spots on the wall. Finally, the basics can

be practiced by juggling the ball twice

and then played toward the wall--how

many consecutive "juggles and passes"

can you make in a row?

What are some good activities

that a goalkeeper and a partner

can do together?

Anytime a goalkeeper works with a

partner (whether the second person is a

goalkeeper or outfield player) there are a

ton of possibilities in what can happen.

Using a goal (cones, shoes, etc can be

substituted), here are some suggestions:

 Have the outfield player serve 3 sets

of 6 shots from 15-20 yards away

from goal (closer for a goalkeeper

who might be younger than 13 or 14

years old).