Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Defending 1v1 Situations as a Goalkeeper

Warm Up (5 mins)

Organisation 

5-7 min max

Equipment

Cones

Footballs

Hoops

Players move through the disks to the end disk and set to receive an underarm throw and throw back and then return back to the back of their line

Progression

Players move through disks to receive a pass, take a touch and pass back.

Coaching points.

• Balls of the feet at the end disk.
• Goalkeepers do not turn their back to the ball on return after throwing ball back.
• nose in front of the toes.
• good set position, hands out from body.

1 v 1 - GK on feet (15 mins)

Progression

1 GK stands up.

2 Attack has to try and get round GK and dribble through , no shooting

3 GK needs to choose when to collect ball.

Additional Progression

Use goals and Introduce defender who starts beside goal.

Player plays a through ball pass to the attacking red player. 

GK to communicate to defender when to "go ball" or whether to "go net" 

Coaching Points

• The GK stance in anticipation of the through ball, on the front foot.
• Assessment of the through ball - advance or defend the goal.
• If the decision is to advance, be positive, safety first & clear the lines.

• Put onus on the attacker
• make movements only when the ball is out of the attackers feet.

• delay and stay big.
• Force the attacker wide if possible.
• communication - role of the recovering defender.
• a big barrier, "physical courage"

• The GK stance in anticipation of the through ball, on the front foot.
• Assessment of the through ball - advance or defend the goal.
• If the decision is to advance, be positive, safety first & clear the lines.