Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): GK C Certificate - Dealing with Crossing Situations

GK Positioning One (5 mins)

When Player A has the ball, the Goalkeepers needs to be central in the goal and high enough to be able to come and deal with a cross into the middle 6yd area (with out also exposing the goal!).

Goalkeeper can adjust positioning on Player As first touch and body shape, for example, on this side of the pitch:

- If they touch the ball out of their feet and behind them then the delivery is more than likely going to be curved with their left foot into the area and lofted, allowing the goalkeeper to adjust a step forward.

- If they touch the ball out of their feet and infront of themselves the ball is more than likely going to be driven in at pace with their right foot, possibly also curving away from goal, meaning the Goalkeeper may have adjusted a step backwards into the goal.

GK Positioning Three (5 mins)

What if Player A, Playes the ball to Player C?

Player C can either cross the ball from outsdie the width of the 18yd box, or dribble the ball in to create a cross from the byline inside the 18yd box.

This one in partiular allows for several different movements for the Goalkeeper, as when the ball is first played from Player A to Player C the GK must firstly retreat towards goal line (at lease 1 step off of it though at all times) but must stay central as it is outside the width of the 18yd box and can be crossed either front or far post. but as the player approaces inside the goal area by the byline the Goalkeeper generally will have more success coming closer to their front post and then facing the player on the ball, so that if the ball is player aling the 6yd area they can dive forwards to gain possession, or if Player C plays the ball to the far post it has to be a slower ball to get it up and over the goalkeeper, allowing more time for a recovery run, but also if the ball is cut back to a striker the goalkeeper only needs to take 1-2 steps to be in line and make a save.

SSG

SSG Set Up:

Greens attck down the pitch and reds attack up as in the picture.

the defnding team always have the overload initially with wide players for the attacking teams crossing from inside the opposition half of the pitch.

Game is played with a team building up from their half and then scoring from a cross by playing to their wide player, who can either cross the ball in to the 1 striker or cut back to the free play in their own half to shoot.

Game One - as in the picture, and players stay in their areas.

Game Two - same set up as in picture, but now when the wide player recieves the ball they can either cross, cut back or dribble the ball in themselves and the opposite wide player can also come in.

Game Three - similar to game one, but now the wide players swap halfs so they are now crossing from insdie their own hals of the pitch to create deeper crosses, they are also back to staying in their areas.

Game Four - Final game - same progression, now wide players can come out of their areas so either dribble in and drive at goal or cross etc..