Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1v1's / Dealing with crosses S3

Screen 1

Key Factors

The exercise will have an area of This exercise will include two servers, one working goalkeeper, one resting goalkeeper and two small goals of about three feet in width structured as a 90 degree angle. To begin the exercise, the goalkeeper who is working will remain on the line in both goals, allowing the servers to approach the goal with the ball to block it with their body. After the first save is made in goal 1, the goalkeeper will instantly move and prepare themselves in goal 2 to prepare for server 2 who starts dribbling as soon as the goalkeeper sets themselves in goal 2. This will be warming up the goalkeeper by preparing their bodies to make movements to block the ball as well as ensuring to get the fundamentals of a block save correct. 4 block saves = 1 set, each goalkeeper will perform 3 sets each.

Mechanics

Block save -

- Make sure to get low to the ground when approaching the player, nose should be over your toes , palms should be just below the knees whilst facing the ball and shoulders & chest should be square to the ball at all times.

- As you make the decision to perform a block save, you would usually use this in a close situation where the striker is about to shoot towards goal, quickly lower your knee (that's closest to the center of the goal) inwards until it’s in a 90 degree angle (like an ‘L’) above the ground. This is to create a barrier as well as making the goal size for the striker as small as possible.

-The leg nearest to the ball will remain upright in a 90 degree angle, this is to give the body stability and balance to allow the goalkeeper to recover once the ball has been saved.

- Whilst spreading, place your arms in an effective position, the hand closer to the center of the goal should cover the area above the leg that’s closest to the ground. This is to cover any shot that can go across the body. The other arm should be placed higher than the upright knee in order to cover any shots that come in at head height.

- When the ball is shot towards you, make sure to keep your eyes open and not to close them as this would allow you to make any reaction/last second position adjustments in order to save the ball.

- After the ball has struck your body, be prepared to make a recovery save/any second balls as the ball is still in play. You can do this by using the upright standing leg to push the body quickly back into set position.

Diving at feet -

- Make sure to get low to the ground when approaching the player, nose should be over your toes , palms should be just below the knees whilst facing the ball and shoulders & chest should be square to the ball at all times.

- Have patience once you’ve met the striker and let them make the first move as this will apply extra pressure on them which can result in them making a mistake. Also have patience as you’re waiting to get the right time to dive at the feet. You should prepare to dive for the ball after the striker has touched the ball with his feet.

- As you dive towards the ball, dive slightly diagonally forward into the ball’s path and aim to land in this order: ankle, knee, hip, side, shoulders. This is to cushion the blow for your body and to prevent injury. You should stretch out your arms towards the ball and use your hands/arms to make contact with the ball. It would be recommended to use the ‘w’ hand technique as you can use it to scoop the ball into your body even if you don’t have control of the ball. If you lose the ball, make a long “barrier”, i.e. stretch the full body length to increase the chances of stopping a shot.

- When you bring the ball into your body make sure to tuck your head in also, this is to prevent any serious injuries from occurring as the striker may follow through if they were about to shoot.

Organisation

3 cones (In an 'L' position 4yds gap in between)

1 working GK

2 Servers

Screen 3

Key Factors

This exercise will be putting the working GK in a more match realistic environment where the whole goal and 18 yard box will be used. The exercise will begin with the ball in server 2’s hands, where the ball will then be slowly rolled past server 1 to begin the 1-on-1. For the first phase of the exercise, server 1 is only allowed to dribble the ball around the GK with only 8 seconds allowed. Once the ball is out of play, the working and resting GK will swap. The GK’s must perform this exercise 3 sets of 3 1-on-1’s.

Development

To further develop this exercise, server 1 will now be allowed to shoot the ball and is only allowed to have 5 seconds to score. This is to further enhance the match realism as it is unlikely for strikers to have a lot of time in a 1v1 situation as well as it is more than often that they would shoot on goal.

Organisation

2 servers outside 18 yard box

1 working GK

1 football

Screen 5

Key Factors

Working GK starts in set position ready to deal with a cross, the server is aiming to cross the ball into the rectangle made of cones in order for the GK to claim. As the ball is being delivered into the box the GK will have to call out whether they will claim the ball in the front half of the rectangle or the back half before distributing the to one of the small goals. This exercise is working on developing the GK's awareness of the box as well as reading the direction and flight of the ball in order to come claim it before distributing. The whole exercise is built up as a competitive session for the GKs where they will receive 1 point for claiming the ball in the half of the rectangle that they call out, then 1 point for distributing the ball accurately into the small goal, however, if they distribute the ball directly to the mannequin then they earn 2 points, any form of distribution is encouraged.

Organisation

6 cones

2 small goals

2 mannequins (placed in the middle of the small goals)

1 working GK

2 server