Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter.  Today’s topic deals with through balls.

One of the most difficult things for a keeper to do is deal with through balls.  Some of the decisions that have to be made include:

• Should I go outside the box and clear the ball?
• Should I stay inside the 18 and let the ball come to me?
• Is the attacker going to win the ball?
• Is my teammate going to win the ball?
• If my teammate wins the ball should he pass it back, keep it or clear it?

While it’s impossible to recreate all of the situations (and variables) that might arise in a game, we can work on recreating some.

Start with a server with a ball around 50 yards from goal.  An attacker and a defender are the same distance but on a different angle and a keeper is in goal.

The server plays a through ball toward the top of the 18 and as soon as it’s played the attacker and defender and keeper are live.

If the keeper can win the ball he should go and win the ball.  If he thinks his teammate (the yellow player in this situation) can win the ball he then starts giving directions whether to pass the ball back, to clear it or to turn with the ball.

The server can play different types of balls (bouncing, hard, short etc) and can vary the angle of the pass as well as the angle of the runs

It’s important that the field players understand this is a training activity because if they aren’t careful it’s easy to create a dangerous situation for the keeper and others.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

By Ricky Clarke

Patrice Evra holds the blame for Liverpool’s late winner this weekend in the FA Cup 4th round. Evra has made some poor defensive mistakes recently, this weekend cost Manchester United a place in the 5th round of the FA Cup.

Below, I’ve outlined his key movements during Liverpool’s second goal.

Evra – Out of position (Part 1)

Evra’s starting position is really poor. With minutes remaining in the game he needs to be more compact.

Evra – Out of position (Part 2)

Carroll wins the header and sets up Kuyt. Smalling fails to recover and Evra’s recovery is too Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s activity involves finishing in a competitive environment.

Start with a 30 x 30 grid with two full sized goals and a keeper in each goal.  It’s 2 v 2 in the middle and in each attacking half there is a player on each sideline and a player on each part of the end line

In the diagram above the black team is attacking the top goal and the yellow team is Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on positioning, movement, reading the situation and shot blocking.

Start with a keeper in goal, a player with a ball at the 12 yard spot and two players on angles just outside the 18.

The keeper has to be prepared for one of three options. Read the rest of this entry »

By Ricky Clarke.

Clint Dempsey has become the first American player to score a hat-trick in the English Premier League. Dempsey produced an outstanding display of technical ability, movement and game awareness. Scoring three goals against Newcastle United in a rout this Saturday.

Below, I’ve outlined his key movements and decision-making process during his second goal.

Dempsey – Movement Pattern #1

Dempsey makes a great run across the defender, anticipating a pass from Zamora.

Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on penetrating passes in a game environment.

In the diagram below we have a 5 v 5 game with a neutral player in white.  The size of the field can vary but something in the 40 x 30 range works well.

This is a typical small sided game but goals count as 3 points.  A team can earn Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on catching, distribution, footwork and fitness.

Start with 4 cones making up a 3 x 3 square

A keeper starts at cone 4 and a server starts 10 yards in front of the Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s post is from our Soccer Conditioning Experts at Soccer F.I.T Academy and looks at whether or not having our kids specialize in soccer at an early age is beneficial or harmful.

As a fitness professional, youth club staff member, and soccer dad, I hear ALL sides of the discussions about “early specialization in youth sports across the U.S.” While this trend affects many youth sports, this dilemma as it pertains to the American soccer landscape is the most interesting in my opinion. FACT- The U.S. is behind the rest of the world in technical ability, tactical competency, and situational soccer awareness compared to our competition across the world. FACT – The ONLY way to narrow this gap is for our youth..our children… the future of U.S. Men’s & Women’s Soccer is to play…and play more. FACT – The U.S has highest rate of youth Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on team shape, attacking with numbers and much more.

Start with half a field with a keeper in the goal.  Have a line 30 yards out across the field and also extend the sides of the 18 all the way to the midfield line.  There is one attacking and one defending player in each of the wide zones and three attacking and 2 defending players in the center of the field.

The three attackers start with a ball and they have a 3 v 2 in the center zone.  If they play the Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on footwork, balance and shot blocking.

The keeper starts on the near post with a server 12 yards out on a slight angle with some balls.  There is a cone in the middle of the goal.

The players slides to the middle Read the rest of this entry »