Match moments / They have the ball
One against the keeper
The keeper's hardest moment. Come off the line, let the defender recover behind you, and go for the ball when the touch is heavy.
In the match
- Decision 1Keeper
- Decision 2Centre-back
- Decision 3Keeper
You are our goalkeeper.
Their striker is running at you. Where do you go?
Play the build-up, then choose.
Best choice
Every step out makes the goal they can see smaller. Stay on your feet and big, so they have to make the decision.
It can work
You can react, but they have the whole goal to aim at.
Costly
From too far away, a dive is easy to go round.
In the match, play carries on from the best choice.
You are 5, chasing.
Our keeper has come out. Where do you run?
Play what happened next, then choose.
Best choice
If they go round the keeper, you are there. You cover the goal; the keeper covers the striker.
It can work
You might catch them, but a challenge from behind in the box risks a penalty.
Costly
The keeper is on their own now, and you were the only help.
In the match, play carries on from the best choice.
You are our goalkeeper.
They are 6 metres away. Their touch is a little heavy. When do you go?
Play what happened next, then choose.
Best choice
A heavy touch is the moment. Go side-on, wide and low, hands to the ball, and smother it before they reach it again.
It can work
Not wrong, but you let them reach the ball again. You could have had it first.
Costly
Guessing early gives them the other side of the goal.
How you know it is happening
- An attacker is through on our goal.
- Our defenders are behind the ball.
- The attacker takes a touch away from their feet.
Why it works
The keeper wins one against one by making the goal small and making the attacker decide. A defender recovering behind the keeper covers the goal, and the moment to go for the ball is when it is furthest from the attacker's foot.
The tactics behind it
Your job, by position
- GKGoalkeeper
- Come off the line in a straight line between the ball and the middle of the goal.
- Stay big and on your feet.
- Go on the heavy touch: wide, low, hands to the ball.
- CBCentre-back
- Sprint back towards the goal, not the ball.
- Do not tackle from behind in the box.
- FBFull-back and wing-back
- Tuck in towards the far post.
How to explain it
- Safety first: teach the smother side-on, with the head behind the hands and away from the feet.
- Use a cone line to show the keeper's path off the line.
- Praise keepers for staying up as much as for saves.
On the training pitch
- With a friendGoalkeeper handlingThe technique underneath it, with one friend.
- The practice1v1 with the goalkeeperThe same decision, over and over, with a little pressure.
- The gameShoot and saveA small-sided game set up so the moment keeps happening.
Set the game up so it keeps happening
- Attackers start at halfway; keeper scores a point for a save, two for a smother.
- A recovering defender starts three metres behind.
Three things to say
- Come off the line.
- Stay big.
- Go on the heavy touch.
On Saturday
Tick them off on the day. Nothing is saved: print the page if you want to keep it.
After the whistle
Ask yourself
- Did you come out, or stay on the line?
- Did you go on the heavy touch?
What to look back on
- How did each 1v1 start, and could we have stopped it earlier?
Next moment: The keeper starts the counter All match moments