Theme: GK- Bowling Ball Into Play
Step 1. Begin Practice by letting the team know that you will be focusing ‘strictly’ on the GK during this practice. All players must understand that you will be taking a different role during the upcoming practice.
Step 2. Warm-up the Keepers with the field players but rather than Dribbling the ball in the Figure 8 have them use the ‘bowling’ motion.
Step 3. 1+1 Cooperative Play – Let the keepers know that you will be giving them lots of detailed instructions about releasing the ball quickly to the side. Make sure that they understand that this is a new technique and they must be patient with you and themselves.
- Have them count out 6 seconds. One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi, Four-Mississippi, Five-Mississippi, and Six-Mississippi.
- Take them to the goal-line and ask them to start the 6 second count and have them see how far they can walk/run inside the penalty area during the 6 seconds.
- Give them a ball and have them see how much territory they can cover, inside the penalty area, while counting out the six seconds.
What you are attempting to do is convince your GK that they have plenty of time to compose themselves and get the ball out to the end of the penalty area.
4. Serve easy balls to your keeper(s) and give them 6 seconds to release the ball (accurately) outside to either a target or player.
…In other words, “Time” becomes their opponent rather than actual opponents. Remember to make corrections during this phase of practice.
Step 4. 1vs.1 Competitive Play – Let the keepers know that you will not be giving any more instructions about releasing the ball to the side. Make sure they understand that you will be giving them 6 seconds to hit the targets placed on the outside and that you will be keeping score. They will receive points for releasing the ball within the 6 seconds and for hitting the target. And they will lose points for releasing the ball too soon, too late or for missing the target. Remember to make no corrections and just keep score.
Step 5. Half-time… Review the ‘rolling technique’ and cover some of the weaknesses you noticed during the 1vs.1 portion. Let them know that you will give them reminders on ‘rolling the ball’ during the Cooperative Small Sided Games and Scrimmage. But you will not give them reminders during the Competitive Small Sided Games and Scrimmage.
Step 6. Small Sided Games
Cooperative Small Sided Game – You may want to stand behind the goal and give instructions to help the GK perfect their outside roll. You must let the field players know that stoppages may occur for you correcting the GK.
Competitive Small Sided Game – You may want to stand behind the goal but do not give any instructions. (period) Take notes of the things that your GK needs to work on during the next practice to get better at rolling the ball to the sides accurately.
Step 7. Scrimmage
Cooperative Scrimmage – You may want to stand behind the goal and give instructions to help the GK perfect their outside roll. You must let the field players know that stoppages may occur for you correcting the GK.
Competitive Game – You may want to stand behind the goal but do not give any instructions. (period) Take notes of the things that your GK needs to work on during the next practice to get better at rolling the ball to the sides accurately.
Step 8. Cool-down — Compliment your GK (privately) on their progress of rolling the ball to the sides as they do some light stretching.
Step 9. End Practice — Compliment your GK (publicly) on their progress of rolling the ball to the sides and give them a ‘rolling the ball’ homework assignment.
Does this sound familiar? Yes, you should teach/treat GK technique training just like field player training. Successful repetition in practice is your Key to getting them to do it right in the actual game.
