GOALKEEPERS AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Key to any successful soccer team is effective communication.  The sophistication and amount of communication will vary depending on age and skill level.  In today’s modern game the goalkeeper is the lead communicator on the field.  Expectations are that a goalkeeper is not only a shot stopper but also the last line of defense, first attacker, and demonstrates game maturity with decision-making, organizing, and communicating.   That is a heavy burden at any age and ability level.  Goalkeepers and field players are unable to communicate because of their game inexperience and the pace at which the game changes.  As coaches it is our job to help keepers read the game and respond to the changes going on in front of them.

The Basics of Effective Goalkeeper Communication:

Defined expectations on what the keeper’s communication responsibility entails.

Glossary and definition of terms used by the keeper.    

Define what term is used when to insure consistency and mutual understanding between  keeper & player

Name and Action:  Who is doing what.  “Steve mark 7” is more effective than “mark up, mark up”. 

When communicating instructions have the keeper project their voice in a clear and concise manner.   Simplicity is essential.

When communicating instructions have the keeper project their voice in a clear and concise manner.   Simplicity is essential.

Be constructive

Communicate when necessary rather than just to hear their voice.  There is a balance between being informative and yelling too much where a field player tunes the keeper out.

Communication is a habit that has to be formed early just like proper goalkeeper catching techniques

U-10 & under:  Understand the importance of “Keeper” call.

U-11: Calling keeper with balls crossed into the box.  “Away” call when the keeper is not in a position to challenge the ball.  Communicate with defenders to “clear” the ball when under pressure.

U-12/13:  Defensive Commands:  “man on your left”, “Jimmy on your left”.  Mark players up on set pieces.  “Step players by name” or “push players up by name” to insure players are defending and attacking as a team.

U-14/15: Begin to organize 1st defender 2nd defender.  Identify immediate threats.  Offer “keeper” as a pass back option to clear or maintain possession.  “Step players” or “push players up” to give the keeper more room to work in, to keep the attacking team contained, and the offside consideration.

U-16:  Further the keeper’s understanding of team defensive and offensive responsibilities, man marking, zonal defending.   Able to organize defenders to support:  Pressure, Cover, and Balance. 

U-17:  Develop understanding of other attacking and defending formations.  Confidently orchestrate the whole defense rather than just pressure, cover, and balance.

Keepers, you need to watch more games on TV. Watch at least one professional game a week and pretend that they are that keeper.  Your responsibilities are to try to figure out where the next pass is going and to watch how the defense and attack move in relationship to one another and off the ball.  After a few weeks of this, try to communicate as the professional keeper out loud while watching.  Using the keeper call, identify unmarked players, calling a particular defender back to recover a through ball.   Also have their parents tape their games to capture how they communicate and play.  Taping games will show exactly how the keeper reacted during a certain situation, what they said, and the result. 

The keeper has the best view of the team.  Clear and concise directions given by the keeper will help organize the defense and minimize defensive breakdowns, contribute to more possession, provide offensive support, and prevent counter attacks.  Effective communication has to be reinforced in practice from the group warm up to game situations.

As coaches it is important that we realize that a keeper’s confidence and decision making will evolve over time and is directly impacted by the time and effort that we commit.  Just like in a team training environment focus on one or two coaching points related to communication.  Build the keeper’s knowledge and vocabulary from the basics to the more complex.  .  The end goal is to have the keeper see the threats, opportunities, and feel comfortable enough to communicate in a real game.