Kevin O’Brien is currently goalkeeper coach at the Everton Football Club Academy in Liverpool, England. He is responsible for the design and implementation of age-appropriate training for all the goalkeepers within the Academy (ages 9-19). As a coach with one of the Premiership´s most successful clubs Kevin has the task of identifying, developing and preparing goalkeepers to graduate into the senior professional ranks and represent Everton FC in the English Premier League.
He currently holds UEFA “A” and “B” Goalkeeper Licenses and is a UEFA “A” License candidate.
The following is a sample activity used at the Academy to improve the distribution (both with feet and hands) of our goalkeepers. Within the activity the goalkeepers will face several game-like situations – dealing with crosses, distributing with hands and feet, receiving back-passes etc.
Set Up:
Two goalkeepers are positioned in goal as shown in Diagram (a) below. Servers (A,B,C) are positioned on both sides of the pitch as shown. A supply of balls is placed next to servers (A).
NOTE: The servers can be field players or goalkeepers.
Objective:
The activity begins with Server (A) taking a touch and crossing the ball into the box. The goalkeeper must catch the cross and roll the ball to Server (B). Server (B) controls the ball and passes back to the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must deal with the back-pass in two touches – one to receive the ball and one to kick long to Server (C) on the half-way line. Server (C) hits a driven pass (or catch and throw) to Server (A) to repeat the sequence. Both sides of the pitch are alternated.
Progression:
- Goalkeeper must hit a first time clearance after receiving the back-pass from (B)
- After catching the cross – goalkeeper can half-volley immediately to player on halfway line.
- Server (B) runs towards the goalkeeper after playing the back-pass to simulate an incoming forward putting the goalkeeper under pressure.
Coaching Points:
- Communication at all times.
- Technique of catch.
- Distribution techniques – roll, kick etc.
- Good first touch on receiving the back-pass.
- Height and distance on kick.
- Angles and distance of support to receive back-passes.