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Dealing with the back pass: Exercises for goalkeepers

This is an excerpt from Complete Soccer Goalkeeper by Timothy Mulqueen & Michael Woitalla.

Back Pass With Both Feet

Setup

Place two cones about 6 yards apart to simulate a goal. The goalkeeper sets up between the cones. A server stands in front of and a little inside of each cone, about 5 to 6 yards from the cones. Together the servers and the keeper form a triangle. Each server has a ball.

Procedure

The goalkeeper receives a pass at her right foot from server 1 and returns a first-touch pass. Server 2 strikes a pass to the keeper's left foot, and the keeper returns the pass on the first touch.

Repetitions

Continue for a total of 10 to 14 back passes.

Variations

Have servers deliver balls at a faster pace. The goalkeeper uses two touches to return the ball. If only one server is available, have the server deliver passes to each side of the keeper from a position directly across from the keeper.

Back Pass With Movement

Setup

Place two cones 6 yards apart to simulate a goal. The goalkeeper sets up between the cones. A server stands across from and 5 to 10 yards away from each cone. Each server has a ball.

Procedure

The goalkeeper shuffles over to cone 1 (to his right) and receives a pass from server 1. The keeper returns the ball on the first touch . The keeper then shuffles over to cone 2, receives a pass from server 2, and returns it on the first touch.

Repetitions

Continue for a total of 12 to 14 back passes.

Variations

Have the servers strike the balls for faster pace. The goalkeeper uses two touches to return the ball.

Continuous First-Touch Back Pass

Setup

Place two cones 6 yards apart to simulate a goal. The goalkeeper sets up between the cones. A server stands in front of and a little inside of each cone, about 5 to 6 yards from the cones. Together the servers and the keeper form a triangle. Server 1 begins with a ball.

Procedure

The goalkeeper receives a pass from server 1. The keeper plays a first-touch ball to server 2. Server 2 plays the ball back to the keeper. The keeper plays a first-touch ball to server 1.

Repetitions

Continue for a total of 10 to 14 back passes.

Variations

Have the goalkeeper play two-touch balls back to the servers.

Changing the Point of Attack

This exercise develops the keeper's ability to play a ball out of the back for possession to an outside back or wide midfielder. The keeper receives the ball from one side of the field and plays it out to the other side. This is called changing the point of attack (CPA).

Setup

Server 1 is at the top of the D with a supply of balls. Servers 2 and 3 set up on the opposite side of the field as a back and an outside midfielder. The keeper sets up near the edge of the goal area in front of the server.

Procedure

Server 1 plays a ball into the feet of the goalkeeper. The keeper takes a touch and hits a driven ball out to server 2. Server 1 plays another ball to the keeper, who takes a touch and sends it to server 3.

Repetitions

After sending eight balls to the keeper, the servers move to the opposite side of the field and send another eight balls.

Variations

Add additional players (or cones set up as targets). The goalkeeper drives balls to various targets.

Everton Back Pass

This exercise incorporates a shot into back-pass training.

Setup

The goalkeeper sets up off the right post. Use cones or markers, if desired, to set off an area from which the keeper receives and sends balls. Server 1 stands in front of the keeper, about 12 yards away. Server 2 sets up in the penalty arc.

Procedure

Server 1 rolls a pass to the goalkeeper. The keeper receives the ball and takes two touches to play the ball to server 2; the keeper then moves across the goal area to align with server 2. Server 2 controls the ball and shoots on goal. The keeper makes the save and returns the ball to server 1.

Repetitions

After four to six shots on goal, server 1 and the keeper set up on the other side of the goal, and the sequence is repeated for another four to six shots.

Variations

Have the goalkeeper play the ball on the first touch to server 2. Have server 2 hit first-touch shots.

More Excerpts From Complete Soccer Goalkeeper

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