As mentioned before the goalkeeper’s role in a game can cover many areas. It’s not as simple as just stopping shots. There are many other things that you need to think about.
So what can you do as a keeper to improve your communication with the players on the field in front of you? Here are a few more tips which you can take and practice on the pitch.
Learn key words and phrases.
It is helpful if you learn some key phrases to help you direct your players on the field. This can be extremely helpful in the heat of the game when you don’t have the chance to talk one on one to the player. Here are some examples:
Push up – a signal for your defenders to push further up the field. In turn the rest of the team will push further into the opposition half.
Drop back – call your team retreat towards you ready for an opposition offensive, say if you see someone looking to make a long ball to an attacker in a dangerous position.
Clear it – this one is obvious but it’s helpful to motivate your team to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible when it’s in a dangerous position on the field. Just be careful not to be too panicked about this as this could lead a player into losing possession again quickly.
So there you have it. Try to use these tips in your next training session or game and see if it helps make a difference. The biggest takeaway here is to not be afraid to use your voice. It can make all the difference and your players will thank you for it in the long run. Oh, and keep it positive, it’s supposed to be fun, remember?
