Goalkeeper Distribution

[Jerzy]

I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I've taken a bit of grief about this on another board and I'd like to get an independent view, free the personalities and dramas of my other board.

I have an under 12 coed team that has been around for a couple of years. Although I have a couple of kids who like playing keeper, I rotate most players through keeper and besides placement and communication, the most important attribute to me is composure and so I want kids to gather themselves after a save, and walk the ball to the edge of the box. Then I have my kids kick it away. And there's the problem: I've gotten a lot of criticism about having my keepers do that. It seems that alot of people think my keeper should feed the ball to my fullbacks, since they would be able to keep control of the ball.

But it seems to me that if I played to my fullbacks, especially after the other team retreated a bit, the forwards and midfielders would tee off and attack the ball. I don't preach that my kids should dump the ball long, but it seems silly to invite that kind of pressure on players in their third of the pitch.

What do you think?

[74offsuit]

Hi Jerzy

This sounds like a classic possession versus territory situation.

My U15 team uses both tactics, depending on the dynamics of the time.

To play the ball out of defence does require a good team understanding, using the key principles of attacking play, after all, when you have the ball you are attacking!

So midfield and attack need to be moving to create space so the fullbacks have an out ball. The fullbacks need to know how best to exploit that space, and have the ability to deliver the pass, or attack the space.

On the FA Level two course in the UK, these concepts are taught using a six V six small sided game, so you could test and improve your team this way.

Good luck with your team!

[Val]

I have the same issue, Jerzy. I look at it this way, professional keepers punt the ball upfield in the same situation, why would we expect our kids to do any less? Knowing when to distribute to the fullbacks is a classic advanced skill. It's been a while since I coached U14s, but that is about the time I would introduce that. Based on what you've said, I'd stay the course...

[Guy Williams]

Decision making is a fundamental of football if you set your team up to pass and move or if your team has to play territoraly because of the standard they play at if you teams have ability then rolling the ball out can help you because if the opposing forwards want to close the ball there should be maore space for your team to exploit you can use this to stretch sides then when they are stretched get the ball forward quickly and expose their weakness.

[mcolwell]

You need a really good alert keeper to do this. I would encourage it but when your goalie has it you really want to just get the ball out of your own half in matches. You would need to coach this within the whole team and develop the keepers decision making skills as to when and how to distribute and to which players initially. It is a bit too much for my under nines at the moment but it will come.

[rils]

I disagree with keepers "pumping the ball" up the pitch in all situations the dynamics of the game are as such that if the long ball is being played then you need your forwards to be confident in winning the ball otherwise you are just encouraging swarming and long balls up and down the pitches.

Keep the ball on the ground and use your defenders to work it up the pitch to the wingers who can then feed your striker/strikers. More touches=better football.

Obviously you need confident defenders and team understanding so you may not want to get this going straight away in competitive matches but integrate it in your training and work it in.

There is no right or wrong way it depends on the game and the opposition. But I can assure you a passing game is more fluid=more entertaining=better for the childs development on the ball.

Have you tried to get your goalie to throw out to the winger with a defender covering the player rather than roll outs?

Does your goalie roll out across the goal?

[ian.curry]

Often the long ball is required though, keeping the ball on the ground and playing to your full backs in turn requires defenders very apt at control, vision, and passing. Playing to your full backs every time will also encourage the opposition to come further forwards and pressure you earlier.
A good mix of the two is ideal, some short balls rolled out, some long balls into the other half.

[lanesra]

I agree, moderation seems to be in order. The rule I use when the kids hit about U12, or about the age your guys are, is if the opposing team forwards and mids are set in defense, then punt the ball away. If they're loafing or recovering to space themselves, try to play the ball out to put your defenders and mids in position to attack. And when in doubt, have the keeper take his time and punt the ball out. Rushing the ball, just because it looks like you have a break (in the back third of the field, remember) is NEVER a good idea.

[rils]

Playing a hoofed football up and down the pitch isnt football its rugby - unless your wingers and forwards are adept at running onto the ball or knocking it down first touch - u run the risk of a 50/50 ball and losing it to the opposition - most of our goals come this way from inexperienced goalies hoofing the ball up the pitch leaving their defence short as they run up to the halfway line - only to have the ball intercepted and attacked quickly down the wings and crossed into the forwards.

If your defence and midfielder are not capable of taking palying aball form the back on the ground then thats a training need that you should address.

As I said by all means have your keepers "hoof" up and down all day long but you arent really teaching your team to play properly and it makes for dull un-inspiring football with little opportunity to touch the ball and play properly.

[ian.curry]

Well then, perhaps you'd like to explain why my team is currently 2nd?

We used to play a lot of passing football but struggled to make it out of our own half because of opposition pressure. Now with a bit of long ball added in we can create better chances when we are in the final third.

How do you mean 'play properly'?? Is what we do getting us results? Yes. Do you think successful football is looking pretty with the ball, getting good results from time to time, or playing whichever way suits your team and actually winning games all the time, competitions, leagues etc?
Before you mention football for juniors is not about winning, it is well documented that youths play to win/achieve things from 14 upwards. Most of my lads are now 14.

I hate the fact so many people think Holland and Spain are better than England because they play prettier and are 'technically' superior. Where does it get them???