Technical and Tactical Preparation in Breakaway Training

Technical and Tactical Preparation to Make Breakaway Saves

by Terry Underkoffler

Region I Goalkeeper Coach

This session will provide instructional techniques to train young keepers in dealing with one vs. one confrontations in the penalty area. By using a progressional buildup, the keeper gains confidence with attacking the opponent with proper technique and timing. Goalkeepers do not need to be big and imposing to control the penalty area with intensity and confidence.

Warmup:

1. Keeper collapses side to side, using the side of the body like a rocking chair motion, then gets back up to feet without using their hands.

2. Half the players with balls at their feet, the other half keepers : Players with balls dribble around and the keepers try to disposess the strikers. When the keeper steals the ball, they become the striker and the "dispossessed becomes a keeper.

Technical Progression

The following exercises are designed for the goalkeeper to master the technical save in a one vs one situation.

Technical Points:

1. Body position and shape to ball.

a. Keeper will train to be parallell to the ball and line up the forearms of the body to the ball.

b. Keepers will work on proper starting position and posture in approach to the ball.

c. Keepers will work on re-attacking loose balls after save.

Exercise 1. Lining up the Forearms to the Ball  (Cobra shape)

a. Keeper lies down on their side and a ball is placed in front of the forearms. Partner "shoots" the ball into forearms. Keeper allows it to hit and re-collects the ball after impact.

b. Keeper begins in a "crab position". A ball is positioned near his hip, about two feet away from his body. The Partner is one step away from the ball. When the partner approaches the ball the keepers reacts and throws his forearms and hands to the ball to smother the shot.

Exercise 3. Approaching the Ball

a. Server holds ball in hand and rolls ball towards keeper. Keeper comes out and slides into ball, allowing the ball to tap the forearms. Works on lining up the body to the ball. Vary distance, speed of rolling ball.

b. Server then can roll ball and follow the ball. Keeper needs to use judgement if they can come out and gather the ball with quick steps or slide and smother the ball. Coaching point to be made : Keeper should side-step to avoid contact with the opponent after collecting rolling ball to prevent dangerous loose ball situations.

c. Keeper holds ball in hand. Keeper rolls the ball towards the striker and approaches the striker with proper hand position ( hands low, palms facing the opponent) and tries to smother the shot off the partner. Partners try to pass it by the approaching keeper.

Exercise 4. Reading the Approach of an Opponent

a. Divide the working group in half. Half are keepers, the other half "strikers". Coach passes ball out in between striker and keeper and the keeper reads the speed of the ball and distance of the striker to decide what method of collecting the ball to use. If the keeper can win the ball on their feet and not slide that is optimum. Distance and pace of the service is varied here.

Coaching points here.

Can the keeper can get to the ball first .

Can the keeper get to the ball and smother as the striker is shooting. ( Get the body very close to the striker.

Must the keeper time getting down to smother just after the ball is struck by the striker.

Keeper should "match" the speed of approach of the striker to their own speed of attacking the striker. If the striker has full control, the keepers footwork is more controled and approach more cautious. If the striker is coming at a high speed, the keeper should look for the ball to be played away from the striker, and attack the ball quickly, sliding and smothering the loose ball.

If the striker comes in towards the goal on an angle, hands always protect the near post.

Match-Related Game:

Exercise 1. Two goals. Two vs Two. Each team consists of one keeper and a striker. Ball starts in keepers hand. Striker teammate is next to goalpost, with opponent striker behind on one knee. Goalkeeper rolls ball out in front of teammate to create one vs one, opponent striker now chasing, providing defensive pressure. Other keeper reads, reacts, and attempts to save. After attempt is made, roles are reversed. Score is kept. First team to five, wins.

Exercise 2. Team trains the Keeper. Field players are aligned around the penalty area and assigned numbers.

Example : Numbers 1,2,3, are shots , 4 and 6 are breakaways into the box, approaching from outside the box. Number 5 can be a "situational " one vs one on the end line near the six yard box. Coach calls out the number, field player and goalkeeper reacts.

Conclusion: Emphasis must be made during the training on the importance of the body shape of the keeper, the method that keeper chooses to attack the ball, and the timing of the appoach. Body shape emphasis should be parallell to the goalline, arms outstretched, and top leg up and bent. Arms should be in a 3/4 tuck postion, protecting the face and allowing the keeper to keep full view on the ball. Keepers must also have emphasis on re-attacking any loose balls in the box.