Goalkeeper position
- Most specialized position on field
- One of the major positions on team
- Can use hands within the penalty area (inside the 18-yard box)
- Because of special status must wear a different color kit from both teams
- Only position required on team. So, if keeper is carded someone has to step into fill in the position.
Main responsibilities
- Keep the ball out of the net
- Set up defense/communicate with defenders on threats
- Protect the 18-yard box (unofficial)
- It's his area and domain to defend, it belongs to him.
- Has to be fearless in there
Qualities of good goalkeepers
- Vocal
- Leader
- Height helps
- Ability to jump helps
- Ability to read angles
- Quick reflexes
- Agility
- Fearless
- Hand Eye coordination
- Sound decision making (when to go and when to stay)
- Still needs sound ball skills
- Reading opponents
- Ability to keep calm
Things of note
- If a keeper gets a red card the position has to be filled by someone officially before the game can continue
- pass back handling rule
- Just a deliberate pass back with the foot
- any other body part is fine
- If it is passed back with the foot goalie has to dribble ball first then can pick up with hands
- May not handle ball with hands thrown back to them from throw in
- Ball thrown by keeper that does not leave penalty box may not be picked up by keeper again
- Have six seconds to distribute ball after picked up
- Can change with a player on the field as long as ref is informed
- When can a keeper move on penalty kicks
- can move left or right online prior to kick
- can move forward of line after ball is kicked
- Keeper usually takes goal kick but doesn't have to
- Can move it anywhere inside the 6-yard box
- Once kicked may not allowed to handle it if you kicked it if it stays in 6-yard box
- I prefer for a player other than the keeper to take kick when I coach
- Sweeper Keeper
- Keepers now expected to participate more in keeping control of the ball
- Requires keepers to be better with their feet in the past
- Also have to understand the rules of the game better because it will require them to make more split decisions as they will be more in
the field more than keepers in the past
Greatest Goalies
- Gianluigi Buffon
- Lev Yashin (only keeper to win Ballon d'Or 1963, stopped 151 pks and had over 270 clean sheets)
- Dino Zoff
- Gordon Banks
- Sepp Maier
- Iker Casillas
- Manuel Neuer (good example of sweeper keeper, so good Pep Guardiola had to be talked out of playing him mid,
has changed expectations and perceptions of keepers)
- Edwin van der Sar (went 1311 minutes without conceding a goal)
American Goalies
- Zack Steffen (current starter)
- Brad Guzan
- Tim Howard
- Kasey Keller (probably best American goalkeeper ever, but case could also be made for Tim Howard)
- Tony Meola
- Brad Friedel
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalkeeper_(association_football)#:~:text=The%20goalkeeper's%20primary%20role%20is,vicinity%20of%20the%20goal%20line.
- https://www.sportsrec.com/teach-spread-out-pass-soccer-5660817.html
- https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2802528-the-evolution-of-the-goalkeeper
- https://www.soccercoachingpro.com/soccer-goalie/
- https://www.sportsrec.com/7821388/rules-for-goalkeeper-in-soccer
- https://www.soccercoachingpro.com/soccer-goalie-rules/