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Coaching Drills Goalkeepers
Clearing and Rebounds There are 13 comments on this articlex13
Planet Field Hockey
Planet Field Hockey
November 22, 1999 3.5 out of 5
Hari Kant
> Page Views 15015

Drill Objective
- To improve the set balance position required for kicking and shooting.
- To kick the with control and accuracy towards a target.
- To recover to the set balanced position after the kick and save rebounds.

Equipment
Goal.  Goalkeeper, Attacker.  At least 10 balls. 2 cones/markers.  
Setup
Two target cones are setup:  one each on the left and right side top of the circle.  The attacker stands with the balls at the top center of the circle.  The keeper starts in the set balanced position about 2 yards off the goaline.  These points are illustrated in the diagram below.
 

Legend

Cone
Attacker
Goalkeeper
Run
Push
Kick
Shot

Explanation

1.       Start and Initial Push.

The keeper begins in the set balanced position ready to face a shot from the top of the circle.  The attacker collects one of the balls and pushes the ball towards the goal.  The push is a slow controlled pass directed at the keepers kickers.

2.       The Kick

The keeper kicks the ball towards the right target cone at the top of the circle.  This kick should be accurate and controlled and be directed within 1 yard either side of the cone.   

3.      Follow Through

After the kick, the keeper must follow through and face where the ball has gone.  When facing the ball it is important to again assume a balanced stance on the toes.  

4.      Shot

After the initial push the attacker moves towards the initial target cone.  The attacker then collects the rebounds and shoots at goal.

5.      Save

The keeper now makes the save on the rebound opportunity.  Any subsequent rebounds are played out with play ending when the ball leaves the circle or a goal is scored.

6.      Repeat

The attacker and keeper return to the starting positions.  The sequence is repeated for a full set of 10 balls, with the target cone being alternated between right and left.  The new sequence should not be started until the keeper is back in the center of the goal in the balanced set stance.  This should be repeated 3-4 times with a rest of 1-2 minutes between sets where the balls can be collected.

7.      Combinations

This drill can be modified as follows.  The attackers starting position is moved in to 8-10 yards.  The drill proceeds the same, but the rebound shot is made using a flick or a controlled hit.

Keys for Success

1.       Start and Initial Push

The first key is for the keeper to focus his eyes on the ball to be put in play.  This will initiate the balanced stance to start the sequence.  The balanced stance has the keeper on his toes with his chest forwards and both gloves held up and away from the body.   

2.       The Kick

The important thing to remember here is to wait for the push and not anticipate it.  When you anticipate you lose the balanced stance that allows you to react in both directions equally.  You must be able to kick towards the right target cone with either kicker.  With the left kicker, the ball is played with the inside of the kicker, across the body to the cone.  With the right kicker, the ankle is turned to direct the ball towards the right kicker.

3.      Follow Through.  

After the initial kick is made, it is important to keep your vision on the ball.  This will automatically initiate your movement to the balanced stance.  Remember to to have equal weight on both toes with the chest forwards and gloves up.

5.      Save

The most important thing here is to keep the ball out of the goal.  Focus your vision on the ball alone and you will be able to maintain balance and not anticipate.   Continue to follow through and position yourself for all subsequent rebounds.

6.      Repeat

When repeating this drill it is important to not rush the initial push.  Make sure both the attacker and keeper are ready and then start the drill.  This will keep the intensity and quality of the drill at a maximum.

 Progression

To advance this drill:

  1. Move the two target cones farther away from the center of the circle.  This will increase the distance for the forward to cover to recover the rebound.  It will also make the angle for the keeper to kick more difficult.

  2. If a second attacker is available he can collect any misdirected rebounds and pass them to the initial attacker for the shot.  The second attacker can also play any subsequent rebounds at goal.  The two attackers can then alternate in the drill to keep the intensity up

Evaluation  

  1. The keeper should be kicking the initial push with accuracy towards the target cone with either kicker.

  2. The keeper should be positioned well in the set balanced stance for the rebound shot. 

  3. The keeper should save all routine shots on the rebounds.  This done by not anticipating the shot.  Remember, by being balanced, you can react equally in both directions.


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Comments on this article
Gemma
06-05-2001  4:56 am
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As a national level goalkeeper i think this drill is simple but effective.It emphasizes the main points eg. balance, follow through. It is a good base for any keeper to build on their skills
o
10-27-2001  10:29 am
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why?
why arent there any full field diagrams of all the hockey players in their starting positions???
stef
01-09-2002  2:49 pm
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Thanks for this site!!!!!!!!!
Could you send me any coaching tips for my gcse study? i have to teach someone all this!! I also want to improve my skills.
P.S im a bit scared of diving, have you got any tips on diving for me? Thanx alot
M
01-14-2002  6:25 pm
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Coaching Tips
I'm in the same boat as Stef .... we have a young middle school team that is currently playing indoor sessions. Any coaching tips especially for someone intimidated at diving would be helpful. This is a great site...very useful information so far!
Rachel
04-21-2002  5:48 pm
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Thanks so much for this section just for goalkeepers. I've played three years of Middle School Field Hockey, one year of High School, and three sessions of Indoor Field Hockey. I plan to continue my High School Career, and hope to play the sport in College, and if I can, make it to the Olympics some day. However, I had to learn how to be a goalie all on my own. My coach didn't know how to teach me, so everything I know is just experience-based. It's so nice to have professional advice. Thank you so much!
Jane
06-21-2002  11:18 am
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HEy!!!!!!!!!!! ahhh so my soccer team at my high school sux so i am playing feild hockey ( junior year) as a goalie. I am sooo excited but i don't know anything about it alli know is that it looks soo fun... could someone help me with the fundementals?!
Alexa
10-31-2002  2:20 pm
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question
The drill sounds great (all of them on this site do) but after the rebound shot from the cone, is the goalie allowed to clear the ball to anywhere on the circle or only to the cones? Other than that, all these drills seem so amazing. I'm so glad I now have this site for "professional" advice.
Tony
02-21-2003  5:30 am
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directional kicking
After the G.K. has become competent at kicking to a target, arrange (3) gates about 2M between the posts (cones) the cones could be of different colours. As the coach feeds the ball into the G.K. he also calls out the colour of the gate to be kicked through.The progression can the be to have a player moving randomly between the gates so that the G.K. has less time to adjust in order to clear to the player.
I should explain that the gates are set out at varying angles to the goal. Accuracy can be further improved by moving the gates further away from the goal, ultimately to the side line.
Stevie
03-15-2003  9:06 pm
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I have been playing field hockey for 5 years, so far. I am a goalkeeper and could never be anything else. I have been recently asked to coach the middle school goalies. This site has been such a help for me because it is so different teaching someone else how to play a position. Thanks so much!
Nige
11-27-2003  7:47 am
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good drills but they all assume that your only ever coaching one GK at a time, any ideas on keeping the young ones happy cos i'm running out of ideas!
Gracie
03-26-2004  8:06 pm
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26-03-2004 10:00 a.m
Great tips and drills it tells you all of the good points about effective goalkeeping.
sombody
07-06-2004  5:27 pm
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hey great page! I alreasy know most of this stuff but it really helped me get back into the swing of things and remember a lot of stuff. I been playing since middle school and i love it but there's still alot to learn so thanks!
harley
08-01-2004  7:58 pm
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Have you got any advance tips on movement around the "D" with quick refrence to the goal / One on one's and proping for pc's ect I've been playing for 14 year's and I'm looking to tidy up my game a tad.
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