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Goal kicks

This week I wanted to discuss goal kicks, especially in the youth game. I predominately played as a goalkeeper during the 90's and early 00's in Lancashire England. I used to play on wet muddy fields. There weren’t the best conditions for playing football. My job was to take the goal kicks and kick the ball as high and as far as possible. If the ball didn't make it to the half way line it was seen as failure. It was a part of my game that i dreaded. The pressure of everyone eagerly anticipating a bazooka of a goal kick Asking a 10 year old to kick the ball from the 6 yard boys to at least the half way line on a full size pitch was a daunting and essentially a unrealistic task.

Now as the youth game has been modified to better suit child development I wanted to discuss goal kicks. I recently went to observe U16 boys in a college showcase tournament. I saw a varying array of goal kicks but the long attempt to the half way line was evidently the kick of choice. What I was surprised to see was that not all goal kicks were taken by the goal keeper. How degrading to the goalkeeper who was there presumably to showcase his talents in front of friends, family and perspective college coaches. Once again players and some coaches are obsessed with the distance of the kick rather than accuracy. Another area of the game we put too much stress on when the actual playing of the game is more important.

Now with the USSF mandates U8 and below play 3v3 or 4v4 without a GK. In the U5-U6 age group i will periodically use no pressure goal kicks. If the ball goes over the goal line (but not in the goal) I will have the deepest player in the diamond play a short pass to a team mate. We play "first pass is free” Sometimes I will just pass a new ball into play to keep the game flowing and kids moving. At the U7 & U8 age group I have started playing 4v4 and rotate the player who takes the unopposed kick to a team mate. The opposition fall back to the half way and once the kick has been taken they proceed to pressure and the game resumes. This has been an effective if albeit manufactured way to teach kids how to take goal kicks and start the foundations of building out the back.

Next month I will be attending another indoor tournament with U8 boys. The tournament rules are 5v5 (4+GK). This gives the players chance to take goal kicks with full pressure (no fallback/buildout line). This environment can lead to "soft goals" that are kicked directly to the opponent’s forward who is strategically perched on the top of the penalty area eagerly awaiting the cheap shot into the open goal. I find that no pressure is unrealistic and manufactured and at the developing age groups full pressure is seemingly too difficult for developing teams to achieve any quality build up play.

The introduction of the buildout line in the U.S at U9 & 10 has had mixed reviews and still continues to be a learning curve for players, coaches and referees. I do feel the line has some merit in the youth game and has eliminated a lot of the "cheap goals" you used to see at this age level. My suggestion would be to allow once player to pressure. This would still encourage building out the back but there has to be a thought process by the goalkeeper and his defensive back line.

I am a big fan of building out the back and wish this tactics would have been present in my youth career. Encouraging the goalkeeper to think about who they pass to, how they pass and when to pass is only going to make the youth game better.

At U11 and older I still see the importance of building out the back my own U11 girls team still continue to work on this, mainly due to the fact no one has the strength or technique to kick it longer. This team and may others would excel with the continuation of the build out line. Once the line disappears teams continue to play full press and won’t allow any attempt of a short pass. This type of play results in an outfield player taking the goal kick for the hope of a bigger longer kick and so the GK can protect the goal on the extreme possibility that the ball will be swiftly directed back to goal by the opposing vultures. This is no way to teach and or play the game.

Although I continue to coach my teams and player to build out of the back I still see the importance of the longer more direct goal kick. Goalkeepers should still continue to work on the technique. If the goalkeeper can adjust to the opposition and environment and understand when to play long or short, then you have the beginnings of a top class GK and competent goal kick taker. One thing I’ve learnt from my coaching experience is that you can’t be stubborn regarding goal kicks. Sometimes the short pass to the full back just isn’t an option due to pressure from the opponent, playing conditions or ability of the team. The longer kick is the better option or vice versa. Once thing I would say is that accuracy over power and distance. We should promote accurate goal kicks rather than long or short.

• When your team gets a goal kick allow the GK to take it

• Encourage full back to drop wide and deep and make sure they are eager and enthusiastic to receive the ball

• Make sure the center back(s) are sideways on ready to potentially receive the ball. Playing a short central ball should still be an option.

• Encourage accuracy over power and distance

• Goal kicks should be varied to keep the opponent on their toes

You’re still going to concede possession or even a goal because of goal kicks. Although it’s a tough pill to swallow it’s all part of the learning process and not the end of the world. Continue to coach in a positive manner and your goal kicks will be taken with conviction rather than hope and fear.

Paul Kelshaw

@paulkelshaw

paulkelshaw@pksoccer.org