THE COACHING MAG Issue Three
January 2015
FREE Coaching session plans
K G The e! issu
#TwitterDebate Top tips for coaching GK's Things we've learned this time Distribution with Swindon Town FC Head of Goalkeeping Steve Hale *Exclusive*
Fraser Digby Interview
This time in 'The Coaching Mag'
13 16 *Exclusive*
Goalkeeping session plan
interview with Fraser Digby
8
The benefits of playing in different age groups.
21
Distribution with STFC Head of Goalkeeping Steve Hale.
31. Top Tips 32. Things we've learned...
23
#TwitterDebate
25
Effective Goalkeeping with Jamie Davies (BCFC Academy GK Coach)
Welcome Hi all and welcome to Issue Three of The Coaching Mag 'The GK Issue'. This issue we talk to Former Swindon Town, Manchester Utd and England U21 keeper Fraser Digby. Inside you will find a guest blog from STFC Head of Goalkeeping Steve Hale, a piece on effective goalkeeping from BCFC Academy GK Coach Jamie-Lloyd Davies and a 6 piece GK coaching session created on the FA Coach's App. I addition to this we also have an extensive piece on the benefits of playing in different age groups along with our #TwitterDebate, top tips for coaching GK's and what we learning this time. We hope you enjoy the read and come back for more in April with Issue 4. Until next time... Steve Hooper Editor
@
inclusionfooty1 thecoachingmag
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Youth Football The benefits of
Playing In Different Age Groups
Some think this is an idea that would be abused, others think its there for development. We look at both sides of the argument “He's gotta be older, look at the size of him” is a common expression amongst coaches and parents during the grass roots football season and especially during tournament season. “He's so strong he just runs through our team and we can't stop him” is another. So the question is this, how do we make the challenge appropriate for all, the player in question and the other players on the pitch? Is there an argument for him to play in a different team with a more physical challenge, meaning the player will need to concentrate more on technique to get success? Does it work the other way? A player that gets limited success
in his own age group, due to late growth spurts, playing down to develop greater technique under less physical pressure? “wait a min, if we take our 'strongest player' and put him in another age group my team will suffer” I hear you say. Is it possible that the other players in the team are playing within themselves as they don't 'need' to perform as the strongest player does it all? You may find that removing that player (for his own development) might change the mindset of other players and actually allow them to express themselves and develop quicker. So lets start with the individual players and how we can help them develop in an appropriate environment.
Youth Football Case Study 1: Name: Michael Age Group: U10 Characteristics: Tall, Strong, Quick. In-game Decision Making: Poor Success Rate: High Observations: Michael is strong and can travel with the ball for long distances without being tackled. Michael rarely makes a decision to pass or a decision based on space due to a lack of awareness as he doesn't 'need' to make decisions for success. This in turn effects the other players decisions based on what to do when Michael is in possession of the ball. They chose not to get up the field and support to maybe score but instead sit back and be secure behind the play or in some cases, totally switch off to the game.
Case Study 2: Name: Lewis Age Group: U11 Characteristics: Small, quick, agile, excellent ball manipulation. In-game Decision Making: Poor Success Rate: High in 1v1 So what can we do with Michael? dribbling situations, Low in team situations. Personally I would look to play Observations: Lewis has fantastic him an age group up for 4 weeks, ball mastery (arguably the best at in an environment where he will the club) and has lots of success not get as much success from his in 1v1 situations. Lewis appears physical attributes. This will in to struggle when making a turn challenge his ability to adapt decision on when to pass and and his technique. This will also when to dribble causing his team pose some problems to be solved to lose possession more often by Michael and develop his than not when he has possession decision making rapidly. of the ball. When paying with other teams it is noticeable that Decision: Play in U11 for 4 weeks. Lewis makes better decisions on
Youth Football when to pass and when to dribble. Following conversations with Lewis in transpires that he feels if he gives the ball to his team mates in his age group he doesn't believe they will retain possession.
from your own coaching experience where a player may have benefit from playing in a younger age group? Maybe if we look back to Issue One and our piece on 'Birth Bias' that might jog some memories.
So what can we do with Lewis? Firstly for Lewis to improve he needs to play at a standard that challenges him and allows him to make good decisions and see success. This is different to case 1 where it was a physical/psychological reason for the move and is a psychological/technical reason. This will also allow the players within Lewis' own age group to express themselves and play in a more effective way. So you may find once again that Lewis playing up an age group can have multiple benefits to multiple children. Again this may be a set time (stated number of weeks) to allow Lewis to 'stretch' himself before then coming back into his own group, who have developed, to consolidate his learnings. Decision: Play up for selected time. So is there a time that it can benefit a player to play down? Can you think of an example
If a player is a lot smaller (possibly younger) than the other players in his age group so doesn't get on the ball as much as needed to develop technique and game understanding. Is there an argument for that player to play down an age group to allow less physical pressure and more touches on the ball. You may also find some leadership qualities shining through in the player. This again links to the FA Four Corner Model and helps to create a holistic learning environment.
The FA four corner model! Think of the benefits for players by possibly for a time playing up or down an age group.
Playing time and position rotation template.
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The Interview This issue we got to sit down with former Swindon, Man Utd and England U21 GK
Fraser Digby to find out his most influential coaches, his best save, most memorable match, best striker played against and much more. Firstly I would like to say welcome to 'The Coaching Mag' Fraser and thank you for taking the time out to talk with us. So our first question is who was your best manager during your playing career? From a players point of view I would have to say Terry Venables when I was at Crystal Palace. His tactical knowledge was exceptional, everyone knew their roles and he created a positive learning environment. From a personal point of view
purely for what he did for me and the club (stfc) it has to be Lou Macari. He brought in his own way of training and got us to levels we didn't think possible. There is also of course Glen (Hoddel), his ability to change a game was exceptional from sweeper as a player manager. Ozzie (Ardiles) took the fitness given by Lou and gave us the confidence to play attractive football and of course during my time at United I worked Sir Alex. What I would say is that each of them have their own unique styles.
The Interview Wow, thats some list of managers. So with that in mind, who delivered the best training sessions and why? Again I would say Terry, he was an excellent man manager, everyone knew their roles and responsibilities on the pitch. He was so tactically astute and ahead of his time that it was mind blowing which allowed him to create a perfect learning environment with the right mix of fun, serious and learning. From a gk point of view I would have to say Martin Thomas, his technical knowledge was fantastic and really helped me to improve. So looking at the other side of the coin, who was the best striker you ever faced and why? (with no hesitation) Alan Shearer! On the two occasions during the
93/94 season that we faced Blackburn he scored two goals in both games, the satisfaction came in stopping him complete his hat-trick in both games. He really was a top guy and very complimentary of Swindon's was of playing back then. So with that in mind, what was your best game? Again 93/94 Premier League season, away to Liverpool. I was given a 9/10 rating in The People and was facing players like Steve McManaman, John Barnes, Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler. To get a 22 draw at Anfield and play in the manner we did was brilliant. And your best save? Based on the importance for the club at the time it would have to be Tranmere away in the second leg of the 92/93
The Interview play-off semi. I've tipped an effort from John Aldridge onto the post....if that goes in, the club never reach the Premier League. I can still remember John complaining that the ball had crossed the line, he knew it hadn't. Moving on a few years, what was it like to be back at Swindon as GK coach and would you go back into coaching if the opportunity arose? I felt honoured to be asked. I received a call following the departure of Paolo Di Canio and it was meant to be to fill a gap for a couple of weeks, it ended up as nearly 18 months. It was enjoyable to pass on my knowledge and experience to try and help Wes (Foderingham) and Ty (Belford) to be even better than they already are. As for whether I would go back? If help was needed then
yes, but I wouldn't say I am actively looking for coaching positions. So what would you say is the 'Art of Goalkeeping'? Concentration! A good GK is the one who makes the least amount of mistakes, not the one that necessarily makes the 'worldy' saves. If you get the basics right at an early age and concentrate well during training and games then you can't go too far wrong in my opinion. Thank you Fraser for such an insightful conversation and good luck in your future ventures. Fraser now runs 'The Silks on The Downs' just north of Marlbrough in Wiltshire and is a distributor for Errea sportswear in the south west. For more from Fraser follow him on Twitter using the handle @theFraserDigby
THIS MONTHS FREE SESSION PLAN Created using @FACoachsApp
Guest Blog Distribution with STFC Head of Goalkeeping
Steve Hale. A parent spoke with me at my goalkeeping school this week asking for help with his 10 year old son who was finding taking goal kicks difficult. He said that he was struggling to get much height and distance and his team coach was talking about getting one of the outfield players to take the goal kicks. Once again it raised the issue of “Distribution� from the goalkeeper and managing expectations. If I start at the top end of the game and work back I think it’s important to try and get a few things clear to try and help our goalkeepers develop in the modern game. I have mentioned these types of stats before but I make no apologies for talking about them again. This season at Swindon, in the first ten games of the season Wes Foderingham has distributed the ball 530 times, 38 of those times with his hands (under-arm roll and over-arm throw) and 492 times with his feet (back passes, goal kicks, through balls, passes/kicks from floor, side volley from hands) so on average he is kicking/passing the ball 49 times per game. This compares to making 22 saves in that ten game period, so 2 saves per game. This week Tyrell Belford played against Newport County and funnily enough he played the ball with his feet exactly 49 times as well, one of which was a magical piece of skill if you have a look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHUA7nb0eJE and with the style of play at Swindon where we play out from the back, the goalkeepers often start the attacks and receive the ball back a lot in a patient manner to keep possession. If you take this back into non-league football, I looked at this a few years ago when working with Cirencester Town where I looked at the first team goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer over a ten game period and the numbers were still quite high with 308 distributions with his feet so averaging 30 times per game compared to 28 saves so just under 3 saves per game. The types of distributions varied slightly because the non-league game is more direct so the goalkeeper has to kick longer distances more frequently compared to the style at Swindon. We currently have two of our scholar goalkeepers out on loan from Swindon in senior non-league football and around 80% of their
Guest Blog distribution will be long into the opponents half 60-80 yards compared to our other scholar who is playing for our youth team who spends around 80-90% of his time playing shorter 10-20 yard passes. If you look at those stats at both levels its clear to see why distribution skills are so important, far more important than they have ever been.Therefore if you relate this information back to youth football it’s obvious that all coaches need to develop this area of the goalkeeper’s game. HOWEVER what we must also realise is that most young goalkeepers probably started playing in goal because they were better with their hands, throwing themselves around making saves than their skills with their feet. Our expectations as coaches need to be lower on what they can or cannot do and the actual process of helping them develop those skills will take longer than it will with an outfield player so we need to show patience and support. I spent 15 minutes with the young goalkeeper whose parent asked me for help and I wasn’t really overly concerned having watched him. I took into account his age firstly and compared him to the same age group goalkeepers at Swindon and other goalkeepers in my goalkeeping school of that age and what he was achieving was of a similar height and distance that they could achieve. I then looked at his physical make up compared to a couple of other goalkeepers at that age and the other goalkeepers were of a stockier build and could achieve a little more height and distance but not huge amounts more. I believe striking a football well is partly technical and partly physical so at the younger ages if a boy/ girl is better developed physically there is a fair chance they will achieve greater distances and height. Let’s not forget though, accuracy on a consistent basis is very important. The coaches that choose to get an outfield player to take the goal kicks instead of the goalkeeper often tend to choose the big “strapping centre half” who comes back to boom it. I would ask the following questions to those coaches; How does that help the development of the goalkeeper (and the centre half as they are probably now out of position in the shape of the team)? Are you coaching a young team to help develop "all" of the young players or are you there just to try and win games at whatever cost? Have you actually allowed or helped your young goalkeeper each week at your team training sessions to practise and develop their striking of the ball? Can you coach the team to play out from the back, therefore not needing the
Guest Blog goalkeeper to kick it as far and as high as they can, therefore including and involving your goalkeeper and helping them feel good and part of the team? If you stop the goalkeeper taking goal-kicks he/she will not develop that area of his/her game, it’s as simple as that. Give them the opportunity to work at it in training and let them experience it in games and both medium and long term you will see the benefits to that young goalkeeper. There is no “Rocket Science” to developing distribution skills, I call it “bag of balls down the park” and what I mean by that is simply spend as much time as possible practising. Start over short distances; gradually build up the distance, still maintaining accuracy. Set little challenges such as can they clip the ball up into your hands, maybe can they clip it over your head? Put down target areas for them to try and get the ball into, again over different distances. The goalkeeper needs to be able to deliver a wide range of passes as they grow, and when they are fully developed, short, medium, long, on the floor, lofted in the air, driven through the air or driven along the floor. I can assure you even at Swindon with Wes, Tyrell and the scholar goalkeepers we simply spend plenty of time practising to hone these skills. Results in youth football is not the be all and end all, helping develop young footballers and young people, creating an environment where they can have fun and enjoy the game is far more important than looking at the league table in the local paper on a Monday morning. Your goalkeeper is part of that so please help them.
For more from Steve search Steve Hale Goalkeeping School on facebook or @SteveHaleGK on twitter www.stevehalegoalkeeping.co.uk
SHG GK GLOVES WWW.STEVEHALEGOALKEEPING.CO.UK steve@stevehalegoalkeeping.co.uk
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Goal Keeping What your players need to be an effective GK in the modern game! BCFC Academy GK Coach Jamie Davies talks us through whats needed.
So this month we got the time to sit down with Bristol City Academy Foundation Phase GK Coach Jamie-Lloyd Davies to get you guys all the information you need to effect your GK's in a positive way. Jamie is currently in his second season with Bristol City and here are his key points to effective goal keeping.
Start Position:
on the front half of the feet in a balanced position, knees Ensure goalkeepers start need to be flexed and hips position is in line and down facing forwards. Hands (ball the line in relation to the ball. width apart) and elbows This is important to offer (narrow) need to be in front support to outfield players but away from the body to when our team is in act as shock absorbers when possession, and to reduce the catching the ball. Keep the space for the opponents to head still and "noes in front play into out of possession. of toes", the body should also be still and 'set' as the ball is Set Position: hit. Feet approximately shoulder width apart, both square facing forward, body weight
Work Feet: Following the shape from the
Goal Keeping 'set position' the feet need to move laterally (trying to keep the width from the set) quickly, trying to keep the line of the ball in the centre of the body. If the feet can be worked into line, the body should be still upon contact or if the ball is secured outside the line of the body, the feet need to 'shuffle' in behind to restore the initial set position. If the feet cannot be worked into line then a 'diving save is to be made'. Handling Selection: If the ball is below waist height and in line, then there are two techniques to be used; there is the 'scoop', the 'K-legs', the 'collapse'. The 'scoop', which needs your body weight to be slightly lower, elbows tucked in (but not touching), little fingers touching and fingers spread in order to make a wide catching/ blocking surface; head and chest should be over the ball on contact and the hands and arms should create a slide to bring the ball into the body. Hands can
come up together or cross over on securing the ball. The 'K-legs' is the same handling techniques as the scoop but instead of securing the ball between your legs, you step to the way that the ball is moving and drop the other leg at a nighty-degree angle; keeping your head and chest forwards at all times. When the ball is outside the line but very close to the body the technique to use is the 'collapsing' save. This is when the ball is moving too quickly to get into line and the goalkeeper needs to "throwthemself" towards the ball to make the stop. To do this, the goalkeeper needs to sweep their feet away from the line of the ball and get their body or hands behind the ball quickly.
Goal Keeping If the ball is above waist height then 'cup' or the 'W'. The 'cup' should be used if below chest height; the same 'slide' technique discussed in the 'scoop'. The 'W' catch means that the ball should be met in front of the body and into line of he trajectory of the ball with the chest square to the ball. The hands are prepared with palms facing the ball with fingers spread and thumbs forming the 'W' shape; contact of the ball should be made with elbows flexed to act as shock absorbers and soft handsstrong wrists when contact is made with the ball. Keep the ball at the point of contact until secure. Dealing with high balls or crosses; the priorities depend on the start position of the goalkeeper and the speed/ distance the ball is from the goal. This determines the priority of the goalkeeper before deciding to attack the ball, priority one is to defend the goal, priority two is to defend the space between the goal and defenders. A different stance is taken to crosses than the
'set' position previously discussed, the stance should be open to see the ball, the threats and the danger. This also depends on the distance from the ball and the goalline and if the cross is inswinging or out-swinging.
Diving saves: Remembering that goalkeepers need to be inline and down-line of the ball and in the set position; as the ball gets closer to the goal, the height of the goalkeepers set needs to be lower slightly
Goal Keeping to generate the explosive power towards the ball to make the save. The difference in set position is the bend in the knees and pushing the bottom out slightly to keep body weight forward. To dive to the ball effectively from the set position, you need to step at a 45 degree angle into the line of the ball, lean up body into the set slightly and 'drive-off' the ground using your arms and legs to generate power to dive towards the ball. Then a decision needs to be made about how to save the ball on contact; either catch/secure, parry or deflect. To catch the ball, repeat the same technique with the hands of the 'W' and use the pace of the ball to pin it to the ground to break the fall. To parry the ball, during the motion of the save continue the use of the power in dive to get one or two hands behind the ball (similar line to the step, 45 degrees) and using the heel of your hand to direct the ball away from goal with width and distance. To deflect the ball, it's a
similar technique to the parry that you can use one or two hands, and that your directing the ball away from goal, but it's mainly the use of the fingertips to stop the ball going any further (tends to be a flicking technique), again also trying to get the ball into safe areas wide of the goal. With both the parry and deflect, it's important to recover to your feet or the ball quickly to deny another opportunity on goal, remember to communicate effectively if a teammate recovers the ball with either "time", "away" or "man-on!". 1v1s: The approach for 1v1s is key; goalkeepers need toapproach the ball at the same speed as the attacker, whilst getting closer the body shape needs to be gradually lower. Actions to take in a 1v1 are the block, k-block, diving at feet or smothering. Block is set, them feet waist width apart, head and chest above the ball and hands down outside the line of the legs
Goal Keeping and in front of the body; the aim is the block the line of the ball or deflect the ball away from danger. K-block is replicating the K-legs that we previously discussed, but the objective is the make the body as big as possible; should only really be used to in similar circumstances to the smother when it's a 50/50 ball. Diving at feet is within an engaged scenario, wait for the attacker to make their decision then attempt to win the ball by stepping into the line of the ball (90 degrees), lean into the save and attack with your hands in front, please make sure you tuck your head between your arms. The smother is attacking a 50/50 ball (between attacker and goalkeeper- the ball is loose) and the aim is to attack the ball using your body to block the ball. For more from Jamie and the Prestige Football Company find them on facebook or twitter @thePrestigeFCo
1: START POSITION 2: SET POSITION 3: WORK FEET 4: HANDLING SELECTION 5: DIVING SAVES 6: 1V1's
#TwitterDebate @goaliecoach00
Depends on situation,quality of your team and tactical positioning of opponent
@steve_worrell
If the option is there, they should try to play short. Depends on philosophy
1: nger y t r Foo ke lo laye n a p o usi ks m to 1 t to l c @In uld G pfield shor Sho ses u o play ns? pas ook t optio l or ltiple mu
@dgp19485
Risk v reward IMO. If they spot a long pass with high reward, why not try it?
@SoccerByOSM
The more options the better. We prefer short, but if not on then long. @tommolegend
Play short for multiple options, no guarantee a longer pass will reach player
@JRoberts04
Recognition of player age hugely important factor
@SamMarsden14 Play short, no doubt
@SD_Coaching Too hard to answer.. Depends on the Situation each time GK has the ball
@coachesfriend1
Sometimes a long pass is the right pass just like sometimes a short on is. I prefer short
Youth Football
Top Tips
for coaching the Goalkeeper Try to include the GK in your session planning process.
Encourage GK to always take own goal kicks.
Encourage GK to always be in-line and down-line of ball and goal.
Allow GK to play to improve receiving priorities.
Encourage GK to look for penetration first.
Deliver sessions that allow lots of saves and distribution.
Improve ball control and first touch!
Encourage GK to communicate what he can see.
Make sessions realistic, pressure, defenders, strikers etc.
Youth Football
take o t s r e play act d p l e m i i f t e ativ g ou g n K. i e t G n t e r a u G s o a icks h pment of y k l a o g velo e d e h on t
The best g oalk the ones th eepers are at make th e least mista kes (Fraser Dig by)
Things we've learned this time!
erent f if d in g in y Pla help a n a c s p u o r g age p if player develo done for the ns. correct reaso
Preparat ion to ma ke save beg ins with y a o start pos ition, if th ur at i s wrong yo u a re likely to c oncede.
Next time in 'The Coaching Mag'
d l e fi d i M e Th aestro M ion! t i d E - How to effectively plan for differing ages!
- More 'Tales of a Football Coach'
- More top tips
- More free session plans
- More things we've learned
- Another Exclusive Interview!
Next issue available April 2015