Goalkeeper warmup. Two goalkeepers alternate in the goal. Field players each have a ball and a number. Coach calls out a number and that field player must sprint dribble and shoot before she reaches second set of cones. Shots must be at GK’s knee level or below.

 

Coaching points: As the players get closer, GK must move off the line. Coach gives GKs instructions to move feet & get body behind ball. 

 

Progression: Players aim balls anywhere around or at the GKs. Coach can coach field players to get more speed in the dribble and to consider the angle of their shots. 

 

Players stretch on their own.

 

Goalkeeper passback. Coach calls out a number (8, in the illustration). Player 8 dribbles past the first set of cones, and gives a passback to the goalkeeper, runs outside the goal, opening up and getting body into a sideways-on position. 

GK follows pass to support the player to whom she just passed. (Player 8 and GK runs are marked accordingly.)

 

3 v 3 Red vs. Yellow + Wide Targets. Neutral targets in Green outside in the channels. Yellow team’s GK starts ball by playing it wide. Yellow team must play ball wide before taking a shot.  

Coaching points: Goalkeeper gives commands to teammates – GK must get her own team away from her area so the teammates aren’t on top of her every time she gets the ball. Counterattacks work more effectively when the team is moving out from goal as soon as the GK has control of the ball. 

Dave’s points: How do we get more shots on goal? Fewer passes to the outside – sometimes the attacker must go at the GK by dribbling at speed. 

 

When the ball goes outside to the targets, the GK must ALSO look at her defenders to ensure that all opponents are well marked (defenders must be tight on the opponents). The GK must communicate to the field players every time she distributes the ball (man-on, turn, time, etc.). 

 

Finally, if the target players are not able to serve the ball far enough on a cross, bring in the sidelines. 

 

Timed shots on goal. Coach in Green passes ball to Player A. A dribbles around the two cones and crosses to Player B for a shot. Coach then passes to C, who dribbles down line and crosses to D. (Coach can ask players to run either near or far post. In illustration, they are running far post.) Players switch lines and shooting continues for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, the lines move over to the other side of the 18’ for left-footed crosses and shots for another 6 minutes. If the field players score at least 14 goals in the 12 minutes, they win. If the GKs allow fewer than 14 goals in, the GKs win. Losing team has to do some type of punishment (sprints, pushups, etc.). Dave says, "playing for something motivates the players to push themselves harder."

 

Shooting competition. Shooting competition between 2 groups of field players. For 3 minutes, Yellow players dribble through cones and shoot from just inside the 18’ with their right feet. Red players dribble through their cones & shoot with their left feet. After 3 minutes, count up number of goals, then start the 3-minute clock again, this time with the Reds taking right-footed shots and the Yellows taking left-footed shots. Players must shoot on the first touch after they pass the second cone. Goalkeepers’ position is critical - must come off the goal line and start to step as soon as the player begins dribbling. Progression: Field player must add a fake prior to dribbling past the second cone.