GKs Chip and Dale

Objectives

To produce a team practice emphasizing good collective defending and attacking, with the goalkeeper acting as the supporter of attackers - initiating scoring opportunities.

Organization

• Mark out area approx. 35 x 40 yards.
• Two rectangular shaped zone boxes placed beyond each end line (approx. 5 yards away).
• Squad is split into two teams, and each team is halved - one half on the field, the other in the zone.
• Goals only count if ball is chipped forward, then caught in the end zone without touching the ground.
• Goalkeeper on each outside line is available to team in possession, and can receive the pass, but must throw back to same team.
• Keepers can throw ball to one another across the area to help create space for team in possession.

Coaching Points

• Encourage goalkeepers to dance along their sidelines - always facing the play and always available.
• Instruct goalkeepers to communicate their availability (or non-availability) to the player in possession.
• Encourage quick-thinking decisions by the keepers after receiving the ball.
• If a good "pass" is not on for the keeper, the point of possession should be changed by a fast, accurate and difficult to intercept throw to other keeper.

ABILITIES DEVELOPED	KC's EMPHASIZED
Good decision making, and accurate use of the ball; good throwing techniques.	Alert and Alive, Hands, Open.

Additional Information

While this practice has been designed principally for the field players, this is another example of a meaningful practice for all of the team. Here the goalkeepers practice and cooperate with their teammates in situations that develop good team understanding. Too often, as has been emphasized elsewhere in this book, goalkeepers spend practice time on technique, in non-thinking situations and on their own. Coaches are then surprised when the keepers cannot successfully apply these techniques in the game because the decision-making process ( e.g., when cooperating with teammates) lets them down.

Age Suitability

Age	Suitable	Comments
6-11	NO	Too complex a practice for this age - but Chip 'n Dale without the goalkeepers will be fine for 9, 10 and 11-year-olds.
12-15	YES	First-class practice for all players. Don't expect standards to be very high initially.
16+	YES	Highly recommended team practice for developing collective attacking and defending .