Communication game: the keeper organises without defending between four goals
4v4 to 8v8 game with two mini goals at each end. The keeper stands between his team's two goals but cannot defend either: he only organises with his voice and can receive back passes.
El rojo cambia el balón a la banda; el portero canta «paso» y «cierra» para que los defensores se desplacen.
Objective
Develop specific, correct and timely communication from the keeper to organise ball-side and far-side defenders without ball watching.
Organisation
Pitch of about 40x25 m with two mini goals on each end line about 10 m apart. Two teams of four to eight players in bibs. One keeper per team positioned between their two mini goals; keepers cannot touch the ball to defend, they only receive back passes with their feet. The coach watches from outside and notes the keeper's calls.
Development
- 1Free game with two or three touches and the ball on the ground; each team can score in either of the opponent's two mini goals.
- 2The keeper cannot defend: his involvement is verbal only. He organises the line with short calls: 'step', 'hold', 'drop', 'tuck in', 'press', 'back post', and tells each defender whom to mark.
- 3The keeper can also receive a back pass from teammates and play with his feet to restart possession, which forces him to move and offer while organising.
- 4The coach assesses whether the keeper provides specific, correct and timely information on both the ball side and the far side (back post, free runner in behind).
- 5Every three minutes change the keeper or rotate the teams; count the goals each keeper concedes to reward effective organisation.
- 6Progression: allow the keeper to defend only one of the two goals so he has to organise the other with his voice.
Coaching points4
- Short, loud messages with a name attached: 'Mark, drop', 'Anna, press'.
- Anticipate: speak before the ball arrives, not after the mistake happens.
- Organise the far side: the keeper is the only one who sees the back post.
- Volume signals urgency: a shouted 'push up!' means sprint, a normal one means jog.
Common mistakes3
- Ball watching and going quiet as soon as play gets close.
- Giving generic information ('careful!') instead of concrete instructions.
- Speaking late, when the defender can no longer correct his position.
Variations3
- Basic level: static outfield players who move only on the keeper's instructions before a ball is introduced.
- Keeper in an 8x8 m central grid: the ball must pass through him to change halves (4v4 to 7v7 on 50x25 m).
- The coach shows coloured cones behind the goal and the keeper must call the colour while still organising.
Progressions2
- The keeper may defend one goal chosen by the coach, changing every minute.
- Replace the mini goals with full-size goals and rotate three keepers.
Regressions2
- Reduce to 4v4 and enlarge the space to give more time for the calls.
- Only one player per team may score to simplify the marking.
Tips
- Agree beforehand on a shared vocabulary of five or six calls for the whole team.
- Record or note the calls to review them with the keeper afterwards.