Keeper in Distress

[Chs_soccergoalie]

Hello,

How are you all doing today? Last night Chester Soccer lost yet another game. 1-4. I blocked a pk shot, and 4 crosses, along with 10 other shots. on the pk shot I blocked the initial shot, then had to more efforts to save the ball, each was with deflection. I step it up in goal, and try so hard. But it is getting so tuff on me, every game I seem to get hurt. Last night after I blocked the pk shot, and several others, I came out for a cross and what happened, I leaped in the air to punch the ball, our defender pushed the attacker right into me, and down I go. I am the only keeper we have. So what do I do? Calm down not be so aggressive, and fall under the classification of shot-blocker, or stay aggressive and play my game that I am use to and take a chance of getting injured. I know it sound like a simple decision. But if I stay on the line, keep back, and I don’t play aggressive, i could get scored on. What do you think a good decision would be? I am not use to playing on my line all the time
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[Teso Dos Bichos]

Stay aggressive. There is no point in trying to fight against your natural game.

[Twenty26Six]

I agree with what Teso said. A goalkeeper should not work _against_ their natural instincts full-force.

Also, when you come out to claim the ball. Attack it with venom. Get a knee up and put your elbows out. Attack is the best defense. They won't be so apt to run you if they are going to get a mouth or gut full of something.

Sounds like Chester soccer is in good hands. ;)

[assistman]

Yes, I am being repetitive, but that is because other guys are right. You need to start aggressive. Just be sure that every time you go for a ball, you go hard. The way to get hurt is to go out with caution. Once you establish yourself in an aggressive manner, often times the opposing team will be less aggressive in the box. Also, be sure to communicate with your defenders to avoid anymore collisions. Be loud in calling people off the ball and directing defenders, but to not talk to just to talk.

Being a keeper is a complete power trip. That box is yours. You decide what will happen there. Be sure everyone knows this.

With the way you describe that you are playing, your team will start feed off of you energy and all-out play. They will follow you.

[FIFARay007]

Everyone above is right, stay aggressive. I'm a keeper too, and I'm the same way, I'd much rather sacrifice my body to prevent a goal, than to even consider waiting back for the ball.

Plus, even tho I don't know you, I'd lose a lot of respect for you if you did otherwise. ;)

[barthez4]

Being a 5'6 keeper, my natural tendency is to rely on my very good horizontal/diagonals and my hockey goalie level reflexes, so my natural game is to stay back. However, when I do have to come for a ball, I make sure to get a knee into someone, because since I don't come for crosses as much as most keepers do, I have to put some fear into the strikers. So keep playing to your natural game, as you seem to do well with it.

[Chs_soccergoalie]

Great advice, ill take that to the next game. and i will let you know how it worked. thanks for the help.

[nicephoras]

Appropriate forum.

[DerbyRam54]

Also, when you come out to claim the ball. Attack it with venom. Get a knee up and put your elbows out. Attack is the best defense. They won't be so apt to run you if they are going to get a mouth or gut full of something.
As a ref and a coach, I am a little concerned about some of the suggestions put forward here. Playing like that may send a message to attackers, but it is can also be a good way to get yourself booked or sent off. Most refs will protect keepers from idiotic challenges on the part of attackers, though the incident the OP described was actually poor play by one of his defenders. I sent a HS player off last fall for trying to kick the ball out of the keeper's hands when he was on the ground. He had no legitimate challenge on the ball since it was in the keeper's possession and in my opinion was just trying to hurt or intimidate the keeper, it put the keeper in danger and so off he went.
But if you come out like that solely to intimidate other players and end up making contact that has nothing to do with playing the ball, you could end up conceding a penalty. FIFA's medical experts have identified blows to the head with elbows as a leading cause of serious injuries. WC refs were instructed to clamp down on it, it was discussed at the recent International FA Board meeting and I expect we'll be getting instructions similar to the WC briefing.
Keeper is a very tough position to play, and I think you deserve protection from stupid challenges from field players. Nobody wants to see the kind of injury that Petr Cech got. But aggressive play like you seem to be suggesting is not the answer either.
And I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but make sure you yell "Keeper" when you go for the ball, and not "Mine". Anybody not wearing a keeper's shirt who yells "Keeper" gets booked for Unsporting Behaviour if the ref is doing the job right. Bit harder to sort out a call of "Mine" though.

[assistman]

I don't think anyone here is suggestion to run out just to hit someone.
By challenging for a cross with your "knee up and elbows out," you are simply protecting yourself. Going up for a cross puts a keeper in a very vulnerable position. All we're saying is that you have to go strong for the ball and you will stand a much better chance of not getting injured, and getting the ball.

I know I mentioned being loud, and that is something every keeper needs to do. However, just because you yell for the ball, doesn't mean everyone is going to back off.

I think the advice here is all pretty good... including that of you DerbyRam. The keeper does have to keep it clean, but, he also has to keep himself safe.

[IASocFan]

Anytime your going for a cross, you should be yelling "keeper" to call your teammates off. If they hear "Keeper" they should be clearing out, looking toward you, and figuring out where to be if you punch or drop instead of catch. You also need to call out early so they have time to react.

If the coach doesn't talk to the team about the collision, you need to talk to the defenders about it. Something like a huddle before the kickoff (of a scrimmage or your next game) - "hey guys, if I yell 'KEEPER', you need to get out of my way!"

This should be something you work on and talk about in practice!

You mentioned in the other thread, that you're the captain. This might be a good reason to be communicating with the coach.

[ranova]

I don't think anyone here is suggesting to run out just to hit someone.

Defensive movement such as covering up is not a foul. Incidental contact is not a foul, but dangerous play is not allowed whether contact is involved or not. Intentionally striking a player is also not allowed, even it it happens while moving toward the ball. So intentionally striking someone with a knee when the chance arises should get the referee's attention every time.

[DerbyRam54]

I try to make it very clear to attackers that they need to exercise caution when going for the ball with the keeper. If the attacker backs off at the last second when it's clear it's the keeper's ball, I will usually try to say, thanks for not clattering the keeper. The implication being, you'd better not clatter the keeper!
In the case of minor but avoidable contact I won't give a FK because I know the keeper is better off punting the ball, but I will remind the attacker that once the keeper has possession he has no legal challenge for the ball.
I also keep a close watch on what's happening on corner kicks. Players who seem intent on crowding the keeper out are reminded that once the ball is in play, they'd better be making a play for it and not trying to impede the keeper.
Job#1 of the ref is safety, and I think most refs recognise the keeper is the player most likely to put themselves in harm's way and will watch out for them.

[nobody]

Don't be less agressive. In goal too agressive is better than not agressive enough. The angles are always better when you're moving forward. Hang back on your line and the more advanced the opposition, the easier it will be for them to pick a corner and leave you stranded. At a high level any attacker worth his salt can smoke a goalie hugging his line. Watch top level goalies and see how far they roam. Even when setting up for shots, they are generally at least out to the six yard box.

And, when coming for crosses, be loud and as said do get your knee up, although since you're stretching for a ball, your elbows should not be bent. Your hands and arms should be fully intent on getting the ball. The knee is not so much to take out an opossing player, but to protect yourself, and is actually a natural motion if you are jumping properly with forward momentum. Leaping into a crowd of players exposed is just stupid and asking for an injury. If you take a piece of an attacker flying into you, that's his problem. He shouldn't be running into you in the first place. You shouldn't look for the contact as it distracts you from your main goal of getting to the ball, but you should not be timid and easliy scared away by the physical challenge either.

And, as said, an agressive goalie will make players think twice about challenging for crosses. Balls in the air are one of the most physical parts of this game. Attackers play physical too and if they see you coming out weak and exposed they will try to take advantage of it. A smart, agressive center forward will often go up for a ball he really has no business winning if he sees a shakey goalie he thinks may bobble the ball with a little bump. It's part of the game. If they see you coming out forcefully and confidently with a hint of agression, they will be much less likely to try to take a shot at you or knock you into bobbling a ball. Not only that, but if a team sees you come out and claim your box early, they will often look to find other paths to goal if you convince them that floating ball in the air just ain't gonna work against you.

[thegeneral]

A keeper is a leader on the team. Be more vocal to your defenders. Given the amount of shots you're seeing, it sounds like you guys are outgunned. Get someone who knows how to coach defenders and get them working on things.

[torcida01]

Chs,

I think you know the answer to your question already. "Nobody" has given a great response, and so have the rest of the guys on this post.

Why should you be "less" aggressive? The inherent nature of your position is to be aggressive!

Be more aggressive in every aspect of your goalkeeping, attack the ball, make yourself big, and talk it up (great leaders are great communicators), you are the centrepiece of your defence.

If you come across weak, then that is the perception you will give to you opposition, and they will take advantage of it.

J.