Gafferbook
Goalkeeping ยท U9 to adult

Back-pass and play out

A defender plays a back-pass to the keeper, an attacker presses, and the keeper must play out to a wide target. Builds the keeper's composure with feet under pressure.

U9 to adultAges
Keeper plus 3 to 5Players
Penalty area and wide zonesArea
10 to 15 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Defender on the edge of the box; wide targets in two zones.
  • One pressing attacker.

Equipment: Goal, cones, bibs, balls

How it works

  1. Defender passes back to the keeper.
  2. Attacker presses the keeper as soon as the pass is played.
  3. Keeper passes to the free wide target; rotate.

Coaching points

  • Check the press before the ball arrives.
  • First touch away from the presser.
  • Pass to the side away from pressure.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Attacker presses at half speed

Make it harder

  • Two pressers
  • One-touch clearance only if needed

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.

More goalkeeping drills

Ready position and catching

The coach serves from close range to the keeper's chest, body and feet. Builds the ready position and the three basic catching shapes.

See the drill โ†’

Diving from the knees

Keepers practise low saves from a kneeling start, so they learn the shape of a dive without the fear of falling.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper footwork and set position

Keepers shuffle across the goal between cones and get set before each shot. Good footwork and being set as the ball is struck save more goals than diving.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper high catches (crosses)

Servers lob balls into the six-yard box and the keeper attacks them at the highest point. Builds confidence coming for crosses, the area most young keepers fear.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper one-on-ones (close down and smother)

Attackers dribble in from 20 metres and the keeper closes them down, makes themselves big and smothers or blocks. Teaches the brave, sensible one-on-one technique.

See the drill โ†’

Keeper distribution to targets

Keepers roll, throw and pass to targets in zones at different distances. Good distribution starts attacks, and at Future Fit ages it's half the keeper's job.

See the drill โ†’